Scott Eastwood is ‘ready for the ride’
He’s saddling up with looks, pedigree and hard work
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. Scott Eastwood doesn’t remember which movie he was promoting with a smoldering Town & Country photo shoot in 2013. But something clicked worldwide.
Was it the rippled abs, the rugged good looks or the familiar squint he inherited from his famous father, Clint Eastwood? Whatever it was, the Internet went nuts, and a new hunk was discovered.
“That photo shoot definitely got a lot of attention,” says Eastwood, 29. “You don’t know what’s going to break you out. You just keep working hard.”
Hard work, hot looks and his Hollywood pedigree have paid dividends for Eastwood, who is the leading man in his first big studio production, The Longest Ride (opening Friday). The Nicholas Sparks adaptation showcases the actor’s natural athleticism as bull rider Luke Collins, who woos a studious college girl, Sophia Danko (Britt Robertson).
After a lot of hype and even a flirtation with the Christian Grey role for Fifty Shades of Grey, Eastwood is ready to grab the Hollywood reins.
“I’m ready for the ride,” he says between chicken wings at Saddle Ranch Chop House. “The only thing I can say is that I’ve been doing this for 12 years. That’s a long time I’ve been grinding, trying to be a better actor.”
Eastwood caught the acting bug early, born to film royal Clint Eastwood, now 84, and former flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves, 63. He’d visit Dad on movie sets such as 1995’s The Bridges of Madison County and found it “mesmerizing.” He eventually asked Clint for an audition for 2006’s Flags of Our Fathers.
“I hounded him, saying ‘I’d love a shot,’ ” Eastwood says. “I went to audition for the lead part, which went to Ryan Phillippe. But they said there was a smaller part there.”
Scott took bit roles in other Clint projects, from 2008’s Gran Torino through 2012’s Trouble With the Curve. He had to work extra-hard with his father as boss.
“He was harder on me than anyone. He wanted to make sure everyone knew there was no favoritism,” Eastwood says. “You don’t want to make my dad mad.”
Co-star Robertson says she, too, was curious about Eastwood and found he “brings the manliness” along with much more to his leading role — a big step from the good-looking shirtless guy.
“He’s much better than the hype in ways people will not expect,” Robertson says. “People are going to learn to love him.”
They’ll see a lot more of Eastwood, who has roles in Oliver Stone’s Snowden (December) and DC supervillain movie Suicide Squad (August 2016). But he’s cautious about the ride.
“You never believe your own hype,” Eastwood says. “As quick as somebody can be ‘the guy’ in Hollywood, he can be gone the next minute.
“For me, it’s about doing great work. And then hopefully you keep working forever.”
“The only thing I can say is that I’ve been doing this for 12 years. That’s a long time I’ve been grinding, trying to be a better actor.” Scott Eastwood