Between an upcoming superhero movie and the darling little family he's started with wife Blake Lively and baby girl James, Ryan Reynolds is living the sweet life these days. The actor said as much during a recent interview with GQ, in which he chatted about how he's well suited to being a dad and lucky to be landing such great roles.
We mined the cover star's interview for a few highlights — including when Reynolds addressed how it's harder out there for Black and female actors. On top of his skills onscreen and behind the parenting scenes, it seems like this is one guy who has got his head screwed on straight about the fame game. All we have to say is: Bravo, bud. (GQ)
On how parenting advice is sort of like being hit with a water gun...
"Picture advice being loaded into Super Soakers. You’re running around all dry and fancy-free — you’re gonna be, like, drenched. The one piece of advice I would say is: Don’t listen to any advice. Because there’s nothing you can do to prepare for it ... I’ve learned that an inordinate amount of clichés are completely true. Like, there is this kid here that I would walk through fire for. Or maybe not fire. Like, a very hot pavement, I’d walk through. A shag rug." On how he wasn't expecting this dad thing to be so seamless...
"I’m surprised how patient I am with it. I feel like I could sometimes have a bit of a short fuse, but there’s just been this weirdly endless supply of patience. I have no problem waking up five times in the middle of the night and changing diapers, and as exhausted as you get, I have this stupid grin on my face all the time. And that’s not because I have a nanny or something like that. It’s just us right now, and I love it." On how he downplays the baby-genius stuff in public, but behind closed doors ...
"Every time I talk about my kid in public, I’m generally talking about how average she is. But at home, I’m like, 'You’re a genius! Oh, my god! You just took a shit in your diaper that came out as a perfect musical note!'" On how the Hollywood game is not exactly fair and balanced ...
"I know it’s not easy for a Black actor. It’s not easy for a female actor. It’s not easy for a lot of people that are... That entire cast [of Fantastic Four] is amazingly talented. And I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I mean, I know what that feels like. It doesn’t feel good. And it also is difficult, because you don’t feel like you can control that outcome. You know, as much as you want to. You can’t really."
"Picture advice being loaded into Super Soakers. You’re running around all dry and fancy-free — you’re gonna be, like, drenched. The one piece of advice I would say is: Don’t listen to any advice. Because there’s nothing you can do to prepare for it ... I’ve learned that an inordinate amount of clichés are completely true. Like, there is this kid here that I would walk through fire for. Or maybe not fire. Like, a very hot pavement, I’d walk through. A shag rug." On how he wasn't expecting this dad thing to be so seamless...
"I’m surprised how patient I am with it. I feel like I could sometimes have a bit of a short fuse, but there’s just been this weirdly endless supply of patience. I have no problem waking up five times in the middle of the night and changing diapers, and as exhausted as you get, I have this stupid grin on my face all the time. And that’s not because I have a nanny or something like that. It’s just us right now, and I love it." On how he downplays the baby-genius stuff in public, but behind closed doors ...
"Every time I talk about my kid in public, I’m generally talking about how average she is. But at home, I’m like, 'You’re a genius! Oh, my god! You just took a shit in your diaper that came out as a perfect musical note!'" On how the Hollywood game is not exactly fair and balanced ...
"I know it’s not easy for a Black actor. It’s not easy for a female actor. It’s not easy for a lot of people that are... That entire cast [of Fantastic Four] is amazingly talented. And I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I mean, I know what that feels like. It doesn’t feel good. And it also is difficult, because you don’t feel like you can control that outcome. You know, as much as you want to. You can’t really."