Chris Pine Reveals the Highlight of His Career: ‘Definitely an Out of Body Moment’

Mara Reinstein: What inspired you to write the book?

Chris Pine: It all started at the beginning of quarantine when we were all locked down and I wasn’t doing much except spending time at home with the dogs and taking them for walks. I was on a walk with a good friend of mine deep in Altadena (California). My dog ​​ran after the squirrel and she said, “Wouldn’t this be a great idea for a story about a dog who fell in love with a squirrel?” This was the basic beginning of this journey. I came home and immediately started writing. And then I couldn’t stop and I ended up writing, I don’t know, probably seven or eight stories.

What do people not understand about the process of celebrities creating picture books?

Well, I don’t know how it went for anyone else. I don’t have children, but I have a dog and I am in love with it. I also have a deep love for the stories, literature and books I grew up with. My mom and dad told me stories before going to bed. And of course I’m an actor, I’ve written, directed and produced, so storytelling is in my blood. I wrote every word and had great editors.

You also graduated from Berkeley with a degree in English! That’s impressive.

I went to Berkeley where I studied English literature and ended up writing my thesis on Mark Twain. I also spent a year in England at a great university known for its English department. I love reading. Of course, that old joke about becoming a waiter with an English degree is true, but it has helped me a lot in terms of what I do because storytelling is storytelling.

Have you ever thought about becoming, say, an English teacher?

I was really very lost in college. One minute you’re in school, 18, and living with your parents, and then suddenly you graduate and are halfway adult. I had no idea what I wanted to do and I knew I didn’t like science and math. If I had to do it over again, I would probably study history and political science or something with the history of intellectual thought. But I know I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I kind of pursued acting. But yes, I miss school.

And were you actually a waiter?

Oh yes, I worked at a restaurant in Los Angeles. I actually turned down the offer to wait and became a food delivery person and just delivered food to customers.

Related: Chris Pine finally speaks out about Harry Styles’ ‘Spit-Gate’ drama.

How did you turn this phrase into acting?

I had my eyes open when I realized after college that acting was what I was going to do. I had no room for doubt; I was just about to do this. It’s strange that I never thought of a world where nothing would work. It was a little naive, and that’s probably how I was raised, but I certainly had a lot of drive as well. And I really didn’t give a fuck when I was 20. There wasn’t much going to parties and having fun. I was like, I will do it.

Your first credit was an episode from 2003 ER. What do you remember about this experience?

It was so cool. Are you kidding? There was a time when being in Hollywood was a big deal, so there was something very romantic about the Warner Bros. studio. in Los Angeles. On ER sound stage they built a huge emergency room where cameras follow characters coming and going. We rehearsed in the nurses’ station, so we were right in the middle of the action with everyone coming and going. It’s exciting when you’re a young actor and you get to work with Maura Tierney and Sally Field.

Have you been a patient with a head wound?

I think I was a “drunk frat boy.” I could have a name.

How does it feel to be in front of the camera?

It took me a long time to get over the embarrassment and fear. I don’t know if there’s an acting school that can really prepare you for the permutations of life. This is a really weird thing. So no, I wasn’t comfortable in front of the camera.

Well, most writers and readers are introverts. You ended up as a movie star.

I’m 60/40 skewed, while 40 is what I consider extroverted. I’ve noticed that the older I get, the more time I have to spend alone to recharge. But I often thought about this strange cognitive dissonance.

When you started out, was it your big dream to be on billboards and in hit movies?

I just didn’t want to work in a restaurant. Like, Get a job; I’m broke. So I just looked for a job. I knew I could do great things, but I couldn’t A beautiful mind the scene in my room where I say: I’ll do that and then I’ll play hopscotch and work with Martin Scorsese.

You’ve been playing for 20 years. Without overthinking what the most important event in your career is

What comes to mind is the moment of the first day on set Star Trek movie. It was my first huge movie and we were on the sound stage at Paramount. I come from a Hollywood family, so performing on a sound stage on a Hollywood lot was everything I dreamed of. Being on the ridge and looking out was definitely an out-of-body moment. I was like, Wow, that’s quite far. Then there are moments you have to work with Tony Scott AND Denzel Washington (in 2010 Unstoppable), which I will remember forever. And work with Jeff Bridges AND Ben Foster (ON Hell or High Water). Honestly, I’ve had a really lucky career.

Off camera, aren’t you a big car guy?

I am. When I was growing up, my dad had his prized 1965 Porsche with a black cloth top and black interior. I have these memories of driving in that car with my father, and when life took its course and he had to sell the car, I remembered the pain in his eyes. I shared this pain. Now I’m obsessed with mid-20th century European cars. Tesla is like the largest iPad in the world. It’s more romantic to get into a car that you’re not sure will start or that needs 10 minutes to warm up before driving. Then you can ride it on a Sunday afternoon in the Los Angeles hills with your friends.

Do you have a Jay Leno style car collection?

No, he earns much more than me! But I have a wonderful little car collection that I am still fascinated by and madly in love with. So I don’t have an airplane hangar in Burbank; I have a garage.

Between vintage cars, Airstream and poetry, you are truly a throwback.

Yes, I like older things. I think we live in times where speed is important. Give it to me now, give it to me faster. Here’s how I’ll explain it: Before you had GPS on your phone, if you were in a new city and you needed to get to a coffee shop, you went downstairs and asked the hotel reception, “How do I get to the coffee shop?” You can get lost by turning right and walking down the alley, but when you get lost you see things. This is how I want to live my life. There’s a stiffness to him now. You look at your phone and lose all potential opportunities.

With this in mind, what is the message of your book?

The idea that emerged from this story was this: what if the frustration and anger these two animals seem to have towards each other is rooted in their own vulnerability and sense of inadequacy? And once they understand each other, they can move on and become great friends. Why is a tyrant a tyrant? Probably because something happened to the abuser and maybe if you understand what happened to the abuser you will be able to repair the relationship and move on with your life with love.

You mentioned that your parents read to you. What are your three favorite children’s books?

Wind in the willows (by Kenneth Grahame), anything by Beatrix Potter, and picking one by Dr. Seuss would be impossible. So let’s say the entire Dr. Seuss canon.

This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

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