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Simon News, Articles, Info
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| DS_Pallas |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 1:55 PM | Message # 931 |
 Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1979
Status: Offline |
English translation of Simon's Interview (in French) by Henry Arnaud from the Swiss newspaper "Le Matin" website, 19th May 2015 ( Original article ). I apologize for the errors.
" I am not a sex symbol when I get up "
Simon Baker
Actor Simon Baker is visiting the Cannes film festival to sell his first project of feature film. An breath of fresh air after 20 years of television! We met him.
Simon Baker, 45, has definitively stored the outfits of Patrick Jane, the hero of "The Mentalist" since he has shot the ultimate episode of his series at the beginning of the year. Present in Cannes for his first film as a director, Baker made low profile, up to secure this interview in a hotel away from the Croisette. We found him wearing black glasses and a beard abundant. "It helps me to look incognito, no? "
How do you feel in a big festival where the fans are everywhere?
I am used to the loss of anonymity for a long time. This is part of success. The fans always have a kind word, and some call me Patrick Jane, it makes me smile.
What was the first thing that popped in your mind when learning the end of "The Mentalist"?
That I was going to be able to get some holiday in the broad sense of the term: take some weight, let me grow a beard, sleep in... everything that I haven't been able to do during these last seven years.
So you say goodbye to your image of sex symbol?
Me, a sex symbol? It is a misleading advertising (laughs). Show-biz is a profession of illusions, then yes I am selling dreams or an image as many others but, believe me, I am not a sex symbol when I get up, with my love handles and my messy hair. Having said that, I am really glad to take a break.
Are you going to leave Hollywood to come back in Australia?
In my head, I have never left Australia. My family lives in California for a long time because shooting "The Mentalist" implied staying in Los angeles for the most part of the year. But I always went back home as soon as I had some free time. Christmas vacation was very often the opportunity to be in the surroundings of Sydney for instance.
What do you want to do now?
I'd love being the assistant of the coach of my sons' football team (he has 3 children, Stella, 22 years old, Blue, 17 years and Harry, 14 years). I'd like to follow them in trainings, which was impossible for me so far. I am going to disappear from the screens to become a dad again and a much more present husband.
Did it affected you these last years?
I am married since the age of 29 and I wouldn't be there without having met an extraordinary woman who supported me and backed up all these years. Rebecca trusted me in all our stages of life. She's the pillar of the family.
Your wife Rebecca Rigg is also an actress. Has she ever been jealous of your close relationship with Robin Tunney, your partner in the series?
Of course not, there's no reason to be. Besides, I always imagined Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon as two best friends rather than two lovers who don't dare to take the first step. In this sense, the last season of "The Mentalist" was not at all what I had imagined at the beginning of the show.
Are you disappointed with this seventh and final season?
No, we have given the fans what they were expecting. It was the best way to close the loop, especially as the previous season, Patrick Jane had gotten his revenge against his greatest enemy who had killed his wife and daughter. But I would have preferred a more dramatic finale for my character.
Patrick Jane dead?
For instance. But I've no regrets.
Could you come back soon in a new TV series?
If by soon you mean in 10 years, everything is possible... If by soon you mean this fall, no way! I'm grateful for the success of 'The Mentalist' but it's been almost 20 years since I've been shooting for television with 12 or 14 hours working days, and 10 months per year. I want to develop other projects.
You are at the Cannes film festival for a film project you are going to direct, besides acting in it. What is it?
"Breath" is the title of a bestseller, written by Tim Winton. When I read this dark story, I wanted right away to stage it, because everything is described in great detail. "Breath" tells the story of two teenagers who are going to get close to an old reclusive surfer and his mysterious wife.
And therefore, you will be the "old" surfer?
Exactly, and that's also why I'm growing a beard. Surfing is my passion. This project is particumary close to my heart as I am going to shoot it at home, in Australia. I directed several episodes of "The Mentalist" but it will be my first production for a feature-length film. The fact that it's made in Australia is a great pride for me.
Message edited by DS_Pallas - Wednesday, 20-May-15, 1:58 PM |
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| bee |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 2:23 PM | Message # 932 |
 Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1525
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Thanks for the translation DSP. Nice to know that with all the trappings of Hollywood he's still that down to earth guy who enjoys simple pleasures and who just wants to be a normal husband and father spending more time with his family. Those 12-14 hour working days on TM must have taken its toll on him and his family. I also love the fact that he always mentions Rebecca and how supportive she is in everything he does. They have such a good solid loving relationship. Had to chuckle though when he mentioned his "love handles and messy hair".  Gotta love him! 
Message edited by bee - Wednesday, 20-May-15, 2:26 PM |
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| Ivana |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 8:07 PM | Message # 933 |
 Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1223
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Thank you for translation DSP!  |
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| Ivana |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 8:25 PM | Message # 934 |
Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1223
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thanks to sarapettarini
http://issuu.com/teleloisirs/docs/galacr_3_2015_05_15/c/sul80rh
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| Ivana |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 8:26 PM | Message # 935 |
Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1223
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thanks to sarapettarini
http://issuu.com/teleloi....sul8h1x
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| Deedee |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 9:20 PM | Message # 936 |
 Bee's Knees
Messages: 704
Status: Offline |
Thanks DSP for the translation. What a dear sweet man he is and I am so glad for him that he can spend more time with his family now. They really are his top priority. It must have been very hard to have spent such long hours at work for the last seven years and missed so much family life despite the fantastic success he has achieved. Can't wait for Breath I have no doubt he will do a brilliant job. |
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| redbird |
Date: Wednesday, 20-May-15, 11:41 PM | Message # 937 |
Dinkie-Di
Messages: 152
Status: Offline |
I can appreciate the hardship of being away from his family that Simon speaks about but isn't it pretty much the same hardship that all parents who work go through? He talks about working long days. So does any working mother who gets herself out of bed at 5am, gets herself ready for work, gets her kids fed, dressed and out the door to school, works all day, then rushes to get to daycare right before it closes and then doesn't get home with the kids until 7pm. Isn't that the same 14 hour day that Simon has continually talked about working while he was filming The Mentalist? I can guarantee that "working mom" wasn't bringing home $11 million a year for working those hours like Simon did. He talks about working on The Mentalist 10 months out of the year. That would give him a 2 month vacation every year. Where I come from 2 months of vacation a year is a beautiful thing. And according to my calculations, filming on The Mentalist lasted for about 8 months out of the year. Yes, he had other outside work commitments but those were his choice. I can appreciate his commitment to his family and the hardship he feels they suffered for his work but let's keep this in perspective. |
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| kim |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 1:56 AM | Message # 938 |
 Bee's Knees
Messages: 676
Status: Offline |
DS_P Thanks for the translation!! I really appreciate it. He certainly still sounds like the same Simon. I am really happy that he is getting closer to making Breath a reality. |
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| Tina |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 7:39 AM | Message # 939 |
 Fair Dinkum
Messages: 2066
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Thanks for the translation DS. I'm so happy that he can do Breath now. I miss TM, everytime I see something that reminds me on Jane I still get a little sad, but I'm so excited about Breath that it goes away. Simon seems to be so happy now, and that makes me happy. |
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| DaboGirl |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 8:26 AM | Message # 940 |
 Jillaroo
Messages: 44
Status: Offline |
Thank for the translation DS.
Simon seems adamant that he is done with the small screen While I think that Simon is an amazing actor some of his film choice have left much to be desired.
Quote As Owain Yeoman said about Simon directing The Mentalist No one knows the medium of television better than Simon. He is a natural.
Simon is a star and a household name because of television. Right now I'm thrilled for him to direct and star in Breath. I still hope that one day he will return to TV.
Message edited by DaboGirl - Thursday, 21-May-15, 8:32 AM |
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| Fran |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 10:46 AM | Message # 941 |
 Fair Dinkum
Messages: 4127
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Thanks DS_Pallas, Ivana & Ruuger. As Simon says about TV work, everything is possible. A lot of good actors are combining film and tv careers these days. It seems unlikely to me that Simon will want to commit to another American procedural, but there are some very good alternatives that don't require that type of commitment. For example I'd love to see him do a quality mini series for the BBC. |
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| DS_Pallas |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 12:26 PM | Message # 942 |
Fair Dinkum
Messages: 1979
Status: Offline |
Quote redbird (  ) I can appreciate the hardship of being away from his family that Simon speaks about but isn't it pretty much the same hardship that all parents who work go through? […] I can appreciate his commitment to his family and the hardship he feels they suffered for his work but let's keep this in perspective.
I agree with you, of course all this is relative! Millions of people are working hard every day, with kids to raise and family to feed. Well I'm sure some of us do.
But nobody gives a damn 
Though as you must notice, Simon is not complaining about the job, just that he's glad to have a break…  |
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| redbird |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 1:13 PM | Message # 943 |
Dinkie-Di
Messages: 152
Status: Offline |
I kind of disagree with you, DS_P. I think Simon does complain - and has complained for a long time - about the amount of time that The Mentalist took from his family. Don't get me wrong - I adore the guy and I understand the reason for the complaint but it's the one thing that he talks about that I find rather insensitive considering the fact that The Mentalist put him in a position financially that he doesn't ever have to work again in his life if he doesn't want to. That certainly isn't the case for most working moms and dads. Over the past 10 years while the worldwide economy has tanked, many moms and dads have been struggling to keep their homes, provide for their children and maintain some semblance of the life that they had created for themselves before the bottom fell out. During that same time, Simon was amassing amazing success and wealth far beyond what most of us will ever see in our lifetimes. His work life is no different than that of other working parents but he doesn't have latch-key kids who are home alone everyday for 3 or 4 hours after school while mom and dad are at work, he has the financial means to put all of his kids through school as far they want to go and his kids have enjoyed the benefit of traveling all over the world. I feel no extra compassion or sympathy for what The Mentalist "took" from his family. |
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| amanda |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 1:36 PM | Message # 944 |
 Cobber
Messages: 123
Status: Offline |
I totally agree with you Redbird
But I know that Fran doesn't want people writing negative things about Simon on the site and has reminded it many times !!!
But you're right to my opinion |
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| redbird |
Date: Thursday, 21-May-15, 2:05 PM | Message # 945 |
Dinkie-Di
Messages: 152
Status: Offline |
I didn't mean it as a negative. Being away from home and your kids is a legitimate concern of every working parent. And it should be a concern. I was just pointing out that his situation is no different from other working parents and is, in many ways, far better than most. As such it doesn't entitle him to any special empathy or sympathy for his particular situation. |
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