Earlier this week I was lucky enough to get an advance look at an interview Sly did with GQ aka Gentleman’s Quarterly that hits news stands later this coming week. It’s definitely an issue that fans are going to want to pick up! Here’s a taste…
Sly on not getting respect from Hollywood:
I think a lot of it has to do with the way I came into the party… I came in through the service entrance. You know, like at the Oscars, I didn’t have a bow tie on. It had broken. Later I heard people thought I was disrespectful. I woulda tied a shoelace on—something—had I known.
…on what his legacy will be:
The character of Rocky, I’m fused to that. So his “never-give-up-ness” is…he, again, came through the service entrance. He dined with the staff, dined with kings, but at the end of the night he paid the check and left through the service entrance. I’ll always have this blue-collar connection. For every guy, there is an opportunity to be a lot better than he thought he could be. We can’t all be the star of the team, but we can be a star in our life. That’s where you set your goal. And that is attainable, because if I did it, it’s feasible.
…on what he’s going to tell his daughters to look for when they start dating:
I’m going to tell them to look for body bags. And where do they want the pieces sent?
…on what he is insecure about:
I have an impediment, and growing up it was pretty bad, so it was constant harassment. I hate my voice.
…on being a misunderstood artist:
…the subjects I’ve played, it’s assumed that I am that person. And when I would try to be Sylvester Stallone, it threw people off. I was this enigma. A lot of actors were presented with wonderful projects, and they rose to the occasion. I had to write my own material. I didn’t have a pedigree, like how De Niro came through Brian De Palma. With me it was, “Who? Where’d he come from?” I was this outsider. And in some way I still sort of am. I live here, but I’ve never felt comfortable. I wish I were. Or they’ve never felt comfortable. I’ve never quite blended. I used to say to my wife, “I would love just to be able to act and have wonderful scripts and wonderful directors.” It just has never been my lot in life. It’s always been do-it-yourself.
…on creating Rocky’s wardrobe himself:
We didn’t have budget for wardrobe. I bought that coat when I was 19 and living in Philadelphia. I bought it at E. J. Korvette for like $32. It was half leather and half something from Korea. When I thought about the character, I went, “I got the black pants, the boots.” Anyway, I gotta run, brother. It was great talking to you.
They have also posted a terrific slideshow on Sly’s style throughout the years at GQ.com. You can check it out here.
Photo Credit: Robert Maxwell/GQ
Thanks to Stefanie Adlerstein McNamara and the fine folks at GQ for an advance peek! – Craig