CLINT EASTWOOD
AS HE CELEBRATES A MILESTONE, THE HOLLYWOOD LEGEND LOOKS BACK OVER HIS REMARKABLE LIFE
As his 90th birthday approaches, the Hollywood legend looks back on his life, his career and the lessons he learned along the way.
Actors who are directed by Clint Eastwood always talk about how quickly he works — one or two takes, and they’re on to the next scene. “Everybody accuses me of moving fast,” Clint says. “I don’t move fast. I just keep moving.”
Maybe that’s why he’s still going strong, even as he turns 90 on May 31. “You’re as young as you feel, as young as you want to be,” explains Clint. “You have to enjoy getting older — that’s the most important factor. It’s a mental attitude.”
To keep himself mentally sharp, Clint has practiced meditation for more than 40 years. “I do it twice a day, and it works great because it gives you a chance to gather your thoughts,” he says. “I’m religious about it when I’m working.”
Of course, there’s also a physical component to Clint’s fitness at his age. “He eats healthy and has a private chef who cooks highprotein, low-fat cuisine for him,” an insider tells Closer.
“He exercises every day, with weight training, and he still does push-ups!”
In recent years, Clint has also strengthened his relationships with his loved ones. “As I get older, I tend to put more into family than I used to,” says Clint, who has eight kids with six different women. “Because when I was younger, I was looking to get the brass ring, and like every actor, you think every job’s your last job.”
These days, Clint puts his family first. “He keeps in touch with all eight of his children and their families,” says the insider. “He’s taken great comfort that at this time of his life, all his kids are close.”
As Clint puts it, “The people around me know that I’m a loyal citizen to the family. And that wasn’t necessarily a given thing. That was acquired.”
Clint has also prioritized his relationship with Christina Sandera, whom he met when she was a hostess at a restaurant he owns in Carmel, Calif., and has been dating since 2014. “He’s truly happy with her,” says the insider. “She’s fun, easygoing and his kids like her, too. She’s on an even keel like he is.”
MAKE MY BIRTHDAY!
Clint was expected to celebrate his big day with Christina in Carmel, and the greatest gifts he’s received
“That’s the secret to life: Never stop learning. I’m still working because I learn something new all the time.”
— Clint
have been the lessons he’s learned over the years. First and foremost for Clint, “Be honest with yourself, honest with what you know and what you don’t know,” he says. “I just believe in being straight-ahead with people.”
He also believes in going with his gut. “You have to trust your instincts,” he says. “I always feel that if I examine myself too much, I’ll burst the bubble. I’ve gotten so lucky relying on my animal instincts, I’d rather keep a little bit of the animal alive.”
And if Clint has a spirit animal, it’s a bucking bronco. “There’s a rebel deep in my soul,” he says. “I hate the idea of trends. I hate imitation. I have a reverence for individuality. I got where I am by coming off the wall.”
Despite his advancing age, Clint shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, he directed the Oscarnominated docudrama Richard
Jewell. “What drives me? I like working — that’s when I’m feeling my best,” he says. “I never did get to that day when I said I’d quit. I’ve flirted with the idea a lot lately, but every once in a while, a script comes along, and I think, ‘That’s a challenge that I haven’t been able to do before.’ ”
As for turning 90, he’s taking it in stride — and with typical humor. “When I was a little kid, I used to hang out with my grandfather who was in his 90s, and I thought, ‘Who the hell would want to live this long?’” he says with a laugh. “There’s a lot of people who learn a lot faster than me, that’s for sure.”
Still, he has gained wisdom in his 90 years. “You’re given one shot, and you should do the best you can with it,” he says. “In the end, you’ve just got to be happy with what you’ve done. There you are.”