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Video:Owen Wilson Interview - How Do You Know

with Rebecca Murray

Owen Wilson plays a professional baseball player who's definitely a ladies' man in the romantic comedy/drama 'How Do You Know.' Wilson and Paul Rudd vie for the attention of Reese Witherspoon in this relationship tale from James L Brooks.See Transcript

Transcript:Owen Wilson Interview - How Do You Know

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the World Premiere of Columbia Pictures' How Do You Know.

Owen Wilson - 'Matty' in How Do You Know

Did you base this on any athlete that you know?
Owen Wilson: "No. It seemed to be like I was asking Jim Brooks about that. I think that it just became like it was a character that just sort of grew because he had fun writing it. You know, I think it started off as kind of a small character but he just had fun kind of coming up with some of these lines that this guy has."

Actors usually fantasize about being rock stars or athletes. Have you had that fantasy?

Owen Wilson: "Yes. Well I was thinking because I've achieved like most little kids want to be a cowboy and I've got to play a cowboy. I was an astronaut in Armageddon...kind of an astronaut I guess. I worked on an oil well I guess, but I died in that. And then now I'm playing a baseball player so I'm kind of hitting for the cycle in terms of like childhood dreams."

What possessed you to ask Jack Nicholson to shoot machine guns with you? What did he say?

Owen Wilson: "No, no, no. It wasn't that. I was asked to shoot machine guns. I had never shot machine guns before and then I was asked about that. I was asked to ask Jack about that. I hadn't done it yet. But yeah."

How did you find the experience of working with Jack and does his coolness rub off on the guys on set?

Owen Wilson: "I don't know if it rubbed off. It was kind of Paul [Rudd]...he plays his son and I actually didn't have any scenes with Jack so I would kind of ask Paul, 'Hey, did Jack say anything? Do you have any good Jack stories for me?' And he would tell me something and then I started adopting those stories as my own and telling those as my own."

What have learned from Jack the guy?

Owen Wilson: "He was very kind of entertaining at the press junkets, but then also kind of how thoughtful. A lot of his answers were just kind of interesting. When he would talk about... He talked about getting advice from John Wayne one time. When he was in the elevator or some place and ran into John Wayne and John Wayne said, 'I've got two words of advice for you. Talk low and talk slow.'"

More on How Do You Know:

  • How Do You Know Photo Gallery
  • Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd Resources
  • How Do You Know Trailer, Clips, Poster, Interviews and Cast List

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