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Wit and Wisdom from Jesse Eisenberg
(though he’s probably got wittier and wiser since this…)
Way back almost five years ago — how is that possible? Where does the time go? — I went to hear Jesse Eisenberg speak at Politics and Prose, as part of his book tour for Bream Gives Me Hiccups. The star of The Social Network came across as smart and engaging — in turn self deprecating, funny, or earnest. And it turns out I wrote down some of the things that made me laugh or think, so here they are.
On his hoarse voice
I will apologise first — just because that’s how I like to enter a room.
On media exposure
My goal is to not get famous enough that anybody is going to make a movie about me. I could have written a much better book, but… It’s also why I didn’t win the Academy Award that year. I thought, I’ll come in second.
On the catharsis of acting
I walk around in a state between rage and weeping and it’s inappropriate to go to a Starbucks that way because they won’t serve you. With acting, I can express my emotions.
On his writing process
I sit on a gold throne as an enigmatic mistress peels grapes, gradually revealing the grapes…
