US actor Paul Walker has joined Davidoff's catalogue of buff, blue-eyed gents for this year's Cool Water campaign. TheChicGeek caught up with him to talk California style, Armani suits and marine conservation and find out if he has what it takes to put the cool into Cool Water.
CG:What made you want to be a part of the Davidoff Cool Water campaign?
PW: It just made sense. I always liked the product and as a kid I always remember seeing the campaigns and thinking, “That guy's cool”. A big part of it was that they've always associated themselves with the ocean. They'd heard about my involvement with it and my passion for it – I studied marine biology in school, and with the stuff I've been doing with the sharks – they brought up all those things and I just thought it made sense, not to mention the fact that I was wearing it in junior high school and the girls seemed to like it.
CG: What do you like about the fragrance and as a guy, how and when would you wear it?
PW: I like the way it smells – there's not really much more to it than that. I always got good feedback on it when I was young. It's not like a real heavy smell to me. I don't wear fragrance every day, there are just certain times. I use it when I put on a suit – it happens from time to time! And I like to smell good.
CG: Do you think it's important for men to choose the right fragrance?
PW: The right fragrance is what you like, and what your partner likes, too. It's pretty simple.
CG: You're passionate about ocean conservation and studied marine biology at college, when did that become important to you and why?
PW: Being that I was born and raised here in southern California, I've always had ample access to the ocean. My first childhood idol was Jacques Cousteau, so that's really where it started. I'd go out to various sea camps during the summer breaks and study up on it more and just reinforce what I already knew. I loved it. Where I live now, I still frequent the tidal pools and look at stuff, especially with my daughter, who's 12 now – I think she thinks it's pretty cool.
CG: You're based in California, but are well-travelled. What's your favourite city?
PW: I really like Vancouver, it's just so wild. There's a strong, really powerful energy up there. It rains a little too much for me, but it is beautiful. I like the Pacific North West a lot. My favourite city in North America is probably Montreal. There's a lot of contrast there. Montreal has a much more European flair to it, whereas Vancouver feels like raw America to me. Outside of that, it really depends on my mood. I've had a lot of fun in Rome, and I love Madrid and Barcelona.
CG: You've been in the industry a long time so have been to a fair few awards ceremonies and premieres. Do you have a stylist?
PW: I have a stylist. I can't stand shopping. We've been working together for a while now and she has a good sense of what I like and what I don't. I'm pretty particular, I know what I like and I'm consistent.
CG: Do you have a favourite look?
PW: I don't know if there's any one thing that sticks out in my mind, but every once in a while I will come across an image. My stylist will say: “I'm thinking about putting together something like this,” and I'll say, “Oh yeah, I remember I liked that one a lot.” Personally, I like clean lines, I've never liked pleats so even when pleats were in style, I was always the plain black pants guy. When I talk about style, it's always about suits, because when I'm not in a suit, for me, it's always shorts and a t-shirt or jeans and a t-shirt.
CG: In a lot of your films – the Fast and Furious franchise, Into The Blue – you are the jeans and t-shirt guy, do you feel like you've been pigeon-holed or is that really the extent of your personal style?
PW: That's pretty much me. Way back when they cast me for who I was. Over the years, my style hasn't really changed a lot. I'm still in Levi 501s and a T-shirt. I can't get into the skinny jeans. I can't wear them and I just won't do it. I'm old fashioned.
CG: Who do you think is the most stylish person in film?
PW: George Clooney. When I see images of him, he's always got a suit on.
CG: He's probably got a stylist too, you know...
PW: Yeah I would think so. I think he knows what he likes too. He's one of the more stylish guys out there. Also, the guy who's doing James Bond now..
CG: Daniel Craig?
PW: Yeah, I think he looks sharp. He's well dressed, I like the way he looks. But then, he doesn't really have a choice in the matter, he's playing James Bond. He strikes me probably as more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy, too, but he has to dress the part a lot. I think that's why I identify with him a lot, because he seems like more of an everyday guy.
CG: Obviously underneath the clothes is very important, too. How do you stay in shape?
PW: A lot of emtional stress keeps you thin...
CG: You sound like a girl...
PW: (Laughs) It's just sports really, and staying active. I do go to the gym, but I prefer to just play sports. The gym is to supplement the sports I like to play. When you're away on location and filming, you don't have any choice but to go to the gym. I run quite a bit, so when I'm on location I'll usually run 3-5k seven days a week. I train usually for 45 minutes to an hour on top of that for 4-5 times a week. I do a lot of biometrics. I like doing a lot of the jailhouse stuff too, like clean and jerks and squats, incorporating a lot of new stuff, with the bar as well. I like the big heavy movements the most.
CG: What are your favourite clothing brands and designers?
PW: Designer-wise, I've had a relationship for as long as I can remember – basically as long as I've been wearing suits – with Giorgio Armani. That was the way that it worked out early on and we formed a relationship, so they've been really loyal to me, and in return I've been really loyal back. I think it also has a lot to do with the way their stuff fits. I just realised that it fits my build well. We've tried a couple of other brands along the way, and they've just not fit me as well as Armani's. I like his classic suits and I see that in the majority of them. He doesn't get too busy or too 'style-rific' as I call it, sometimes things get a little too busy and they go a little too far with certain trends. I like classic items with clean lines.
CG: In terms of grooming, what products, other than Davidoff Cool Water, do you use on your skin?
I'm so bad. I get sent stuff and my intention is to use it. Usually people send me products, things to try, and I'll try it for a couple of days, but I'm lazy about it. As I'm getting older, maybe I should start paying more attention. Maybe it's just because it's the way I choose to live.
Words - Rebecca Martin
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