Bill Murray Talks Being Bill Murray In New York Times Interview

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 28, 2012 7:30PM

Bill Murray is out promoting his role as Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the film Hyde Park on Hudson. In an interview in the New York Times, Murray gives writer Dave Itzkoff an extended peek under the hood as to what drives him, while still engaging Itzkoff in one of those moments that’s classic Murray.

After an interview with another journalist went over the allotted time, Murray and Itzkoff arranged to reschedule the interview, and Itzkoff eventually wound up following Murray onstage at an appearance in New York City’s Florence Gould Hall to continue the interview. It’s the latest in a series of carefree anecdotes that has made Murray a legend; the stories of Murray crashing parties, losing film roles because he doesn’t check his 1-800 number, and spending endless time golfing are endless.

But Murray also tells Itzkoff about the first time he visited Wrigley Field; more of the acting lessons he learned from Del Close; why he didn’t think he was the best choice to play FDR; and talked about his “authentic self.” Most important, Murray revealed a key bit of advice about his life’s philosophy, a simple motto espoused over the years by everyone from Frankie Goes to Hollywood to The Dude.

Relax.

The early days, you could change every single word [in a screenplay], and no one cared. It was like: “That’s fine. That was terrible anyway.” But now, if the script’s really good, you don’t need to change very much. I realized the more fun I had, the more relaxed I was working, the better I worked.

Q. That seems to be a philosophy you apply not only to your work but to your entire life.

A. Well, I’ve made some mistakes in that area too. The more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything: the better you are with your loved ones, the better you are with your enemies, the better you are at your job, the better you are with yourself.

The whole interview is worth a read. Check it out.