April 2014 – Daily Telegraph Insider interview

Simon’s the rare star who’s down to earth

Inside the rise and rise of one of Australia’s truly nice guys, writes Amy Harris

Standing on the balcony of a private suite at Royal Randwick racecourse and turned out in an impeccable grey suit and designer spectacles, Simon Baker has dozens of sets of eyes fixed in his direction.

Taller than you would expect (given many actors are surprisingly short), Baker looks exactly the same off screen as he does on his long-running hit drama, The Mentalist.

His straw-coloured hair is mussed to perfection and his face covered with the sort of stubble which, in this case, reflects the fact he has just come off a week’s holiday.

He’s in Sydney to spruik for luxury watchmaker Longines, which he has been an ambassador for since 2012.

That means he is the special guest in a private dining room filled with about 80 people – the kind that look very much at home in the sort of surrounds associated with a super-luxe designer brand.

Baker, too, fits right in among this impossibly stylish set – stands out if anything. But standing out on a private concourse and chatting to The Sunday Telegraph, his conversation turns anything but pretentious - “Parramatta is looking great these days,” Baker says effusively, referring to his beloved Eels, who are enjoying the best start to a season since 2009 – when they made it all the way to the grand final.

Baker relishes his team’s win over the Sydney Roosters last weekend.

“You gotta love beating the Roosters,” he says, holding his fist in the air. “We’ve had three years ... well, two years, of being wooden-spooners and then last year we were second last, so it’s just nice.”

Asked when he last got an opportunity to attend an Eels game, Baker gives the sort of nostalgic look that only someone who spends nine months of the year working 70 hours a week in America can summon.

“Gosh ... I last went to a game in 2010 when they were down 21-0 against Penrith and they came back and won, and I think it was their biggest comeback ever,” he said.

“I think that year they finished in the top eight. That was the last year that (coach) Daniel Anderson was in charge. It was his last year and then came (Stephen) Kearney and then ...” he pauses, his eyes crinkling  into a wince, “then came Ricky Stuart. But I love the guy they have now. And they have a team of guys who want to play footy and who are excited about playing footy.”

Sledging football coaches, reminiscing about games from years ago and recalling ancient scorelines – if ever there was any doubt Baker is one of Hollywood’s most unaffected stars, here lies the undeniable proof.

It’s hard to fathom but before Ashton Kutcher came along and took over from Charlie Sheen on Two And A Half Men, Baker was Hollywood’s highest paid actor in a TV drama for his turn on The Mentalist, which recently wrapped its sixth season. It is widely tipped that will be the show’s last, with CBS yet to renew the series.

“No, no word yet,” says Baker. “I’m mixed about it, to be honest. I wanted to come back as long as creatively it is still interesting and still has a narrative life to it. But, you know, it’s been on for six years, it’s a pretty good run for TV these days and it’s been great for me.”

As for the future, Baker hints that he’s getting a hankering to do more movies. “There is definitely an element of me wanting to fall in love with movies all over again.”

Scans

Cover: http://thebakerboy.ucoz.com/photo/photoshoots/magazine_scans/2014_april_insider_01/58-0-9001

Interview: http://thebakerboy.ucoz.com/photo/58-0-9002-3