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Justin Long doesn’t want taboo around marijuana as he ‘indulges a little too much’-Larushka Ivan-Zadeh-Entertainment – Metro
The actor on new film Barbarian, starring in classic horror Jeepers Creepers and his vices.
Justin Long speaks to Metro (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Actor Justin Long, 44, talks his role in Jeepers Creepers, how he keeps his youthful looks, whether he practises his Oscars speech and new film Barbarian.
What are you dressing up as this Halloween?
That’s a good question. Marty McFly [from Back To The Future] is usually my standard because I love Michael J Fox as that character and I have the outfit.
But this year we’re going to dress Kate’s dog as a skunk, because we’re going trick or treating with my nephew and he wants to dress up as a raccoon.
Kate’s dog is a big French spaniel named Happy and all it takes is a single stripe down his back to make him look a lot like a skunk.
Justin usually dresses up as Marty McFly for Halloween (Picture: Shutterstock)
You’ve starred in Jeepers Creepers, Drag Me To Hell and now Barbarian – we’re guessing you like scary movies?
Totally! Leading up to Halloween I’ve been watching one movie a night with Kate [Bosworth].
Last night we saw Saint Maud, which is incredible, and we’re showing each other all the classics like Don’t Look Now and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Ellen Burstyn in The Exorcist is just on another level!
Though watching Drag Me To Hell with Kate was something of a horror experience in itself – so embarrassing!
I kind of play the supportive spouse character, which, as Kate pointed out, is a role often reserved for actresses. She was like, ‘Now you know how it feels’.
What’s Barbarian like?
What I appreciate as a horror nerd is how the set-up is just so patient. It’s really bold film-making by today’s standards.
I don’t want to give any spoilers, as the fun is finding out the secret for yourselves, but Barbarian is about a double-booked Airbnb and two strangers who have to coexist in the space and then they find out that there is a sinister force literally underneath their situation.
That’s the best pitch I can do! And I’ve had about ten months to practise.
Sounds a long way from Alvin And The Chipmunks…
Yeah! That’s not to put too fine a point on it. I miss Alvin! I hope they do another one. I have really fond memories. And it’s given me great cachet with kids.
You’re 44 and you look so young. What’s your secret?
Justin attributes his young looks to not over indulging (Picture: Shutterstock)
If I turned on the video component of the Zoom call, you wouldn’t be saying that! It’s funny because when you’re a kid, looking young is not necessarily a positive thing. So I always wanted to look older.
It’s something I always struggled with, in a very superficial way. But then I became a professional actor around the time when teen movies were very popular, so it was such an asset.
I don’t know what I attribute it to. Genes? Clean living? I don’t really drink and I don’t smoke any more. But I have my vices. I guess I just don’t overindulge.
What are your vices?
I really enjoy marijuana. It’s legal where I am in the US. It’s something I probably indulge in a little too much. Which is probably why I’m struggling with some of these questions! We could’ve cut this interview in half if I’d laid off the weed.
But I don’t even want that one called a vice because I don’t consider it all that taboo or shameful. But I’ll tell you what it does lead to – what are they called…?
A kind of platform when you’re jumping off, that leads to bigger problems?
A gateway?
Thank you! Yes! I suppose pot also affects the memory! It’s a gateway for me to eating things that I shouldn’t – sugar and crap.
Fave snack?
There’s so many! Probably a cheese puff-type thing. Like slightly more healthy Cheetos. And I love cereal.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch is a real vice. Kate made oatmeal cookies the other day and I actually got upset because if I know they’re around and I’m stoned I have no willpower when it comes to things like a cookie or a cupcake.
What do you cook? Do you have a signature dinner party dish?
This sounds really basic but I make a pretty mean meatloaf or a good cauliflower cashew nut curry.
And I would make those for a dinner party only because I could prepare most of it beforehand and so it would give me time to engage with my guests and not get flustered and anxious that I have to divide my attention.
What I love about cooking is that it requires such singular focus. It’s kind of meditative for me. Mowing my lawn is also a very meditative experience. I can just tune everything out.
And I feel that way about acting. There’s a real comfort in the time between ‘action’ and ‘cut’ where I feel very protected. Socially I’ve always been somewhat awkward, I suppose.
And I don’t relish being in certain social situations because you can put your foot in your mouth.
Justin famously starred in 2000’s classic Jeepers Creepers (Picture: Shutterstock)
Have you ever practised your Oscar acceptance speech?
Hahaha! That’s an easy answer – no! I’m laughing because I’m imagining myself actually doing that – ‘I want to thank the Academy…’ I can confidently say I never have! Not that I don’t fantasise about winning or having an award. And if any Academy members are reading this, please know I would be very flattered!
Barbarian is out now in cinemas
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