by Kati Li
photography by Kevin Lynch
Ryan Reynolds is the real deal, as genuine as you’d want to meet. He’s so personable; a mix of New York culture and Los Angeles cool that makes his down-to-earth demeanor so welcoming. After a busy past few weeks—preparing for the three movies opening before July, including X-Men Origins: Wolverine—he says (with a deep breath and a lighthearted laugh) he’s “looking forward to spending a little more time in one place.” Bemoaning his rather itinerant lifestyle, always running from one place to the next, he acknowledges the very real importance of making firm commitments and sticking to them. He easily shares details about his acting career, praises Obama, and articulates his love of reading (he has a catholic taste in literature) and writing a blog. He has no inhibitions when voicing his opinion or sharing the lessons he’s learned from some rather unorthodox live experiences.
For instance, in the New York City Marathon, which he ran last November, he makes it clear that the experience was, to put it lightly, a challenge. “I think for me the overall fruit of that labor was just accomplishing something that I set my mind to… It’s really good for you. I believe it’s very healthy to set goals and meet them.” Though training for the marathon was a step outside his comfort zone, Ryan tells of how the book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami helped him overcome the physical strains of preparing for the marathon. “His book was a real comfort for me, because it detailed so many issues that one would experience when putting your body through such a grueling exercise… I think there’s a real masochism to it that people like. After finishing a marathon or long run, there’s a mixture of pleasure and pain.”
Apart from the pleasures and pains that Ryan experienced during the marathon, he also mentions how running was a great way to see the city. Although he calls both New York and Los Angeles “home,” he admits he has a pretty strong preference for New York. “When I’m not there, I miss waking up in the morning and going out and grabbing a paper and shooting the breeze with the guy that sold it to me. It’s a good life. You feel like you’re actually living.” There’s a tangibility to New York that he claims you can’t find anywhere else. “I think when I have children I’d want to raise them in New York. When they’re on a subway they’re rubbing shoulders with the construction worker and the lawyer. It has a multicultural aspect to it; you’re exposed to very different walks of life.”
Apart from the pleasures and pains that Ryan experienced during the marathon, he also mentions how running was a great way to see the city. Although he calls both New York and Los Angeles “home,” he admits he has a pretty strong preference for New York. “When I’m not there, I miss waking up in the morning and going out and grabbing a paper and shooting the breeze with the guy that sold it to me. It’s a good life. You feel like you’re actually living.” There’s a tangibility to New York that he claims you can’t find anywhere else. “I think when I have children I’d want to raise them in New York. When they’re on a subway they’re rubbing shoulders with the construction worker and the lawyer. It has a multicultural aspect to it; you’re exposed to very different walks of life.”
While Ryan is known for his good looks, charm, and comedic timing on the big screen, he also has a lesser-known talent for insightful writing, often published in that paragon of intellect and literary talent, The Huffington Post. All are enjoyable reads and sprinkled with a pinch of wit and a dash of humor. “I love writing, but the thing that holds me back is that it’s embarrassingly revealing. I think we know so much about actors these days… I think if I retired from acting I would do that [writing] full time. I appreciate the art of putting together words and creating an overall story that’s a narrative. That’s really challenging but incredibly rewarding when you get it right.”
Beyond his admiration of a variety of writers, such as Philip Roth, and actors, such as Peter Sellers, he has a deep respect for Barack Obama. He had the privilege of meeting Obama early in the Presidential Campaign, at a fundraiser in Los Angeles, and recalls how he was completely blown away. “I always think that a country’s leader reflects the conscious level of its people, and I feel that that’s where we’re at right now… I was [a big Obama supporter] from the beginning, and if politics could have a rock star it would be him. When people ask him a question, he’s actually considering their concerns, and not just coming up with a canned response to save him time. He takes the time to connect with people and that’s amazing. I want the guy that has his finger on the button to have a sober second thought.” Ryan likes the idea of a leader that not only provokes thought, but embraces it. He mentions how a contemplative leader only works to the benefit of our country, and that Obama’s message of change is not only relevant, but necessary. “If we don’t adapt then we don’t evolve… I personally believe, and I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, but I personally believe that that’s what the founders of our country intended. They intended for our country to evolve. [Not doing so] is exactly what holds progress hostage, and I think, or at least I feel, it’s easing up now with this new administration.”
Though his reaction to Obama is one of hope and optimism, Ryan still feels in regard to progress, our country is long overdue. When it comes to religion, he’s a supporter of freedom of practice, but is irked by the thought of interspersing religion and politics. “The founding fathers of this country, some of them were atheists and some were Christians, and I think there’s a good reason why they required a separation of church and state. And we can see it now. We can cause harm when people confuse morality with law. The thing that scares me is that the policy makers that allow religion to inform those policies have really just become professional moralists. People should be free to practice whatever religion they want, but at the same time I think we should adhere to that golden rule: separation of church and state.”
His mindful tone and considered responses to questions about politics, religion and ethics reflect his sincere interest in our making headway as a nation. He’s proud of where our country is headed, but his appreciation for politics and culture doesn’t lie solely between the East and West coast. He’s traveled the world and sees his travels as a source of learning. “I went overseas and I experienced unimaginable things at a young age that people I was going to school with couldn’t even imagine. I feel like my education came in a slightly more unorthodox way than my fellow students.”
Born in Vancouver and growing up as the youngest of four brothers, his drive to separate himself from the typical form of nurture led to his career in acting. “It wasn’t that I had a particularly bad home life. I wouldn’t say it was great, but it wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. I just enjoyed independence at a very young age. I liked being able to run away.” Though his peers couldn’t fathom the type of knowledge and independence Ryan gained during his earlier development as an actor, this shaky start to his career ultimately led to an awareness of foreign culture and out-of-the-box thinking.
No question a successful actor, Ryan is certainly defined by more than just his formal profession; his concern and awareness of national, societal, social, and individual development clearly do. He doesn’t categorize his comedic roles as his scarlet letter, nor does he let them serve as an establishment of boundaries. Instead, he embraces his variety of accomplishments and labels everything he’s been through as experience well worth his while. And while he marches on to expand his capabilities, further his career, and commitments, it’s only natural to believe that he’ll welcome whatever comes next.
photography Kevin Lynch @ art mix
stylist Evet Sanchez @ the wall group
grooming Kim Verbeck @ exclusive artists
NOTE: In celebration of Deadpool 3’s release, the above text is our 2008 cover story of Ryan Reynolds in New York Moves magazine.