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Eric Bana: "Wo bleiben die leichten Stoffe?"
(Eric Bana: Where is the Slight Fare?)

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January 24, 2006
Written By: Leif Kramp
Source: rp-online.com
Provided By: Patricia
Translated from German to English By: Lui

Though he played the main part in Ang Lee's 'Hulk', a breakthrough for the Australian actor Eric Bana was missing; but this could change with Spielberg's 'Munich', in which Bana could prove his actual skills. In this interview, the good humored guy talks about his German roots, difficult politics and his family which is the most important to him.

Your mother is German. How many German words did she teach you?
"Not enough for an interview. Isch kann a bisserl, aber net zu viel. (laughs) That's enough for me. My mother originally come from Viernheim near Mannheim; I traveled with her a few times, but also alone through Germany. I love Bravaria, I'd like to travel some more times through this beautiful spot."

One of your kids is named Klaus, a typical German name. Why did you name him that?
"He's named after my mother's brother, we had a close relationship. He took me to football games when I was young. We generally spent a lot of time with each other, and besides he's my godfather. When my son was born, he was a big baby, so I thought, he's a true Klaus."

Did you guess, that there would be a heated discussion about your new movie?
"Since the beginning, regarding that subject, it was clear to me. In the end it's not only about the Olympic Games 1972, but particularly the following revenge. Everything is very complex, the whole commotion doesn't surprise me at all.

How do you review the portrayal and valuation in the movie?
I have no opinion about it actually because that's a very politically charged problem. I argue with the words of Golda Meir (Lynn Cohen) 'Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values.' It wasn't surprising that Israel wanted to backfire then. If I hit you now, your reaction would be to hit me back."

Did you have many discussions about that subject during shooting?
"I never engaged in talking about the contents of the movie with Steven. I didn't want to search for deeper messages. My soul and energy belonged to the part of Avner during the whole shooting. Ninety-five percent of the discussions were about the exact moment in which we shot those particular scenes. So there was no time left to have philosophical discussion about the meaning of the movie."

Did the movie change you at all?
"I always had a quite realistic-pessimistic view about the worldwide anti-terror policy. This region of the world has a very difficult history. I was familiar with it and dealt with such topics in other film projects. So it wasn't strange to me at all."

You played a soldier in 'Black Hawk Down' and now a killer, but you hate firearms?
"I can't stand guns. I never liked them. I don't like movies, in which violence is shown for the sake of itself. But if the storyline warrants the use of firearms, I'm okay with it."

You live far away from Hollywood in your home country Australia...curse or blessing?
"That was always important for me. I couldn't arrange my ideas or even make a decision if I lived in the USA. I have to sleep in my own bed and that ensures balance in my life. In Hollywood the pressure is too heavy, if you don't show enough dedication, you're easily labeled as a looser. I don't need that."

What are you doing between your film projects?
"I have kids and hobbies - a normal life. I'm driving race cars, which I did before becoming an actor. Besides, I'm spending a lot of time with my football team.

What's better: racing or filming?
"In comparison to my hobby, filming is not exciting. You need to have patience to be in front of the camera and everybody has another subjective opinion about your current performance and how to do it in a better way. But if you're sitting in a race car, the only thing that matters is the stop watch. It has only one clear opinion, no special effects, no lies: top or flop."

Isn't your hobby irresponsible because you have young children?
"I've only had one accident, but I pretty much wasn't hurt. Honestly, I feel more insecure if I shoot a movie far away from home and I'm driven by a chauffeur, who has no clue how to drive properly. I feel safer when I have the machine under control.

Does your family accompany you during the shooting?
"My kids are five and a half and three and a half years old now. They have sat in on each film that I've shot - on this one too. This will change of course because they will go to school soon. I just don't know how to deal with it yet. But maybe I will shoot for one year and then balance my absence within the following one. I take no stock in strict rules. I like to be flexible and match my personal needs and those of my family."

You make your family a top priority?
"Yes, but his hasn't influenced any of my job related decisions so far. Of course they have a stake in how long I work eventually, but not which films I choose.

Do your kids know what you are doing professionally?
"My eldest five year old knows more about the film business than I did when I was twenty. He sees exactly through what I'm doing and how I have to evaluate it. But I won't show them my films until they are seventeen or eighteen years old. They are only allowed to watch comedy stuff even though they don't really understand it yet. Besides, even my son who is in the know has no clue how many men I have already had to kill in the movies.

InStyle Magazine: Man of Style

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Written by: Damien Woolnough
Photographed By: Richard Bailey
Typed & Provided By Mona
USA: January 2006

What do you usually hang out in?
"Mostly jeans and T-shirts, but occasionally I like wearing a shirt with a collar. I was taking the kids [Klaus, 6, and Sophia, 3] to school, and some days I felt like a bum compared to all of the men in suits. So now I wake up and reach for a shirt so I don't look like a mechanic at the school gates."

You've played hunky heroes in The Hulk and Troy, yet you started in Australia as a stand-up comic. How did that happen?
"I'd had enough of it. People in the U.S. are surprised by my background and tell me I'm not funny at all. Well, I have no desire to prove them wrong. I love making friends laugh, but don't feel the need to put on a show for strangers."

Was it a tough transition to serious movie roles?
"A lack of fear is a definite plus. There's a certain amount of pressure that someone who does comedy is used to--if you have only done drama, you can't realize what it's like to be under that kind of pressure."

Speaking of pressure, how do you feel about shopping?
"I began to get more interested in clothes after I met my wife, Rebecca, who has a great eye. As my career advanced I got to compare great clothes with average ones, and now I know what looks good on me. Actually, I'm becoming a bit of a clothes slut."

You're a little too young to have experienced the fashion train wreck that was the seventies.
"I'm just on the cusp. So the seventies, for me, is just fond memories. It's great music playing in the background on the weekends at Mom and Dad's--Elvis, Perry Como, Engelbert Humperdinck and Nana Mouskouri. And I'll go out on a limb and say it's stylistically more interesting than the eighties--which were all about tight Faberge jeans and Bubblegum stretch jeans on girls; some boys wore them as well."

How did you dress pre-Rebecca?
"I could never get the size right as a teenager. I look at photos of my mullet cuts and Windcheaters [fleecy Australian sweatshirts] that were either way too big or way too small and I laugh. It was about practically. I was either on my BMX bicycle, working on the car, or rugging up [Aussie-speak for "dressing warmly"] in a duffel coat to go to a football game."

So nowadays are you able to get the fit right on a pair of, say, jeans?
"Well, the main problem is you have to take your pants off. That's why I shop for jackets--you can just stand in the store and try one on. I've go so many jackets simply because they're so easy to buy. My most recent splurge was after shooting Munich. I found a beautiful Paul Smith sport jacket. I had it purchased [in my mind] before I took it off the rack. I love his stuff. It has a bit of a twist."

And does Rebecca still go shopping with you?
"Early on I would always run things by her. But now I've gotten a bit cocky and I take things home and go, 'Cop this,' and she'll ooh and aah. I think she's more impressed that I can home with stuff that hasn't been approved by a stylist. Which I like. You've got to do it yourself."

Any role models in the style arena?
"I think most males are pretty erratic. The only one who seems consistent is Hugh Grant. He's pretty stylish. I don't like try-hard looks. I'm easily repelled."

If you had become a Hollywood star back in the thirties or forties, would you have been more drawn to suave Cary Grant roles or John Wayne-type Western heroes?
"I would have done my best to do both. But I probably would have ended up on a horse."

InStyle Magazine: Keeping It Real

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Written by: Damien Woolnough
Photographed By: Richard Bailey
Typed & Provided By Nathalia
Australia: February 2006

Since Falling on Brad Pitt's sword in Troy Eric Bana has found himself in Hollywood heaven. But the star of Steven Spielberg's gritty Munich prefers to keep his feet planted on Australian soil.

Eric Bana is happy to be home. Right after shooting Lucky You (out later this year) with Drew Barrymore, the 37-year-old leaped into Steven Spielberg's latest movie, Munich, about the aftermath of the 1972 Olympics tragedy. Now that Hollywood casting agents have his number on speed dial, his beginnings in Australian television--countless episodes impersonating Ray Martin in Fast Forward--and the serenity of filming The Castle are distant memories. But Melbourne is still home and the frank father of two has a simple off-set philosophy about keeping things real: "I've always believed in lying as low as possible."

You've played hunky heroes in The Hulk and Troy, yet you started as a stand-up comedian. How did that happen?
I’d had enough of it. People in the US are surprised by my background and tell me I’m not funny at all. Well, I have no desire to prove them wrong. I love making friends laugh, but I don’t feel the need to put on a show for strangers.

Was it hard to become accepted as an actor after working in sketch comedy?
It’s really funny, a few years ago we would get teenagers walking past my house and they’d yell out stuff (related to Bana’s comedy days) in a friendly way, but it’s stopped. I’ve realized it’s stopped because a 16-year-old today would never have seen me on television. I’m getting older and the young kids today have no clue about that part of my life.

Why do you think Hollywood likes leading men who make us laugh? Are there many?
Jamie Foxx I love. A lack of fear is a definite plus. There’s a certain amount of pressure that someone who does comedy is used to; if you’ve only done drama, you can’t realize what it’s like to be under that kind of pressure.

You’ve played a criminal, a warrior and a not-so-gentle green giant. Have you kept any of the clothes?
I do try to keep stuff. I’ve got my entire H Division wardrobe from Chopper-all of my prison clothes. I wanted to have my complete wardrobe from Troy but I’m still waiting for that to arrive. I only take stuff if I’ve got fond memories of filming.

So you have fond memories of filming Chooper?
Yeah, I had a good time in prison. Well, I certainly had a better time than most people on the inside.

You’ve been working pretty hard lately.
I just did two films back to back, which I’ve never done before. it was full on. It happened by chance and I would never do it by design. It was pretty extreme because I was the lead in both-psychologically and emotionally it takes a lot out of you. People say that it’s hard to complain about working on a film, but what’s different (compared to other careers) is that when you’re on a film your life actually stops. You’re not at home, not in your bed. In every other job your life continues with your work. The minute I hop on a plane my actual life is suspended.

It must be difficult spending time away from your family?
I don’t want to sound as though I’m complaining too much. I get to do some amazing things. My wife (Rebecca) and I took off to Taormina, Sicily, during a short break in filming Munich. We first went there while I was making Troy. There’s a beautiful hotel we stay at, it’s not too glamorous, but it’s incredibly beautiful-it’s pretty old school. Bring able to share that together is great.

Family is obviously important to you. Is that why you still call Melbourne home?
I’m a bit of a baby, and when I’m not working I just like being at home with my wife and children (Klaus, six, and Sophia, three). But saying that it’s to be closer to family and friends is trite. It’s simply because it’s home. If I was brought up in New York it would be New York. Home is where home is and I do have a passion for this city and everything about it.

How do you keep your cool while you’re away?
I make it a mission to take Australian music with me when I’m on films. I’ve given out a lot of Powderfinger. After listening to them Spielberg said, “If these guys released this single here tomorrow they’d be overnight hits.” He really loves them. I’m the official Hollywood ambassador for the ‘finger.

And how do you unwind at home?
I love to go for a ride and I’m still messing around with my cars. I love racing cars but studios don’t really like you doing it when you’ve got the lead in a big movie. It makes them nervous. I try to keep sane by playing car racing computer games until filming stops and I can get back behind the wheel.

Are you an adrenaline junkie?
I don’t know. Cars have always been a part of my life. I was drawn to them long before I did stand-up.

Was your childhood spent tinkering away in the garage?
I was either on my BMX bicycle, working on the car, or rugging up in a duffel coat to go to a football game. I look at photos of my mullet cuts and windcheaters that were either way too big or way too small and I laugh. It was all about practicality.

You’re an action man. If you had been working in the forties would you have been a suave Cary Grant type or tough John Wayne?
Why can’t I do both? I certainly would have done my best to do everything. But I definitely would have ended up riding a horse in one film.

You don’t like to be typecast but what’s with the low profile?
I’m pretty conscious of that and I enjoy it. I work really hard at not working too hard and sometimes it takes discipline. I’m probably a little harder to nail down than some people and that’s fine. When a film comes out I’m there and if I’m not working on a film, as far as I’m concerned I shouldn’t be seen.

 

 

 

 

 

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