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A well as his two sons, Indio and Exton, Robert
and his wife, producer Susan whom he married
in 2005, recently had a baby daughter, Avri. With
his stock at an all-time high, how does Downey Jr.
find time to be a father and husband in amongst
saving the world on screen?
“I've slowed things down a bit but I enjoy
working and I know that work is the best form of
therapy for me,” Robert admits. “Susan has given
me a structure for living and we love each other as
much as any couple can be in love. We take that
responsibility seriously and I’ve become a better
man because of my commitment to taking this
journey together with her.”
2015 is shaping up to be one of the biggest
years in Downey Jr.'s career to date, he is a man
at peace with his past, present and future at
023
CINEMA
interview
I
t is a redemption story Stan Lee and co. would
be proud to have written themselves, and with
the much anticipated
Avengers
sequel set to
take theatres by storm this April, Downey's rise
shows no sign of slowing. “It's a life comeback!”
the actor says of his turnaround. “I love the
metaphor of the Phoenix. I soared high when I
first started making my mark as an actor and then
I crashed and burned only to rise again.”
In addition to his starring role as Iron Man in the
standalone trilogy before
The Avengers
, Robert's
renaissance began with films such as
Sherlock
Holmes
,
Zodiac
and
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
. “The
only thing that would ruin things is if I crashed and
burned again,” he says of his recent success. “But
I'm too proud of my family and what we have
together to let that happen.”
His role as billionaire playboy meets superhero,
Tony Stark/Iron Man, is one he credits with
getting his name back into the upper echelons
of Hollywood's elite. “There’s no denying that
Iron Man has put me in a position to many other
things,” he says of the role. The devoted father of
three says that upon seeing friend Johnny Depp
succeed in the
Pirates of the Caribbean
franchise,
he wanted his children to see their father in a
similar role. “I hoped it would be the kind of
movie you can take your kid to and explore the
comic-book hero genre with a mix of escapism
and intelligence. I’m also proud of the fact that
I’m a leading man who can do major blockbusters
and be that Harrison Ford kind of guy. It’s not a
bad place to be,” he confesses.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Iron Man 3
In recent years, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. has become the poster boy for a franchise which boasts
the third highest performing box-office hit of all time,
The Avengers
. His portrayal of comic
book favourite Iron Man in Marvel's wildly successful movies has helped the actor, 49, propel
himself back to Hollywood's forefront, where he was listed as the highest-paid actor by Forbes
in 2013 following years in the addiction wilderness, overcoming drug and alcohol problems.
I'm proud of the fact
that I'm a leading
man who can do major
blockbusters...
Avengers: Age of Ultron
is in cinemas on
April 23 and will be reviewed next issue.
The Avengers
last. “I’ve reached a point where I know I can live
this way, and I am deeply grateful for everything I
have today,” he admits.
With Iron Man signed up for a further Avengers
film, the amazing turnaround in Robert Downey
Jr.'s life is complete.