April 2015 - Vanity Fair Italy

(Translation thanks to Robin's Green Shades - Robin Tunney Blog)

Paris, the sky is grey and it’s windy. Twelve kg inside the suitcase I’ve brought from Italy and I still can’t find something good enough for the occasion. I change clothes three times, and finally I head towards Avenue George V where I have an appointment with my only idol, Simon Baker: the most famous - and sexy - mentalist of the television is waiting for me for an interview. When I’m inside the room, almost empty, with two green armchairs and a table, he’s alone. Tall, hands in his pockets, he wears a blue suit with a white shirt. He greets me with a hug, two kisses, he asks me if I feel cold, if I’m fine and asks for a chamomile tea. I’d need that too, I think. When he talks, he always looks at you in the eyes, searching for contact. He says he uses the Givenchy fragrances and that his favorite is the last one, Gentlemen Only Casual Chic. I want proof. He moves the shirt’s sleeve up and he makes me sniff his wrist. “It smells like soap”, I tell him. He smiles his radiant smile and with a challenging look he shoots back: “That’s because I wear the perfume on my neck”. I couldn’t miss this chance and so I sniffed Simon Baker. He was telling the truth, and it smelled good: a mix of spices and woods that hasn’t covered his smell of bronzed skin and salt. He laughs, he wasn’t expecting it. I am the only follower of his Instagram account, @snappytoes, who could get that close.

So, even a gentleman is on social networks?
Yes, but just Instagram, because it is different and I love photography. But to my kids I teach that socials aren’t enough to develop a human contact, despite what a lot of kids think.

Who taught you good manners?
My parents. They educated me to always look the people you shake hands with in the eyes, to keep the door open for the others, to have respect. But good manners are something that grow as you grow older.

You often say ‘thank you’.
Because I am aware of my well-being: I have a very comfortable life, compared to the beginnings; that was hard. I am grateful for the chance I had, and I fear I don’t deserve it, and that it could go away any moment. I almost feel guilty.

Do you practice yoga?
Yes I did some time ago, but I do meditation as soon as I have some time. And I always try to be helpful to others, to create a contact with other people.

Is that the reason why you’ve chosen to be an actor?
Yes. Often, people can’t really express what they feel with words, but watching a movie, they can relate to a character and they can feel comforted. It was my dream when I was a kid, I wanted to communicate with the world.

You have impersonated Mick Jagger during a tv show. Do you like to dance?
Every gentleman has a rock side that needs to be expressed.

And do you also have a dark side?
Yes, we all do. So surreal, you do have David Bowie’s eyes…

Acute observer, like Patrick Jane.
With all these years, there’s a mutual influence. We are two personalities in one person. There’s some Patrick in Simon, and some Simon in Patrick.

Are you trying to mislead me so you don’t have to answer to my question?
Ok, my dark side is anger. It happens when I am not pleased with myself. But it’s self-criticism, and it rarely comes out.

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