John JT: Cultural Icon and Really Cool Guy

Seated in the posh surroundings of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and surrounded by five other restless college students and two of his personal assistants, you would think the atmosphere was slightly discomforting. When I arrived for my interview with the actor who has played such memorable and celebrated roles as Danny Zuko, Vinnie Barbarino, and Vincent Vega, I was anxious to say the least. By the time I left, however, I had come to the conclusion that John Travolta is one of the most charming, affable and just plain cool people I have met in a long time.

This was my first interview with a cultural icon and it could very probably be my last; nevertheless, the discussion that took place without the stuffiness one would expect. Not only was Travolta surprisingly affable, he also lacked the indifferent attitude you would expect from an actor who can confidently and quite modestly describe himself as being the "Leo" of his time. The interview lasted about a half-hour and while the highlight was a phenomenal Tarantino impression, the main topic of discussion was Travolta's latest film, Basic. Now, some may consider the actor old and in the midst of another career downfall, but the John Travolta I met with appeared slim, energetic and content with his success, his career and, most of all, the future.



Daily: Do you do your own stunts?

JT: I don't really want to, but sometimes I'm forced to for the sake of realism. Different angles and shots require you to do some stunts or else it just looks stupid.



Daily: If you don't like to do stunts, how come you have made so many action films?

JT: Because I am usually the "cool guy" who causes the destruction without getting his hands dirty. I am like the mastermind who sets off a detonator miles away from the actual bomb, you know? In Face/Off, I did a lot of my own stunts, but I did it for John Woo.



Daily: With the recent hash of successful and critically acclaimed movie musicals and with your obvious talent in that department, do you foresee yourself participating in one in the future?

JT: Well, I enjoy singing and dancing when it's done right. You see, I am what you might call as having the New York City actor syndrome. Just like Richard Gere and Christopher Walken, I learned to sing, dance, and act so that I would have three chances at a career. It was a matter of survival. Now if the right film came along with a good script I might participate, but as for now I don't know.



Daily: Is there a certain type of film genre that you have not worked in but would like to?

JT: A western would be cool, but like a traditional western, like Butch Cassidy or something. Not like Urban Cowboy.



Daily: I remember reading awhile back that Quentin Tarantino was working on a prequel script for you and Michael Madsen called The Vega Brothers. Will this ever come to fruition?

JT: Well, luckily I got my Quentin dose already. I know he said that he wants to use all the Pulp Fiction characters in turn. Supposedly I'm next after Uma [Thurman], who just finished Kill Bill, but I don't know. Quentin usually makes rather flippant remarks because he just moves so fast. I'd love to, though. I mean, I got to play a character in Pulp that I never would have [otherwise]. I was this heroin junkie hit man or maybe I was just misguided, maybe just trying to resolve the dark side.



Daily: What was it like working with Connie Nielson on Basic?

JT: It was great. She is inquisitive and tenacious. Sometimes she would question the action of a shot right before we started to roll and it got annoying, but she was amazing. She just cares so much about what she is doing. They way she turned out her character really surprised everybody. I mean, usually actresses get into these army/soldier type roles and become men, but she had this unfailing femininity about her.



Daily: How was working with the rest of the cast?

JT: Well I've known [Giovanni] Ribisi for awhile and he is wonderful to work with. And Sam and I go way back. We are just natural together; we don't even have to try. We just have this chemistry.



Daily: Do you think you have that chemistry with any other actors or actresses?

JT: Well, Olivia [Newton John] and I had it, so did Rene [Russo] and I, and Connie too. Although I don't know, I'm pretty good with women. It just tends to work out.



Daily: As you approach the age of fifty and you find yourself not able to play the type of roles you once did, how does it feel to still be popular among people who first saw you in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, or perhaps even Pulp Fiction?

JT: It feels great. I feel eternally youthful. I was at this Japanese restaurant in Florida a couple of weeks ago celebrating a birthday and there was like 300 high school cheerleaders there from some competition. I was bearded and wearing a cap and they all saw me, came over, and started screaming and crying. You would have thought I was Leo. I mean, I used to be, but it was wonderful though. The response was beautiful.



Daily: You are most certainly a cultural icon, but how long into the future do you see yourself still acting?

JT: I see myself acting until I am really old. I plan to act for as long as I can.



Daily: Since 1998, we have seen you in a staggering amount of films playing a civil or public servant; whether you are a cop, soldier, army ranger, CIA spy, or president or lawyer. It was printed in the press information for Basic that you said that the military environment seems to fit your persona. Is this the reason for the great number of these roles? And do you see yourself being typecast?

JT: Wow, I do play a lot of public servants. But I also play angels, fathers, heroin junkies and aliens. I have always been fascinated with military types, for example, the patriot or the warmonger or someone in between. I like the discipline and organization, but I also think I am convincing in these roles. I didn't sit down and determine the rest of my career and plot out different types of characters I wanted to be. I just think I am convincing and that the audience believes me. That's what counts the most.