Chris O'Donnell: Whatever Blows Your Hair Back

Q: This is the one that's supposed to put you up there with Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks and Brad Pitt. Is that how you see it?

A: No, not at all. I see it as an interesting story, getting to play someone more my age for the first time.

Q: You like the script?

A: Yeah. They're doing a lot of changes to it, it's going to be different from the book.

Q: Have you read the book?

A: No. I will.

Q: Before you locked in on The Chamber, how many scripts were you looking at and how many were you close to making?

A: There were so many, it was crazy. Most of them were projects I would have jumped at a year ago, if things hadn't worked out the way they have recently. Being under the gun like that, it's an embarrassment of riches. You get so stressed out. You'd think being in my position it would be so easy, just pick out a project, do it, no big deal. But you really have to take your time and make smart decisions. There's different routes you can take in this business. After Batman Forever, I started getting offered these huge commercial films that you know are going to make hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide. And you can jump on that train if you want and cash in, make a ton of money, get a couple of sequels and some merchandising. But in two years, I think people would be just so sick of your face, that would be it.

Q: But doesn't a rising star need to make exactly those types of movies?

A: Yeah, as much as those films aren't good, you need them. You really do. The ideal world is to do films that Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford have done -- huge films, but they're still respected as actors. That's the best of both worlds.

Q: About your playing Robin in Batman Forever, one agent said it showed you were either reaching as an actor or as a capitalist. Which was it?

A: You mean cashing in? I was just balancing out a year of work. You have to do commercial type films...you can make a lot of quality films and have the respect of many people, but studios greenlight films by looking at what's been successful. It's a business, after all.

Q: Was Robin much of a reach for you?

A: [Tongue firmly in cheek] Oh, it was incredible. Like Brando in Last Tango in Paris. I reached depths that were incredible.

Q: What superhero did you want to be growing up?

A: I was really into the G.I. Joe dolls, I also liked Spider-Man, the Six Million Dollar Man and Evel Knievel. I was in Lee Majors' fan club. I think I'm still in it -- it's a lifetime membership.

Q: What was Joel Schumacher's vision of Batman Forever?

A: Joel's vision? [Laughing] Joel saw large codpieces.

Q: What did your family think of your Batman Forever earring?

A: My mother didn't like it. She thought I was kidding when I told her. When I said I was serious, she hung up on me. I didn't like it either -- I took it out the day we wrapped.

Q: How well did you get to know Val Kilmer?

A: Not very well. When I talk with Val, I think he's kind of screwing with me sometimes. He plays games with me. He used to give me a lot of shit -- like, "Oh, did Al Pacino teach you that?" Which is hilarious because when he got cast in Heat, I was able to start giving it back to him.

Q: Have you scuba dived since learning to for that film?

A: Just once. I loved it, but alligators and sharks are the two things that freak me out. I'm thinking Jaws the whole time I'm in the water.

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