PLUS SALMA HAYEK, TOM HANKS AND OTHER STARS SAY SWEET THINGS ABOUT CHOCOLATE

I think it’ll show a lot of people that
there’s more to my talent than just
driving fast cars and water diving. And I
do curse a whole lot in the movie.”
So this isn’t one to take
the kids to?
“It’s not a family movie by any stretch
of the imagination. I don’t think my
daughter [seven-year-old Meadow] will
be seeing it, that’s for sure. I mean, just
after seeing the trailer for Running
Scared, my own mother was bawling.
She was actually crying. She said to me,
‘You did such a good job in Into the
Blue. But that Running Scared movie
looks terrible.’ I was like, ‘Oh no, it’s
great. Mom, you just saw the trailer,
how can you decide if you’ll like it or
not?’ She said, ‘I just know it’s going to
be too violent for me. Just promise me
that you’re going to make a movie for
the kids, for Meadow, and your nieces
and nephews.’ And I told her I’d do
the best that I could.”
Is that why you decided to
do Eight Below?
“It’s funny how that all happened
because I was really considering a totally
different project to do…. Then, all of a
sudden, like days after my mother’s
pleas, the offer came in for Eight Below.
I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.
This is just too coincidental.’”
So you’re not a mobster in Eight Below?
“No, not this time. I’m an Arctic guide
in the movie, who decides to explore
uncharted parts of Antarctica with a
fellow pal, who is also an explorer/guide,
and our team of sled dogs. It was a fun
part because I’m really good with dogs.
I have a team of dogs, and I like them
famous 29 | february 2006
“It was freezing at
times. I didn’t think it
could get that cold,”
says Walker
more than a lot of people in Hollywood
[laughs]. I haven’t seen the finished cut
yet, but apparently they had their first
screening last week and it scored in the
90s, which is good from what I understand.
It’s great.”
Where did you make Eight Below?
“In Greenland and in northernmost
British Columbia, just outside of this
small town called Smithers. They were
really sweet and wonderful townspeople
and treated us almost like family. But it
was freezing at times. I didn’t think it
could get that cold. I hope mom and
the kids in the family appreciate the
torture I went through to make the
movie.”
Do you think that becoming a dad at a
young age made you more grounded?
“I think that it has, to a big degree. But,
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