Jeff Bridges covers GQ, talks about box office bombs, meditating & infidelity

Well, thank God. It looks like GQ is going to do three separate covers (and cover stories) for their October issue, so it’s not like Justin Theroux has been anointed The GQ It Boy. Happily, it seems like Idris Elba will also get a cover (they’ll probably release it tomorrow) and today GQ has released their Jeff Bridges cover. You can see Jeff’s GQ pictorial here – he looks really, really good in those pics. You can read his interview here, and here are some lovely highlights:

Jeff Bridges on R.I.P.D. flopping at the box office:
“I had such a great time working on that movie. I remember what we were doing. I thought: This could be fun to see. And when I saw it, I was a little underwhelmed. For my mind, the studio made some, uh, choices that I wouldn’t have made.”

…his thoughts on box office numbers:
“It’s kind of fun when the movie’s coming out. It’s like having a horse in the race. And they’re lining up, and they’re off! And you’re rooting for your horse. And in this case, the jockey fell off the horse and you came in last. Ha ha ha. You know. That happens sometimes.”

…on anxiety, especially before musical performances:
“I go through the gamut of emotions. It’s kind of like emotional weather. Feeling anxious. You know, a lot of anxiety. And that’ll pass. Nothing will particularly change, except something inside. And then all of a sudden I’m saying, Hey, this is fun, being alive! Look at that! Look at this!”

…on meditating at his daughter’s wedding:
“We had a big party at our house. And to some people’s embarrassment—I think my daughter kind of dug it, my wife probably thought it was over the top—I led everybody in a big om-ing session for about five minutes.” He laughs. “I thought everybody got off. But I was pretty drunk myself.”

…on his approach to marriage & love:
If you know anything about Bridges, one of the things you know is that he’s been married for almost forty years, that he has spent the better part of his life (a) being one of the best-looking,most famous men in the world and (b) waking up next to the same woman he met in his twenties. But I’m particularly interested in something wise he said in an interview not long ago: In a marriage, every fight is the same fight, over and over again, in different forms. (Note to unwed readers: In a marriage, every fight is the same fight, over and over again, in different forms.) I ask him what his version of the fight is. “I’m gonna take a little risk here, but I think this is so,” he says. “I think that it’s not only the same fight that you have with your spouse, but it’s the same fight that everyone has with everyone—everyone. And basically the fight is: You don’t get it.”

You don’t get it?
“You don’t get it! What is, for me, being alive. And what you do to me. And the thing is: That’s true! I don’t know how you feel, what it is to be you. But that’s something to kind of celebrate and respect and honor! And that’s, that’s what we have in common. None of us, none of us, get each other. So you have to just be with that. And have a relationship with it. And, uh, usually what happens, if you hang with it enough, your love has to get bigger to hold that misunderstanding, that mystery.”

…his advice to men who have a desire to cheat:
“Well, live and learn. Go ahead and do it, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Seriously? Just do it?
“Suppression can kind of get you into trouble, too,” he says. “I was reading an interesting thing—this kind of goes with the meditation and the spiritual side of things that I’m interested in. The difference between suppression and refraining. When you touch something hot, you don’t have to repress the desire to touch it again.”

So you think you have to touch it first?
“Sometimes you do. It’s like that old thing about addiction, I guess. About people hitting their bottom.”

What was your bottom?
“Ahh. I don’t even want to talk about it. I don’t want to make that a public thing. But I hit bottom.”

…on if he is living out his teenage fantasy:
“Oh yeah,” he says. “Absolutely. Nothing like having a band.”

[From GQ]

God, I love Jeff Bridges. I love that he was drunk for his daughter’s wedding and he led everyone in a chanting session. I love the way he handled the questions about his box office bomb. I love that his advice to men is to figure out their sh-t – I think that’s probably good advice for most men. Go ahead and cheat and see how that works out for you. See if you do it ever again. Of course, it would be even better if more men were like The Dude. FORTY YEARS. He’s been married for 40 years. Mind-blowing.

Photos courtesy of Sebastian Kim / GQ.

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66 Responses to “Jeff Bridges covers GQ, talks about box office bombs, meditating & infidelity”

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  1. Erinn says:

    He is exactly 40 years older than I am, and I’d still hit that. I have mad love for this guy.

    • Spooks says:

      I didn’t quite get it, did he admit cheating on his wife?

      • bns says:

        That’s how I took it, and honestly I’m not surprised.

      • Erinn says:

        I’m not sure. The way it’s written is kind of jumpy. The whole “Go and see how that works out” seems kind of sarcastic – sounding like “Suuuure go ahead, cheat.”

        But when it mentions the hitting rock bottom part it kind of jumps and doesn’t scream that it’s the in the context of cheating to me. It sounds like he hit what HE considered to be rock bottom for him. I don’t know.

        I still find him attractive; and if he cheated I hope he made peace with his wife and himself.

      • Sal says:

        He sounds like he had an affair that ended badly. Like he is really bitter about having gone that path.

        But yeah, he is definitely admitting being a cheating slimeball at some point.

      • Virgilia Coriolanus says:

        The way I read it is that he’s saying that you can’t tell someone who wants to cheat, to not do it. Because this person may take your advice at that point, but eventually he/she is going to do the inevitable–because they want to do it. The desire to cheat doesn’t just go away when someone tells you “oh that’s bad for your relationship”–duh.

        I think he means that it’s a waste of time, to tell people not to cheat on their spouse/partner. I would think it would be something that’s a given, unless you and your partner worked something else out–…

        But who knows, maybe he did, at his rock bottom. Was he an alcoholic or an addict? I saw Basketball Diaries, and people do some f’ed up shizz for a couple of bucks to feed their habit.

      • mercy says:

        I think he is. He talks about cheating in relation to “hitting bottom.” I doubt he was ever a hard drug user and he still seems to drink. It sounds like an affair might have been his low point and the pain was so bad he never had the desire to do it again.

      • Tulip Garden says:

        I will say that if he did cheat than he handled the question with aplomb, dignity, and, most importantly, respect for his wife. Cheating is horrible enough but how you handle it afterward has to have an affect on if/how your spouse is able to deal with it. So cheat or no cheat, this guy has sensitivity and class:” No need for him to “explain” to the world how much his marriage “grew” has a result of his wondering dong (if he had one).

      • JanieJ says:

        I read it as maybe a previous relationship of his ended when he cheated, and he learned it’s not worth it?

      • bananapanda says:

        Huh. I read it as a “it’s not my thing but you seem to need it, it probably won’t work out well though” type comment.

        Some guys are always looking for the next thing, some settle in nicely. His wife is gorgeous, he has a great family and his parents were married for eons. To me, it didn’t sound like he’s the cheating type.

  2. fabgrrl says:

    I love him! A true gentleman.

    • Chicagogurl says:

      He’s a really interesting man. A real renaissance man if you will. I read his website religiously. I really love that he tries everything all the time. It seems like creativity must seep out of him. His no child hungry advocation is truly inspiring. Swoon!

  3. Josephine says:

    I’m going to say it — Jeff Bridges makes Justin Theroux look like a little girl. Love Bridges – that man is smoking hot!!

  4. Greata says:

    I love this man. I especially love the fact he truly has zero filters, and no pretensions.W Great photographer as well.

    • Vesta says:

      Exactly! No pretences with him. He’s a relaxing persona, and sincere. No wonder so many people love him.

  5. aims says:

    He’s awesome. He just seems like a chilled out hippie.

  6. Cecilia says:

    He is so much like his Dad. His parents did a good job.

  7. Siddhi says:

    Buddhism 101. Perfectly applied. Love.

  8. Greata says:

    Watch and learn young Hollywood. This is how you do it with much grace, and a little bit of swagger.

  9. Sixer says:

    I want my sons to be like Jeff Bridges.

    • j.eyre says:

      I want the man next to me in bed to be like Jeff Bridges. Or, you know, maybe he could just be Jeff Bridges. I definitely want to see how that works out for me.

      • Sixer says:

        Hey! I was being non-frisky! That comment took a great deal of effort on my part. And now I can’t say anything too much or I’ll look like the kind of perv nobody likes instead of the kind of perv that we Celebitches celebrate.

        Find me a way out of this hole, Miss Jane!

      • j.eyre says:

        I have no control when it comes to Jeff Bridges… none.

        Gimme a minute, I will get you out of this. But it may involve watching a lot of Jeff Bridges clips so I may need more than a minute.

      • Sixer says:

        *hangs around trying not to look shifty*

      • j.eyre says:

        Sixer updates her comments “Shoot, my phone sent that comment before I finished, My full comment was: I want my sons to be like Jeff Bridges’ characters in many of his films. I want them to keep to their youthful ideals amidst bleakness as Duane in The Last Picture Show did. I want them to embrace their intelligence and ingenuity like Flynn in Tron. I want them to show their dedication and loyalty as Rupert in Kiss Me Goodbye, show their heads and hearts for business like Preston Tucker and Charles Howard and stand up for the those who need him like Rooster Cogburn.

        And while they are studying his characters and striving to emulate them, I will have the real Jeff Daniels on the beach and take him Jessie Wyler style- Against All Odds.”

        There – fixed it for you.

      • Sixer says:

        Miss Jane – I love you and only you.

        Now, to frisky!

  10. Tiffany says:

    If you guys have not seen his American Masters segment, check it out. It was fantastic. I like Jeff Bridges. That’s it.

  11. brin says:

    He just gets better and better, the fabulous Bridges Boy.

  12. blue marie says:

    I would so hit it, there’s never been a point where I wouldn’t hit it. I think he is fantastic.

  13. Maria says:

    Bridges is everything, just a mellow and well rounded man.

  14. mia girl says:

    I love, love, love Jeff Bridges in all his many forms over the years.

    Against All Odds, Jagged Edge, The Dude (ofcourse!) but man, I can watch him as Jack Baker everyday and twice on Sunday.

  15. Nev says:

    HOT.

    can’t wait to get this issue….GREAT cover…love the style.

    I need a happening denim shirt.

  16. kingkayski says:

    You have to be a man before you become a gentleman ,i think he wins in both counts.

  17. CaribbeanLaura says:

    He’s awesome isn’t he. This is why I’m loathe to judge people and their relationships, cause if Jeff Bridges hit on me I would be sooooo into it he’s seems so charming and mellow and intelligent and fun and thats a 36 year age diffenence.

  18. jaye says:

    He’s HOT! I’d hit it…HARD. And then we can have an om’ing sesh afterward.

  19. GiGi says:

    Gah! He is just still my forever dong. I am in serious lust with him.

  20. DenG says:

    Exactly what he says – not one of us truly can know what another thinks or feels. We can only try to express it. I’m 61 years Old! and that’s a life lesson for me.

  21. MonicaQ says:

    I saw that movie solely for Ryan Reynolds because I’m a shameless hoochie. The tickets were free and had to be used that week or they’d expire so w/e. I chuckled through some of it but it’s definitely in the “Cowboys vs. Aliens”/Red Box category.

  22. Brittney says:

    Cannot WAIT for the Idris cover. But really?! Justin Theroux in the same company as Jeff Bridges and Idris Elba? One of these things is not like the other…

  23. Jayna says:

    Every on green marriage with movie stars has had infidelity. They are off on location for months on end. Marriages hit rough patches. If it was only once with him, that’s a miracle.

  24. Jaded says:

    What I love about him is his never-ending curiosity, his search for the nugget of truth in all things. A man with a seeking mind who isn’t afraid to admit to his weaknesses and look to correct them, to expand his horizons, to have humour and love and humbleness. In his industry that’s a tough thing to do.

  25. ladybert62 says:

    I love Jeff Bridges.

  26. anet says:

    for years i’ve had the fantasy of him playing in my ‘upcoming’ movie about a mean spirited client of a particular industry…while Anne Hathaway or Maggie G plays the lead protag. i know, i know, half of of us can only dream.

    i need to hurry up before he gets too old! i say he needs to dye his hair back to strawberry blonde. surely one of the most handsome men in acting. why can’t there be more like him??

  27. anet says:

    btw, i’m watching hugh jackman on the view, he looks uber young! botox???

    • mercy says:

      In this day and age of high def TV, I think almost every actor over a certain age uses it – everyone except Jeff Bridges. 😉

  28. Maria says:

    i dont understand why he worded it in such a weird way, it will only lead to speculation.

    personally i would think something drug related but that could be because im projecting his roles.

  29. mercy says:

    I can’t think of a time in my movie-watching life where I haven’t loved Jeff Bridges. One of my absolute faves on and off screen. A true original who always has something interesting and unique to share. His web site is a blast: http://www.jeffbridges.com

  30. starrywonder says:

    I don’t think he cheated. He was saying go see how that works out for you which to me meant yeah that is definitely not a path I would take and with it comes consequences.

    For some reason his rock bottom sounds like to me something to do with drugs or alcohol especially since he won’t discuss it. I don’t think it was an affair.

    Also Johnny Depp and Arnie Hammer this is how you respond to a question about why did your movie flop. He was totally candid, said he liked making it, and that the studio made some choices…which I would love to hear about.

    • bijlee says:

      I once heard him talk about how he was in such a bad place with his wife that he was considering divorcing her. He even told his dad and his father obviously kicked some sense into him. But I don’t know. Maybe it was an affair? Maybe it was boredom with her? Maybe it was boredom in general? I don’t know. I like him alot and if he cheated, not gonna lie I’d be disappointed.

      I’d still love him to pieces though. I would never hit him though, I see him as the dad I always wanted.

  31. Lucy says:

    Loves this! Great interview with a great guy!

  32. Anoninga says:

    After reading this, I really do love this guy. I think this is as honest as a celebrity has been in an interview.

  33. boo says:

    He is the Dude and the Dude abides.

  34. Dawn says:

    Yep. With age comes wisdom.

  35. Bored suburbanhousewife says:

    That rug really tied the room together.

  36. Camille (TheOriginal) says:

    I adore him. He’s a much more worthy and interesting cover man than that kept gigolo that was in that GQ article posted yesterday..