Sunday Style (Aus) - May 2014
By Meg Mason
Simon Baker, the LA-based actor, 44, channels his inner elegance on his latest visit to Australia
The last time you hit town, the Daily Mail ran some delightful shots of you swimming at Bondi with the headline “Shirtless The Mentalist star Simon Baker displays muscular physique while Down Under”. That must have been a lovely welcome home.
Well, they had certainly taken liberties with the word “muscular”. I saw those images and thought, “Whoa, steady upon the lagers a bit.” But whenever I come back, I want to embrace everything about being here. I’m not going to be able to stop the paparazzi ... And I’m an old bloke now; I’m OK about carrying a few extra pounds if I’m having fun. You have to detach yourself from that side of things and live moment to moment.
Does it still feel like coming home after so long living in LA?
I love coming back. I really love the open, gregarious nature of Australians. It hits me every time, you know, the “G’day mate, how are you?” It’s just so easy and warm and comforting.
You’ve done six seasons of The Mentalist, playing a psychic who solves crimes. Any lines you’d be happy never to hear again?
“What am I thinking?” or “Where did I just come from?” I do get those ones, but you make television in the hope people will watch it, so I’m not going to complain.
You were a film guy, primarily, before the show. Why did you cross over?
My kids [Stella Breeze 20, Claude Blue 16, and Harry Friday 12] were at a certain age where I wanted to be home so I could watch them grow up. With films, you’re off all over the place. I still do my share of films, but the consistency with TV has been far more practical.
Do you have plans for when the show wraps, or are you a ‘see what happens’ type of chap?
Every time I’ve ever made plans, something else has come along. I am analytical and I do plan, but weekly TV has been gruelling and I’ve been working hard for 15 years, so I’d love to take it easy a bit more. I’ll always have some sort of creative life.
You’ve been married for 15 years [to actor Rebecca Rigg] in a city where 16 days is a good run. What’s your secret?
I don’t think there are any secrets to long marriages. And it’s not related to where you are geographically. It’s about how important it is to you and, like anything, it’s working at things and wanting to figure stuff out.
You’re raising teenagers in LA – kind of different from your childhood in rural Victoria. How did you negotiate that particular challenge?
I’m still negotiating that. It’s not easy. We have a life of major contrasts. There are positives and negatives of both places, and it’s about finding the right balance.
Does being an actor make you any cooler in the eyes of your children, or are you still a horribly embarrassing person as far as they’re concerned?
I’m an actor, sure, but I’m a parent first. So, yeah, I’m still tragically embarrassing. They’re not that thrilled by my job. They’ve spent so much time around it, they just see it as a way to make a living.
Have any of them announced plans to follow you into the business?
If they had, I wouldn’t tell you. That would really put me on the sh*t list.
The Devil Wears Prada is considered - by the Sunday Style office - to be the best film ever made. Do you remember it as fondly as we do?
The experience of me making a film is different from the experience of anyone watching it. When you make a movie, you never really know how it’s going to turn out. It was an immensely popular film, but I’ve had great experiences on some of the worst films I’ve ever worked on.
And now you’re working with Longines as brand ambassador. You know, the Chinese men’s gymnastics team are also Longines ambassadors. Have you picked up any tips for the pommel horse?
No, shame. But I’m still pleased to be working with Longines. They [make] a practical reliable watch, established, not overly fashionable, respectable.
Like your good self?
I hope so.
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