Lou Diamond Phillips: ‘I’ve Gotten a Lot More Comfortable in My Skin’

Have you also pushed yourself out of your comfort zone?

I've never wanted to rest on my laurels, and I'm always looking for roles that challenge me. After having done so much, there are fewer roles where you think, “I haven't done that.” But I have a lot of films in the can with characters I haven't played before, and each one allowed me to do something new and different. At my age, I appreciate that, and I love that I’m also getting back to my writing and directing more, because that allows me to stretch some muscles that I don't normally.

Is there anything you haven't done that you’d like to accomplish?

I’ve been very fortunate in my career, and I don’t aspire to climb Everest or jump out of a plane or do anything crazy like that. I don't need to push that envelope anymore, but I will say that retirement is not in my vocabulary. I want to continue what I'm doing, but perhaps on a larger scale. If I can get my books translated to a television series, I would love to write some of the episodes and oversee the project as a producer.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

"The Tinderbox: Underground Movement," out Nov. 19, is Lou Diamond Phillips' standalone follow-up to "The Tinderbox: Soldier Of Indira."

Courtesy Thruline Entertainment

I've had a consistent and forward trajectory, but I do think I’d look back now and say, “have faith.” Throughout my career, I've been a worrier, and I once said, “After every job, you're unemployed.” For me, sometimes that became a worrisome moment where I needed a little bit more faith.

Your daughter, Gracie, is also an actor. Have you given her any tips?

The biggest is to have patience. I'm always looking for the next challenge. I'm not one of these people who can just sit still and do nothing, and I think Gracie inherited that from me. She's very ambitious, and the way the industry works sometimes can be frustrating. It's not a merit-based industry, and the best person doesn’t always win the race. It can be difficult to navigate the politics and the reasons why casting may go in one direction or the other. So you must learn to let go of the things you can't control. That's the biggest advice I've given her because her talent, her ability and her commitment, all of that is there.

How have your priorities changed as you've gotten older?

I'm certainly more relaxed, and I focus on my family and having a work-life balance. The thing that hasn't changed is that I tend to work harder when I'm not filming. When I'm working, I can focus on one thing, but between gigs, I’m making phone calls and taking meetings and all the other stuff involved in getting the gig. At this point in my life, I really do appreciate cooking dinner and sitting out in the yard with a notepad and writing and doing things that aren’t as high pressure as I did in my 30s and 40s. I've gotten a lot more comfortable in my skin. I think early on, especially in my late 20s, I was very self-conscious about doing things like having dinner by myself. And now, sometimes on location, I love to go sit in a corner with a book or my script. That's a great place to be, feeling like you don't have to prove yourself or constantly put out a certain image to people.

What do you do to stay healthy and fit in your 60s?

I used to be a runner. I ran long distance in high school and a little bit in college, but I can't run anymore with my knees. So now I'm doing quite a bit more yoga, which I'm loving, because to be honest, I need the flexibility. Living in New York, I often enjoy a good 10-block walk. I also like to cook and eat right and not go crazy with all the processed foods. All things in moderation, as they say.

What’s next for you?

A: I've got some films in the can right now that I can't wait to get out to the public next year. One of them is a thriller called Et Tu, where I play a director who has mounted a production of Julius Caesar. The wonderful Malcolm McDowell is in the film as well. In the movie Werewolves, I get to play the head of the CDC, looking to cure a global werewolf pandemic. I also have a few other films coming out that I'm incredibly proud of. Two of them have submitted to Sundance, so we'll see what happens there. There’s a comedy I'm going to have a recurring role in that just got picked up by HBO, and we start filming sometime next year. I would also love to go back on stage, having been on Broadway only once and nominated for a Tony Award [in 1996 for a revival of The King and I].