Mark Morrison (for InStyle Magazine...April 2002)

Q: You were born in Tasmania, then moved to New Guinea. Do you remember any of that?
A: Nothing. When I was 4, we moved back to Sydney to my stepfather's mother's house, which was in a blue-collar neighborhood. But I really grew up in the north corner of New South Wales, called Byron Bay -- it's a sub-tropical version of Northern California. Beautiful beaches, surfing, fishing. My childhood was basically Huck Finn on a beach.

Q: Any fashion faux pas in your youth?
A: I had a vintage dinner suit with thin lapels, and my sister cut them off and added gold lame. I wore it with brothel creepers--- Brian Setzer Stray Cats (shoes). I went through a whole rockabilly thing. Then I had short hair and a white T-shirt, black jeans, and ripple-soled shoes.

When I first started surfing, it was Ugg boots up to your knees and baggy knitted cotton sweaters from Bali. In the early eighties it was rubber thongs, black jeans, and white T- Shirts with a band logo on the front.

Q: What's style to you now?
A: I think style should be unselfconscious. But as soon as you say the word you become conscious of it. I pretty much go for things that are simple, practical. I'm not interested in seeing anyone being worn by their clothes.

Q: Which actors are cool to you?
A: I love guys who are guys, who also show their flaws. I'm a huge fan of Jean-Paul Belmondo. He would just sit there and still have a life force--like there's a team of horses behind any gesture. Gene Hackman's the same. I think Paul Newman is a little bit more aware of the craft, and he has a certain charisma. I like that Robert Redford is kind of simple. Steve McQueen too. He had the natural ability to have an energy. There aren't many guys out there who have that. I love Russell Crowe's work because he's very truthful and powerful, and he's able to be all different men.

Q: What's the most Australian thing about you?
A: My ability to swear, to use foul words in an endearing way. It's all in the delivery and what's behind it.

Q: What's the most Americanized thing about you?
A: Americans have an ability to continue forward. There's a relentlessness in the pursuit of what they want. Sometimes it's misconstrued as arrogance. But it's this ability to just keep going.

Q: Female fans may be disappointed to learn you are married with three kids. Do you worry about your image?

A: The fact that I'm the father of three has so much more weight to it than those concerns. If I didn't have three kids and live my life the way I've lived it, I wouldn't have the fullness I have as a person. And I wouldn't be able to do what I do as well. ----