Josh Hartnett Says He Made a Mistake Turning Down Christopher Nolan's 'Batman'
Josh Hartnett is all about Freedom in this brand new feature from Playboy‘s latest issue.
Here’s what the 36-year-old actor had to share:
On why he took a break from Hollywood: тАЬThe intensity of my sudden fame was overwhelming for me, and in the middle of that, I felt I couldnтАЩt trust any new person I met or their motives. I spent a lot of time back home in Minnesota with my friends and family. I did smaller movies, and I stopped working for a while. If I could go back and take with me my wisdom of today, I wish IтАЩd been more resilient. I hope I wouldnтАЩt be as panicked as I was. Maybe IтАЩd have known that no matter what people try to take from you, you donтАЩt have to give it to them. IтАЩve definitely grown a bit.тАЭ
On mistakes he made early in his career: тАЬIтАЩve definitely said no to some of the wrong people. People donтАЩt like being told no. I learned my lesson when [writer-director] Christopher Nolan and I talked about Batman. I decided it wasnтАЩt for me. Then he didnтАЩt want to put me in The Prestige. ThatтАЩs when I realized relationships were formed in the fire of that first Batman film and I should have been part of the relationship with this guy Nolan, who I felt was incredibly cool and very talented. I was so focused on not being pigeonholed and so scared of being considered only one thing as an actor. I should have thought, Well, then, work harder, man, watching Christian Bale go on to do so many other things has been just awesome. I mean, heтАЩs been able to overcome that. Why couldnтАЩt I see that at the time?тАЭ
On his тАЬknow it allтАЭ younger self: тАЬFame can be a dangerous thing. It can destroy you. I used to put myself in positions where I spoke up when I probably should have been listening. When youтАЩre young and have convictions, and fame suddenly gives you a microphone, you think, IтАЩm going to tell everybody how it is. I had to take a step back from doing that to figure out, Do I actually know what IтАЩm talking about?тАЭ