John Travolta was in Toronto a few days ago to promote his newest film, The Forger. He got to work with Christopher Plummer, which is always nice. These are photos from the TIFF premiere – note the special Toronto Wiglet™. Travolta has changed up his facial hair too, although if you told me his goatee was a face merkin, I would totally believe you. The last time Travolta was out in public, he was “rocking” that completely gross little soul patch. Now he’s going full-on bear. Or lumberjack. Or something.

Interestingly enough, Travolta sat down with The Daily Beast for a pretty decent interview at TIFF – you can read the full piece here. He talks about The Forger (I was bored by that part), the 20th anniversary of Pulp Fiction and all of those rumors about his sexuality. I mean, he doesn’t talk specifics about that masseur or this masseur, but he was asked directly about his alleged long-term boyfriend and “co-pilot,” the same guy who is suing Travolta. Here are some highlights:

On the rumor that Daniel Day-Lewis actively pursued his role in Pulp Fiction: “Yeah. I remember it was a big deal with Miramax, too, because Daniel Day was hotter than heck and I was colder than Alaska, so the idea that Quentin went for me over Daniel Day-Lewis was a very big deal. But I understand now, in retrospect, why he did. By using Uma, me, and Bruce, he balanced it with pop culture, and that wouldn’t have happened with Daniel Day or anyone else vying for that part. There was a history that the three of us had that balanced the darkness of that movie with a certain levity and humor—like a yin-yang effect. That was very calculated.”

Pulp Fiction is still awesome 20 years later: “I watched it at Cannes this year, and it’s still got it. The scene that gave me the most pleasure was the scene with Uma in Jack Rabbit Slims—the whole conversation, intrigue, and then moving onto the dance floor. That was my favorite to film. Vincent’s getting to the bottom of why he’s so intimidated by the date, and then she says, “A foot massage? You think he’d kill someone for that?” She tells me it’s bulls–t and that wasn’t why he was thrown out the window, so it brings a bit of relief to the character, and the spirit of the scene was very playful. She’s trying to size me up about why I’m so aloof, and the scene with the cherry where she’s looking at me thinking, “What’s this guy all about?”

Does he have a theory about the suitcase? “No, I don’t. [Tarantino] just told me, “Be completely impressed… like something you’ve never seen before.” But I don’t have a theory.

The lawsuit from his alleged former lover/pilot: “This is every celebrity’s Achilles heel. It’s just about people wanting money. That’s all. It happens on many levels.”

How he reacts to all of the media speculation about his sexuality: “I don’t care that much about it. Other people may attack it back more than I do, but I let all the media stuff go a long time ago because I can’t control it. I think that’s why it persists, to some degree.”

[From The Daily Beast]

I give him some bonus points for NOT pitching a hissy fit when he was asked directly about the lawsuit(s) and the speculation. He just seemed low-key about it. Of course it’s lip service. Of course where’s there’s smoke there’s fire. But the truth will out. As for the Pulp Fiction stuff, I feel like I’ve been living in a cave. I never knew that Daniel Day-Lewis wanted to play Vincent Vega!! What the hell? That would have been a completely different movie. And I wonder why Quentin Tarantino has never written something for DDL?

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.