Tobey Maguire Chooses Roles Carefully Since Becoming a Dad

Anthony/Pacific Coast News

Immersing himself in his latest role — that of a U.S. soldier recently returned from Afghanistan, in the new film Brothers — was difficult not only for Tobey Maguire, but also for his wife Jennifer Meyer Maguire.

Long days on set and dark subject matter took a toll, the 34-year-old actor tells the Boston Globe.

“It’s always challenging; It does create tension,” he admits. “But my wife, she understands, and we both do the best we can to get through those experiences.”

Similarly, Tobey says that he carefully weighed the pros and cons before signing on to Spider-Man 4. “It’s not that I was reluctant,” he clarifies before adding,

“For me, it’s a big process to decide whether or not to do a role…I have to want to wake up in the morning and feel like I can’t wait to get to work. I’ve got to feel OK about leaving my kids for 12 or 13 hours a day for five months. It’s a big commitment.”

Brothers opens Friday.

Tobey and Jennifer are parents to Ruby Sweetheart, 3, and Otis Tobias, 6 ½ months.

Source: Boston Globe

– Missy

Comments

Seriously? I am away from my kid at least 10 hours a day, 5 days a week and 52 weeks a year determining risk factors for childhood abuse and neglect. Now THAT is a commintment!

- tj on December 2nd, 2009

I know tj! These actors thinks they have it so hard having to work for a few months a year (or actually someone like Tobey doesn’t have to work at all!) while the normal people work the whole year round, save for 2 weeks vacation!

- Anna on December 2nd, 2009

Are you for real? He has so much money he never has to work again. It must be nice to chose if you want to go to work or not. Most parents especially fathers don’t get the opportunity to decide if they want to spend that much time with their kids or not. Actors are in a totally different world.

- stephanie on December 2nd, 2009

I don’t think there’s a need to criticize his statement.

Nowhere did he even allude to undermining standard, full time workers. Acting, for him, happens to be his job. He shouldn’t have to apologize for that.

- Liliana on December 2nd, 2009

give the guy some credit. like a lot of actors, he has his own production company and why establish your own company if it’s not to produce films. that my friends is not a sitting idly by the phone kind of position. there is lots of preparation involved lik meetings with writers,checking for availablity of actors, finding a distributor, and getting the money to finance the production.

- liza on December 2nd, 2009

tj, That is such a strange statement. Committment to whom, anyway?

- Valerie on December 2nd, 2009

“For me, it’s a big process to decide whether or not to do a role…I have to want to wake up in the morning and feel like I can’t wait to get to work. I’ve got to feel OK about leaving my kids for 12 or 13 hours a day for five months. It’s a big commitment.”

….Okay, my dad works 70+ hours a week, works his butt off to provide for me and my siblings, we hardly get to see him when he comes home in the evenings-and by the way, he has MS. Two weeks of vacation a year. All of you can relate to working long hours and just working so hard so you can put food on the table.
Yeah, these celebrities sure have it hard. God forbid he works for three months out of the year and is paid, oh, 15-20 million a movie. I get that it’s tough to do a movie because it is time away from your family but put it into some perspective. It’s awesome that Tobey will never have to work a 9-5 job but there should be some appreciation for that instead of looking at the negative aspect of it. He has the dream life and should never take it for granted.

- Ali on December 2nd, 2009

I agree with Valerie…that was an odd statement, tj.

like previous posters said, he’s not at all taking away from your “average, every day” workers…he’s simply talking in context about his life.

and in his defense, MOST americans work an 8-5 job…or at the very least, an 8-hour job…obviously some people work more or work 2 jobs (especially with the economy now) but most of us don’t work the 12 to 18 hour days that actors do….so I completely understand when he says it has to be something good to pull him away from his family…when you’re working that many hours, you’re not getting to see your kids much bc in your off time, you need your SLEEP…so I completely get what Tobey was saying.

- melanie on December 2nd, 2009

If he feels this way then he shouldn’t work anymore, he doesn’t need the money and he could spend all the time he wants with his kids. Plus they have money to have nannies bring his kids to the set.

- stephanie on December 2nd, 2009

it’s sad to me that his statement would be criticized.
all the guy was saying is that he loves spending time with his young family and thinks hard about leaving for a 5 month movie shoot. That seems like a thoughtful dad to me. Since he doesn’t HAVE to work, then it better be for a good reason if he is going to leave the nest. Babies grow up quickly and he probably doesn’t want to miss out.

It’s a bummer that so many of us are away from our children for such long hours each day. I feel for people that have to do this, but it doesn’t mean we should crap on tobey just for making the choice to stay home more often. I wish everyone could do that.

- fuzibuni on December 2nd, 2009

I don’t see how his work ethics takes merit away from fathers and mothers who work longer hours in different careers for less pay.Not every single statement movie stars make need to take into consideration your personal experiences or how you feel about working habits.They aren’t trying to attack you.To him it is a problem,we might not understand it but who are we the worthy 8-5 working masses to say that he does not deserve to have a conflict between his highly paid job and his kids?

- eva on December 2nd, 2009

I don’t see how everyone is getting ticked off at what he’s said. This is something that is affecting his life but since he’s wealthy he can’t complain? And he’s not even complaining here!

He obviously loves what he does but wants to make it worth his time. What’s wrong with that? Wealthy people only stay wealthy because they work hard. Yes he’s got a great life, money wise, but it takes work and more money to keep it that way. You can’t just say “quit if you don’t like it!” If he quit, the money would eventually dry up and he would have go back to working. He takes jobs that mean something to him, they give him a nice pay cheque then he doesn’t have to work, and his family can continue to live the way they are accustomed to. Also, just because they are paid, say, 10 or 15 million a movie, doesn’t mean they get to keep all of it. They’ve got managers, publicists, nannies, assistants, agents, mortgages, car payments, bills, utilities, groceries, investments, and taxes…just like the rest of us. More than likely half of that 10 or 15 million is gone before they get their hands on it. Say he does 1 movie a year, he’s left with 5 or 8 million left. Yes, it’s a lot of money, but to keep their lives the way they want them, it won’t be enough. I would love to be in his position, but I’m not so I work hard to get the things I want.

- Devon on December 2nd, 2009

In this world and economy he should just be glad to have money, a great great great paying job and a healhty family if you ask me. I don’t hear once in this statement that he is blessed by having what he has. If only everyones life was this easy and your hardest decision was one of doing a 20 million dollar movie.

- stephanie on December 2nd, 2009

He’s so cute! I heard his performance in brothers is amazing.. Cant wait to see it!

- jade on December 2nd, 2009

Well, Stephanie, I also don’t hear him complaining about what a “rough” life he has as an actor. Not everyone is content to sit on their millions. Some people realize their talent and want to use it. And why shouldn’t he do something he loves, and is good at?

I don’t get the criticizing. He was just making a statement about how he chooses movies now that he is a father of two. There’s nothing wrong with that. Yes, actors aren’t working typical 9-5 jobs every day. But for those months they are away, working on films? They don’t simply film from 9-5. They have odd hours, are busy memorizing lines, and have to really get into character. And then they don’t just film a scene and are done with it. I’m sure even the simplest scenes take hours of time and effort.

I don’t understand why people are so bitter when he’s obviously not complaining about the life of an actor but just simply stating a fact.

- Stephany on December 2nd, 2009

I’ve been coming to this site for a really long time, so I’ve gotten pretty good at guessing when people will pick and when they won’t. I was surprised with this one, though. I thought his comments were harmless. He’s just saying that he isn’t going to leave his children and wife for any old role that comes his way. Shouldn’t he be commended for that? Imagine if he had said the opposite, that he would rather work all the time, even when the work isn’t worthwhile. Everyone would be saying that he is irresponsible for being away from his kids all the time. Just because he gets to choose when he works doesn’t take away from the struggle of families that don’t get a choice. I know it’s tough for us regular folks. My husband is an IT guy who has to work retail hours. He works nights, weekends, over holidays, doesn’t matter. He’ll go without seeing our daughter for DAYS on end. That’s our lot in life. Do I complain? Not usually, because it’s what we’ve been given. Acting is what Tobey’s been given. I see no problem with him talking about it.

- mrsh on December 2nd, 2009

I also don’t get the criticisms. What he said has nothing to do with the “average workers.” He was just explaining how he chooses movies. He never said he wasn’t blessed or grateful. I really don’t see how that triggered all of the “well I have it harder” comments.

To those people complaining, guess what- there are people who have it way harder than you too. Should they be offended that you complain about only having to work 70 hours a week?

Someone always has it harder so there’s no point in complaining every single time a rich person mentions a downside to their lives.

- Sarah K. on December 2nd, 2009

I think it’s nice he thinks of his kids so much.

However, he should be thankful that he CAN be so picky in choosing when he wants to work!

- Annalee on December 2nd, 2009

Annalee- He never said he isn’t thankful for that!

Stephany- I agree! For those of you who think acting is much easier than a 9-5 job, and that actors actually don’t work that much, I highly recommend watching some “Making of” documentries on DVDs (there are some fantastic, very in-depth ones on the Star Wars Prequal Trilogy DVDs, for example. One of my favorites is one that shows just how much work goes into making even just one minute of a movie!). It’s a quite an eye-opener, let me tell you! You would not believe what goes into making a movie!

- CelebBabyLover on December 3rd, 2009

How funny that people are upset over this! If Tobey wasn’t careful about the roles he took on and was gone all the time people would think that was even worse! At least he puts thought into how each role might effect his family! And he’s a caring dad who wants to be present in his kids lives.
And so true celebbabylover! Esp since his new role in Brothers is not a light subject matter- it’s about a soldier coming back home, after his family thought he was dead and suffering through sever PTSD- not a light subject matter at all!
I think he’s a great dad and I love their family!

- Nina on December 3rd, 2009

Tobey is an extremely thoughtful, caring person, who carefully weighs major life decisions and their impact on his family. Anyone who criticizes him for talking aobut this is just plain jealous of his many successes! The man has worked hard to achieve a successul career, marriage, and family; his hard work combined with luck (or “blessings”) have yielded great success. Other people may not be as talented/gifted/hardworking/lucky – and instead of examining their own lives, feel compelled to throw mud at him. Ridiculous people – they’ll never improve their own lives by attacking others.

- Nicky on December 4th, 2009