Last Wednesday, on April 10th, I had the opportunity to meet Simon Baker in Berlin and talk to him about his new comedy "I give it a Year", about "The Mentalist" and about his own approach to romance. The interview was done for German publication, but because of the overwhelming response on Twitter and so many fans loving the video interview I also did with him, I have decided to put the unedited, original English transcipt of my 20-minute print interview with Simon on here. This way, fans all over the world can enjoy it and it will not be limited to German speaking readers.

 

Let me say that I am beginning to understand why you all love Simon so much. He was very laid back, relaxed, charming and just generally great to talk to. Not every interview is like this. And yes, he is very easy on the eyes also.

 

You became famous mostly through your work on TV. Are you now getting back into film?

I never really stopped doing the movies. It is just because of the success of the TV show that you notice me more in the movies. But you are right, obviously "The Mentalist” has gone further out into the world than I could have ever imagined and probably far more than most of my films. People generally recognize me from "The Devil wears Prada” film-wise, or from "LA Confidential”, but that was such a long time ago. I think it's mostly "film people” who know a lot of the more obscure films I have done.

 

Do you have to cancel a lot of film projects because of "The Mentalist"? Doesn't that break your heart?

It doesn't break my heart so much because I don't even look at things that don't fit into the time period I have free. So I never get to fall in love with the girl before I have to break up with her (laughs). It's a kind of self-preservation, really. But "The Mentalist” has been extraordinarily good for me both personally and business wise. The interesting and tricky thing now is how to steer it into possibilities for after the show.

 

You recently got your Star at the Walk of Fame. How did that feel?

You know that was something... When they called and told me, I was a little bit embarrassed because I thought it wasn't really deserving. I am only 43 and I figured to me, in my mind, that's for someone who has had a lifetime of work. But I was wrong. And I guess because I didn't really feel worthy of it, I didn't really think a lot about it beforehand. But then when the time came, during the actual ceremony, I had a lot of really close old friends and family there and it was actually quite overwhelming and really nice. I was able to look around the group of people there and there was a sense of history. And suddenly I felt like – even though I am only 43 and I have only been doing this for 20-something years, I am sort of an old timer now. It was a really nice moment and I loved sharing it with the kids.

 

Were there any challenges to playing this good-looking guy in "I give it a year” who every woman falls in love with? I mean, that's really no longer a challenge to you, is it?

(Laughs) Now you're answering the questions. The challenge to me is the expectation of it. It makes me feel a bit awkward and self-aware, which I don't wanna be. I never wanna be aware of this stuff as an actor. But the truth of the matter is I'm a person just like anyone. And everyone has a lot of facets to them and a rich complexity and I am not gonna get offered those roles forever. One thing I've learned the longer I've been in the business is that when I was younger, I took myself far more seriously as a person and as an actor. These days I take the work very seriously but I don't take myself anywhere near as seriously. I am really relaxed and have taken a lot of the pressure off myself by taking myself a lot less seriously.

 

You're always really good at playing the rich, handsome womanizer kind of guy. Wouldn't it be nice to play the goofy loser for once?

There have been other roles that I have played that have been a little more pathetic or marginal. One thing about Hollywood is that it is very hard to convince people to cast you against what they perceive you to be. It takes a very gutsy director to take that leap. After "The Devil wears Prada”, I got offered a lot of these roles. What I liked about "I Give It A Year” was that this character was actually kind of a goofy guy. He was sort of a slight parody of that character. He comes off as this smooth guy, but the reality is... I mean, look at the dove scene – he is that smooth? Really? So to me that was slightly endearing. To me that was slightly taking the piss out of those characters and it made me want to do this, because that really is how I feel about those characters. They don't really exist. There has to be something about them that makes them human.

 

What do you like about British humor?

What I like about British humor is the balance between being quick and sometimes very sophisticated and sharp, but also being completely silly. It will be very clever and witty and Oscar Wilde-esque, but then completely gross two seconds later.

 

Would you say that this is your personal sense of humor as well?

Well, I am not that smart (laughs).

 

But does it ever happen to you in America that you pull a joke that nobody understands?

Yes, absolutely. That's one thing that's interesting. Sometimes in America.. I mean, I think the English and the American sense of humor are getting closer, but it's still a fair way away. But the American kind of humor is interesting. There are a lot of comedies coming out now that go in that direction. I feel that the most important thing about American humor is that it has to almost be like "this is a joke” and then the joke follows. Like they have to explain that it is a joke. Whereas the English sense of humor just goes on. If you don't get it, they will not explain it to you and it just goes on to the next one. And sometimes even with a lot of those Judd Apatow comedies... I think he is really clever, but you sort of go into the movie knowing it definitely is a comedy. Like they want to make it very clear. It's a little more skittish. It might be influenced by Saturday Night Live.. Which is hit and miss in my opinion, sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's not. I think English humor is more derived from personality humor.

 

You're not English though, you're Australian.

Yes, we're the convicts (laughs). We're sort of English but got cast away.

 

Rose (Byrne) is also Australian, did you know each other?

Yes, the media likes to create this idea that all of us Australians in Hollywood have lunch together every day. Like a barbecue or something. But I did know her.

 

In the movie you play a very romantic guy. What are you like in real life? Do you do very spontaneous things for your wife?

I'm not gonna tell you what I do with my wife (laughs). But I am definitely romantic. If you were to categorize me in that way, then yes, I am a romantic. It doesn't necessarily mean just with my wife. People can romanticize about different things. It doesn't go so far as the absurdity of what happens in the movie. But what I love about that scene is that it sort of sums up the film in a lot of ways. It's one of the most truthful and honest moments, but also one of the most absurdly and ridiculous moments as well.

 

It's very interesting that you say you're a romantic guy. Because the opportunity for men to be romantic sometimes gets lost in our culture. How important do you think romance is in a relationship?

Oh, I think it's very important. You know, it's part of the courting process, the ritual. And when I say courting, then I mean that it doesn't have to stop when you get the girl. I've been married for nearly twenty years and I still sometimes feel like I need to win my wife over. Not all the time. But I think it is part of this little dance that happens. The courtship that has to go on just to go out to dinner. Which is good and it keeps me alive, certainly.

 

Ever since "The Mentalist” you've had quite a big fan base. Has anyone ever done something really crazy? What's the craziest fan experience you've had?

Oh, you know, I get sent stuff like random letters and people give me things and paintings and odd sort of stuff.

 

But nothing crazy – nobody camping outside your house?

(Laughs) Oh no, I would not tolerate that.

 

Do you remember hanging out with Til Schweiger, the German actor, on the set of "Judas Kiss”?

Oh, yes, I do. I hadn't seen him in a while and one day in Malibu he just pulled up in a Volkswagen and he goes "Hello, remember me, I'm Til Schweiger, remember, the German guy?” (laughs) and I was like "Til, of course I remember you”. I hadn't seen him in a while and I haven't seen him since. But doesn't he live back in Germany now?

 

Yes, he is a very successful filmmaker over here.

I know that when we worked together, he was a huge star over here and he showed me a couple of films that he had done. But that was a while ago.

 

He's directing his own films and you have directed episodes of "The Mentalist”. Is that something you would like to follow up with in the future?

Yeah, maybe. As soon as I get out of "The Mentalist”. When I am finished with that, but I have no idea when that will be. Maybe a year, maybe two. It is so time consuming that it doesn't allow me to do anything else. If you're going to direct a film, you need to dedicate a year to that. But I will do it. I really enjoy the process of directing on so many levels. And I really enjoy acting and directing at the same time. It's such a complicated little mind game when you're on both sides.

 

Would ever do television again after this? Because you did "The Guardian” before and it is not very often that you get two leads in a TV show.

No, that's true. And it is also hard to think that I could ever do another show as successful as "The Mentalist”. And because of that, it is hard to think why I would want to do it again. It is so time consuming and it takes a lot from you.

 

When you signed up for it, did you think it was gonna be this successful?

You know, you're hopeful, you're always hopeful, but you can never tell. If anyone could know what exactly the recipe was, everyone would be doing it. It's like catching lightning in a bottle, it only happens every once in a while. I think the most important thing is not to take it for granted and to enjoy it as much as possible. Because even though it is exhausting and all-consuming, it is not something that will last forever. And there will be a time in your life when you go "Wow”. I never want to be the person who dies, thinking I missed an opportunity. That is my approach to life and it has become more important to me the older I get.

 

Your character says "treat everyone the way you want to be treated”, is that your motto in life, too?

Oh, absolutely. That kind of exact expression was always a key element for me growing up. "If you're good to others, people will be good to you”.