In early March, his Scientology saga "Battlefield - Earth" was nominated for the prize "Golden Raspberry" in the proud title of "The worst movie of the decade", and he himself - for the role of the worst actor of the year. But this did not stop the fans from storming the ticket offices at the February premiere of the action movie "From Paris with Love". Bald, famous and aggressive John Travolta - yes to such a spectacle anyone will bite!
Mr. Travolta, you were one of the first who responded to the disaster in Haiti, providing their aircraft for the needs of the victims. It's very noble of you! Do not you find it rather sad that in our time any gesture of help is regarded as nobility? But this should be an ordinary thing. The injured people need any help, and we all have to render it to the best of our ability. As soon as my planes went to Haiti, almost all famous people, private jet owners, did the same, and I am grateful to them for following my example. I know best what death and unhappiness are, after experiencing two premature deaths of relatives ...
And he himself nearly died a few years ago. I understand that this is not the funniest start to the interview, but you can not ask about it. Did you manage to come to terms with the loss of your son? In 2009, 16-year-old Jett, Travolta's son, was tragically killed while resting in the Bahamas. With this it is impossible to reconcile, you can only continue to live and work.
But your friends are still worried about the famous and aggressive John Travolta. After all, now you often all night long can ride a four-wheeled bike along the runway in memory of the time when you did this with your son ...
I do this not in memory of my son. And my friends or foes need not worry! When you said goodbye to your son, you asked him for forgiveness, which was interpreted in different ways. Some said that you apologized for not treating him for autism, denying that the boy is sick with this particular disease. Interpret the words of the father who buries his child, cruel and simply monstrous! But if the world so wants to know what I repented to him, then I will say. He apologized for not being able to spend more time with him than he would have liked me and him. I worked too hard.
You just said that you yourself almost died. Did it happen on the set? No. I flew from Europe, when the plane refused almost all electronics. It did not make sense to return, because I was halfway over the ocean. When I sat down in Washington, there was a monstrously strong wind and ice.
John, what did you feel when the plane landed safely?
All that day was for the fact that I will not survive: both problems in the aircraft system, and weather conditions. After all, the airport was almost closed due to icing of runways. I was allowed to land, because I had no other way out. I then thought that all the will of the Creator and that those who claim that our destiny was painted before our birth are right. It's just that I did not yet have time to appear before the Almighty!
Does such an idea contradict the doctrines of Scientology, the adherent of which is the famous John Travolta?
"Follower" is the wrong word. Scientology is a kind of religion. Therefore, it would be more correct to say that I confess it. Answering your question, I can say: "No, it does not contradict!" Because my religion assumes the freedom of thinking, so that everyone has the right to choose which point of view to follow in matters of fate. Let's move on to lighter topics. Your career has developed ambiguously. At least you did not manage to take off early. Why? They say that who is going slowly - is confident. Probably, at me and was.
John, what did you do when you refused roles in such cult films as "Officers and Gentlemen", "American Gigolo", "Chicago"?
Richard Gere, who played for me in all these tapes, even joked somehow that he owed me his career. It's just not always possible to calculate the success of a particular role. At first, it seems that this is not for you, and then you see it on the screen and you think: "But you refused!" You did not even refuse the legendary "Hair Lacquer"!
Just when you already have in the actor's asset musical, which has become almost a cult, do not want to take risks, filming in the second. I knew perfectly well that "Brilin" and "Hairspray" would be compared and feared that the comparison would not be in favor of the latter. What did force you to accept the offer? The director of the film Adam Shankman said directly to the famous and aggressive John Travolta: "If the film does not work out, I will die. And only you can make me live. " What else could I do? I accepted the offer and did my best to make the picture come true, and we did not lose such a wonderful director. What is the most important argument for you in deciding whether to accept the role or not? In each individual case, something of its own. Sometimes it's a clever script, sometimes a director, and sometimes a company. For example, I agreed to act in the "General's daughter" not only because the script was based on a very well-known book, but also because I was asked about by Paramount studio. I've been working with her for many years and I feel very comfortable. After all, much more depends on the relationship with the studio than it is customary to talk about.
For the movie "Saturday Night Fever", you studied nine months to dance. John, what else did you learn in order to get a role?
For the movie "Password" Swordfish "learned to box and practiced yoga.
And play the violin?
It was not for the role. During the filming in the movie "Puncture" I again began to have problems with sleep. And I mastered playing the violin to calm my nerves. You said "the problems started again". So, they were in your past? I suffered insomnia (insomnia) in childhood. At an early age, I did not want to go to bed, because I was waiting for a mother who always came home late from the theater. She was also an actress. Then it grew into a problem. But then no one paid attention to this. I suffered and did not forget. Therefore, now, being a father and husband, signing a contract, I always insist on the point, which indicates that the work ends no later than six in the evening. And this is not a whim! I just do not want my family to suffer from the lack of my attention just because I'm an actor. Evenings belong to my family, because when I'm at home, I even have a mobile off. Children grow quickly, and I do not want to regret later that I did not pay enough attention to them at the time. This is what we said at the beginning of our conversation. You have one of the most stable families in the cast community. Share a secret? There are no secrets ... Perhaps we should love each other, respect, criticize less, do not wash dirty clothes in public. But these tips can be given to any family. But sometimes it's the loved ones that hurt the most ...
So I said "love each other." That is, to love your partner more than yourself. Then it becomes impossible to hurt your loved one.
And what are these rumors that you married your own wife twice?
These are not rumors. We had to marry a second time in accordance with the rites of Scientology. It was a bit of a wedding. Now we really can not get away from each other! And if without jokes, then it is the serious attitude towards religion, and anyone, and is the cement that in the past made the families so strong. What do we see now? People not only marry but also get married in the church, and a year later they fled and forgot their vows. Why go to church if you still do not believe in it? I do not understand.
John, you often repeat that Scientology is a fairly free religion and that the main thing in it is to be a good person and not hurt others. But what about the scandals associated with your airplane and the noise that you raised at unseasoned hours? They said that you are literally terrorizing your neighbors ...
Scandals were only on the pages of the tabloids, and not in reality. The neighbors wrote me a letter and pointed out that I make too much noise with my plane. At an inopportune time, I landed only twice, but it did not depend on me. It's just that I was already in the air when we realized that we would not be able to sit down until ten in the evening. What was to be done? Turn around and fly back? I apologized. Then he moved to another place, where I do not bother anyone. Yes, by the way, about your unusual house. Not everyone after all, instead of an access alley has a runway length of one and a half miles, and under the awning instead of cars are Boeing ...
Yes, I am a passionate aviator and nothing can be done about it. Probably, my house is the incarnate dream of childhood. Any man in the shower is a boy who always finds a toy. Dear you have a toy!
But someone collects works of art that stand as one good plane. Someone buys homes around the world. Someone is fond of vintage cars. And I love planes. Your wife does not complain that when you look from the windows of the house to the aircraft parked on the lawn, it seems that you are at the airport? Quite the opposite, she likes it. We even built the house so that it looked like the control tower of the airport.
John, you are one of Hollywood's most highly paid actors. However, you often agree to appear in low-budget films, and those that do not bring fame, money, or even any appreciable reviews of critics. Why are you doing it? The drawback in the proposals you probably do not?
It is more difficult to shoot in low-budget scenes than in blockbusters, where there are full special effects, everything is thought out and reconciled for the famous and aggressive John Travolta. Participate not in a commercial picture must be able and want every actor. After all, it is there that the skill is perfected and the qualification is increased. I agree for various reasons. For example, in the movie "Mad City" starred just for the opportunity to work on one site with Dustin Hoffmann. In some cases, the reason is an interesting director. In others - so interesting scenario that I'm ready to work for a penny. For example, for participation in the "Pulp Fiction" received only $ 100 thousand, at a time when my fees for the film reached 20 million.
John, your favorite director?
Quentin Tarantino. He has a very special look at seemingly most common things. You never know how he can turn the script. In addition, I owe it to him that he was again at the top of his career. Several times flew from her, and it was Quentin who brought me back to my place.
How? Gave you roles?
In some ways - sometimes he just yelled at me. But he always believed in me. However, even to him you refused, when you were offered a role in the tape "Get the Shorty"!
I did not like the script. Why did you then agree?
Quentin persuaded me to read the book. And then I realized that this is a great story, just a script written poorly. Of it, almost all the most interesting moments were thrown out. Then I put the condition - rework the script and I'm filming.
John, can you put this condition on any director?
It was not even a condition. I just brought Quentin's attention to the flaws, and he agreed with me. If this did not happen, I would not be offended, but I would not take a role. Everyone is free to make their own decisions. In the end, this is his film. In your paintings you often sing. Never wanted to make a career as a singer?
I recorded a few albums, but I'm not going to become a professional singer.
I never understood those actors who are grasping at once for everything: and they are removed, and sing, and dance, and spirits with cowards are let out. It is impossible to do well a few things at once.
John, you still released the book "John Travolta Staying Fit!" Writer, too, will not you?
I wrote it not so much to amuse pride - they say, that's what I'm a writer! - how much to help people who are obese. This is the same horror as is happening in America, and indeed in the whole world! Every fourth person and no longer resemble him. But if you take care of yourself at the very beginning of the process, it is quite realistic to regain the old forms. I experienced this on myself, when for the film "Basic Colors" I had to collect a fair amount of extra pounds. But I do not believe in dieting and I believe that proper nutrition and reasonable physical activity are quite capable of bringing the weight back to normal in a fairly short time. In addition, over the past decade there has been another dangerous trend, directly opposite the first - to sit on half-starved diets and exhaust yourself in gyms until unconscious. It is no less dangerous to health than to indulge in gluttony, doing nothing. Therefore, I considered it my duty to share my own experience with people, how to get a harmonious body and health, without causing irreparable damage to the body. Who are the strictest critics for you?
John, who are you trying to impress, first of all?
My wife, my daughter and Quentin Tarantino.