Dan Aykroyd has been in the news lately promoting his vodka brand, Crystal Head , in Australia. He met up with Kate Waterhouse for a date at the esteemed Nomad Restaurant in Surrey Hills.
Dan and Kate chatted over some delicious snapper tartare and a few glasses of Aykroyd’s own Crystal Head vodka and Martini. She spoke to the Ghostbuster and Blues Brother about himself and his career .
Among other things discussed on the “date”, Kate Waterhouse asked Dan Aykroyd about how he prepares for movie roles, why he likes his private island – which he goes to for peace and quiet – and his aspirations to work with Baz Luhrmann.
Here are some questions and answers from the Aykroyd/Waterhouse date:
Have you been to Australia before?
This is my first time. I’m a hermitic Canadian so I don’t go too far from home.
How do you prepare for a role?
I am of the school of coming in the make-up chair in the morning and learning the script then, because if I learn it the night before I am going to be running it in my head, and it’s best to do it cold for the director and let him or her tune the performance. So I don’t do much preparation at all.
Do you do anything to get into the character?
Not really. I am not that school at all. I turn it on and off – and maybe the work shows that! (Laughs.)
How do you cope with being recognised around the world?
When people come up to me and it’s their special moment, I want to make it special for them. It’s almost like you are a faith healer and you want to give your energy to them. And you know, I like people, so it’s not a problem for me.
What is the funniest rumour you have read about yourself?
When Donna and I were married there was a piece in The [National] Enquirer that [said] I took her to [John Belushi’s] grave, we ate chicken, drank whiskey and went looking for UFOs. Well, that wasn’t true … that night! (Laughs.)
Kate was so excited about her date with Dan that she posted the following Tweets from her Twitter account:
Date with Kate: Dan Aykroyd: http://t.co/lEQnRewqU0
— Kate Waterhouse (@KateWaterhouse7) October 13, 2013
Caught up with the amazing #DanAykroyd ! #datewithkate #sunherald #thesunherald . Full interview now… http://t.co/ceBiJmgugG
— Kate Waterhouse (@KateWaterhouse7) October 13, 2013
For old times sake, here is a video of the ten best Dan Aykroyd movie moments, for your viewing pleasure: