Jack Black: Summer All-Star
The star of 'Nacho Libre' on his spandex, catchphrases, and his own special sex appeal.
By Brooke Hauser
PREMIERE: You play a Mexican wrestler in Nacho Libre, a new comedy directed by Napoleon Dynamite’s Jared Hess. Have you had much experience on the mat in real life?
JACK BLACK: I did judo when I was in junior high. I got a trophy, but I outweighed all of the other kids, so I felt like I had an unfair advantage. When I was still in college, [my friend and I] were playing Sega Genesis, and he just barely beat me this one time, but he rubbed it in in a way that made me lose my mind. I snapped, and I immediately put him in a headlock.
I imagine you’d be a good head-butter.
Because of my huge head? I have never done a head butt on someone, no. But my scissor-squeeze is a deadly python. I only scissor-squeeze the ones I love.
In addition to sporting a mustache and afro, Nacho rocks some spandex pants—was that freeing for you?
It’s kind of like being naked. Your entire shape is revealed. It felt Superman-esque.
Do you foresee Nacho spawning a cult following?
I remember feeling there was too much pressure, like, “Make sure you get a catchphrase.” I just didn’t even think about it because that’ll keep you from coming out of the trailer in the morning.
Where does the humor in Nacho Libre come from? Is it more your style or Hess’s?
It pretty much all comes from Jared’s cranium. He hears all the voices, and I added my particular stink to it. But I definitely trusted his instincts. Learning Spanish was something I chose to do.
In the fall you and Kyle Gass will star in Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny. What will all the kids be quoting from that?
Well, I hate to give it away, but my favorite [moment] is when I see something astounding and say, “Fuck-a-luck-a-ding-dong!” Should I spell it for you? F-U-C-K-A-L-U-
That’s okay, thanks. Is it true that you and Philip Seymour Hoffman have competed for some of the same parts?
Yeah. I’m a huge fan of his—it’s just that he’s tormented me over the years because we’re like a similar body type, but he’s always been a little bit better than me. I never saw him at an audition; I would just see him in the movie. I wanted that part in Boogie Nights; I wanted that part in Happiness.
So you’d like to do more dramas?
I don’t know about doing straight-up dramas; it’s not really my cup of tea. But I’d be into doing some other kind of mind-bending movies, Michel Gondry–type. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was my favorite movie of that year.
How do you feel about your status as a sex symbol? A lot of girls think you’re really hot.
Maybe it’s the old teddy bear technique. And I’ve got no hang-ups. You can put that in the magazine.
This article originally appeared in the May 2006 issue of PREMIERE magazIne.
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