More than anything, the choices we make — both the good and the bad, professional and personal — define who we are and determine the paths we travel. Tobey Maguire says the choices he makes are always influenced by an abiding desire to improve his life and the lives of those around him. And so far, the 28-year-old actor feels confident that he is making wise decisions.
Though personal information about him is hard to come by, it is well-known that Maguire led a vagabond life as a child and that he kicked an addiction in his late teens. He’s been sober and living in Los Angeles ever since. Professionally, however, we need only look at his impressive list of film credits to know that Maguire can be counted on to do the right thing: “Pleasantville,” “The Cider House Rules,” “Wonder Boys” and “Spiderman” are among the many instant classics that have propelled Maguire to his rightful place among Hollywood’s elite performers. His latest picture, “Seabiscuit” (see review on this page ) is an early Oscar contender and will only burnish Maguire’s already highly-polished resume.
Q: Were you a horseracing fan prior to your involvement in “Seabiscuit?”
Tobey Maguire: I was. Not avid, but I went to the racetrack with my family when I was a kid. I liked it, it was a lot of fun, but it seemed like just a big show. And then (doing the movie) I got to go behind the scenes and see all the hard work that goes into it. I now have a whole new outlook and a whole new respect for the sport.
Q: How did you prepare to play a jockey? TM: I did some training and I had to diet to lose some weight so it would appear like at least maybe I could be a jockey. I worked with (retired Hall of Fame jockey) Chris McCarron. We brought in a mechanical horse that’s called an Equi-sizer and several times a week I’d get up there, and Chris coached me for form and to help build up endurance and strength.
Q: In a recent Playboy interview, you talked for the first time about being in Alcoholics Anonymous for the past nine years. Why did you choose to open up about it now?
TM: I don’t think it’s really a secret that I’ve been sober since I was 19 — it’s been in half the articles that have been written about me. That was taken from a conversation off the record with that journalist and the journalist betrayed me. So, it upsets me. I think it’s a well-written piece, but now this is being treated like a revelation even though it’s been out there for years.
Q: The LA Times reported that following a pretty serious back injury you were fired from the “Spiderman” sequel because the studio questioned your ability to handle the physical demands of the role. What really transpired and did you ever have any doubts that you were going to play the role?
TM: No, I didn’t really have any doubts and it’s not true that I was fired. Basically, I had some concerns, as did the studio, because the level of stunts is much greater on the second than in the first. So we went through some tests to determine whether I was able to do it and after I did the tests we all felt good about it, and off we went.
Q: OK, since there seems to a theme developing around erroneous news items, let’s try this one: Variety reported that you were upset because the producer made more on the first film than you did. True?
TM: (Laughs) That’s an invention of a journalist.
Q: What do you for kicks? TM: I like to read, watch movies and play video games. Then there’s hanging out with my friends, eating, playing board games, traveling … you know, pretty normal stuff. (Dan Dunn is a film critic for Metro International Newspapers).
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 25, 2003. Read the original PDF.