WELL, HELLO, MR ANISTON
The Leftovers star talks Jen-an, emotional goodbyes and his bulge
Riveting, high-concept sci-fi drama The Leftovers hasn’t had the same kind of massive hype around it as its HBO/SKY Atlantic stablemates
Westworld and Game Of Thrones. But as the third and final season arrives in the US, critics are hailing the show as a slow-burn classic. So, even though we in the UK have to wait until July to see how this story – of a global event in which two per cent of the world’s population suddenly disappears – plays out, we couldn’t wait to chat to its star, Justin Theroux – aka chief of police Kevin Garvey.
It’s a rare opportunity to speak to Mr Jennifer Aniston, who’s in such relaxed and charming form that he brings up the little matter
of his relationship, happily musing about Jen-an as we discuss the impending Leftovers finale – although we can tell that if we were to quiz him about it relentlessly, it would start to grate.
A long-time supporting actor, with a string of credits including Mulholland Drive, Charlie’s
Angels, Zoolander 2 and Tropic Thunder (the last two he had a hand in writing), the 45 year old was thrust into the spotlight when he started dating Jen after meeting her on the set of comedy
Wanderlust in 2011. They married in 2015, and the world’s obsession with them continues unabated. Justin doesn’t seem bothered, though. He’s warm and frank as he chats about his wife and reflects on the end of The Leftovers era, disgruntled fans and why karaoke is his worst nightmare... In the last season of
The Leftovers, you were serenading us with Simon & Garfunkel. Are we going to see more of your singing in season three? [Smiles.] No, is the blunt answer. That was a one-time, painful exclusive that I hope to never repeat again. For the sake of us all. But you were really good! This is how I know you didn’t see it. [Laughs.] No, I bowed down to Damon’s [Lindelof, the The Leftovers writer] demands, but never again. What he put me through, between getting shot in the chest, being drowned, that [singing] scene was the worst in terms of frightening discomfort. Painful. Ouch! It’s like Damon honed in on the one thing that makes me squirm. And he knew it.
‘I don’t want to dwell on my crotch going viral’
You must like doing karaoke though, right? I’m only human. Bat Out Of Hell is my jam. It’s the final season – how does it feel saying goodbye? I’m not going to miss being treated like shit by Damon and the directors. [Laughs.] I feel so very accomplished to have been a part of something so unique and powerful and provoking. Were there any tears on the last day? There were a couple. Yeah, it got melodramatic. [Laughs.] Will fans be satisfied with the ending? I hope they are. I think they’ll be satisfied with the conclusion. I have no doubt that there will be a few disgruntled voices – you can’t please everyone. It’s definitely an ending – at least, I hope it’s perceived that way. I feel like there’s a tie-up of certain unravelled plot strings. So, everyone disappears right? OK, everybody goes and the world ends. Spoiler alert! Spoiler alert! I should be better at this. Keeping the plot secret is central to the show’s success – were you kept in the dark as much as possible? I’ve always liked being the viewer and learning what happens once a week. Sure, at the beginning of each season, I have an idea of where I’m going to go, but the details and how it happens and how I get there – totally in the dark. Which is what you had in Mulholland Drive with David Lynch. His films are notoriously enigmatic… You’re right. It might have been quite difficult for me to work on something like The Leftovers had I not had those experiences with David. Doing Mulholland Drive and [the even weirder follow-up]
Inland Empire, I was introduced to these pieces of the puzzle being laid out in a very non-linear way. Sometimes I would ask him, “Why are we doing this?” And he’d say, “I don’t know, let’s find out.” The character doesn’t know, so you don’t know. Was it difficult to shake off your character of Kevin every night when you went home? No, no, I don’t do that. I don’t think Jen would be too pleased if I went all method with every job I have. It would get too mentally and emotionally sapping. And The
Leftovers – weirdly, in a way – was cathartic. I feel like you purge any negative feelings and arrive home in a jolly mood. Really? It’s quite a sombre set in many ways. There isn’t a lot of room to goof around and make jokes – it wouldn’t feel right. So the last thing I want to do is go home and mull the day’s events over. I want to shut all of that down. Is Jen a fan of the show? She is. She’s watched it since the pilot. Actually, she watched the pilot several times to make sure she didn’t miss any clues. She’s hugely impatient, but very invested in the show. Has she been hassling you for spoilers? I’ve offered, but she doesn’t want to know. Well, she does, for a second of madness. I wouldn’t tell her, anyway. I’d make up some bullshit. I want her to enjoy it as it should be enjoyed. Do you two have any plans to work together again soon? Not at the moment, but we like the idea. She’s a crazy talented actress – working with her is a dream. But it has to be the right project and the right script. It has to happen organically, if it does ever happen. And there’s a shit-ton of scrutiny that comes with taking that on – do we want to offer ourselves up like that? These are
all considerations. But we want to do it – it’s just about timing. Is all the scrutiny on your relationship ever difficult to deal with? I make a very concerted effort to keep my attention averted from that. If I do happen to see any magazines or tabloids, it’s weird, because they’re telling me about my own life, which is very bizarre and oddly funny. That’s good… In the grander scheme, I have a lot of beautiful things in my life, and that’s all that matters. If I’ve got my health, an amazing partner, a roof over my head… It’s clichéd as hell, but that’s what I focus on and remain grateful for. It’s not just actresses who have their bodies objectified – you experienced your own form of objectification with the whole tracksuit meme thing. [Shots of Justin jogging in The Leftovers with a prominent bulge went viral.] Do you look back at that now and laugh? Yeah, maybe. I mean, I look back at it now and feel embarrassed. I did find it funny when it became this thing. How do you react to something like that? I don’t really want to linger on it too much again – it brings it all back up. It was embarrassing. Social media is always buzzing about your ripped torso – what’s your secret? Well, it ain’t easy, let me tell you that. And it’s only when I know I have scenes where a little flesh reveal is required, but I have a trainer at home who is brutal. Brutal. He’s the worst. In that he’s the best. But he’s the worst. He kicks my ass and when I can’t do anymore, he kicks my ass again. Jen said you have a genetic disposition where even if you didn’t work out, you’d have a six pack. Is that true? I don’t know. Good genetics can only get you so far, so I wish that were the case. So, what’s up next? You’re in science fiction thriller
Mute on Netflix, aren’t you? That’s a Duncan Jones [David Bowie’s son, who wrote and directed Moon] script, so right there, you know it’s head and shoulders above everything else. And it’s got an incredible cast, with Alexander Skarsgård, Sam Rockwell and Paul Rudd. And then there’s The Lego Ninjago
Movie, which I’m down on-myknees grateful for, because it is ridiculous and over-the-top and the most fun. Then after that, I’m hustling for the next gig. You’re only as good as your last job.