Press Archive » Elijah's World Interview
June 1994 - February 2005Source: Blue
Q. Does being an actor affect your childhood?
A. No, actually being an actor doesn't affect my childhood. A lot of people ask me that and I'm pretty much a normal kid. I mean, I don't go to regular school and I'm sure that's probably the only thing that sets me apart from other kids, and acting, of course.
Q. Are you going to college when you're older or will you continue your career as an actor?
A. Most likely, I'll go to college. it's important. I'm sure a lot of kids when they get out of high school think that they've basically learned everything, but there's so much more that you can learn in college and I think that would be a good think for me.
Q. But you do want to continue your career, right?
A. Oh yeah.
Q. What do you like to do in your free time?
A. I play with my dog, ride bikes, collect Star Wars action figures, watch movies, I'm taking fencing lessons, and I like to play soccer.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. Yeah, I have a dog.
Q. What's his name?
A. Rascal
Q. Elijah, when we receive an autographed photo, poster, etc., can we safely assume that you personally did the autographing?
A. Yeah, actually, I sign everything that's sent out. I want to sign my own pictures because I really care about my fans.
Q. What is Elijah Wood's full name?
A. Elijah Jordan Wood is my full name
Q. What type of books do you read and who is your favorite author?
A. Well, I'm just starting to get into science fiction. I like adventure and I like mysteries. My favorite book is probably The Hobbit and my favorite author is the author that wrote The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Q. If you had one wish in the world, what would it be?
A. If I had one wish, I'd bring back the rain forests because if they were preserved, I think it would solve a lot of the world's problems.
Q. I was wondering in you'd rather be like the rest of us?
A. Well, see...I am just like everybody else. The only thing that's different is the acting, and not going to regular school. That's it.
Q. Do you like a mess, or are you a "neat freak?"
A. Well...I'm messy, but I don't...it's kind of odd...I'm messy, but I don't like being messy. I throw things down in my room, but I like it better when it's clean.
Q. Do you have any brothers or sister?
A. I have an older brother, Zachariah and a younger sister, Hannah.
Q. What college would you like to go to?
A. Well, I'm interested in directing and a lot of things behind the camera. I think it would be great to learn everything there is to know about the movie business and go to UCLA for film school...or USC because George Lucas is my role-model as a director. (ed. note George Lucas has a film school at USC)
Q. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go, and why?
A. I'd probably go to London because I just went to London for publicity for North and I really enjoyed it there. It's a lot like New York and New York used to be my favorite city, but now it's London.
Q. Do you shop at a certain store for your clothes?
A. I like to shop at the Banana Republic. I like the "bland" look. I don't like a lot of bright colors.
Q. Did you take it cool, or were you upset when they cut your hair for the movie, The War?
A. I had such long hair when I started that movie and the second day I was on the set, they said, "Okay Elijah. Today we're going to cut your hair." and I was excited because I've basically had long hair all my life. So they shave it all off and I loved it. To this day, my hair is growing out and I'm trying to get my mom to let me get it cut again, because I loved it.
Q. How do you feel about having so much popularity?
A. I devote most of my time, as an actor, to what I do. I don't think about being famous or popular - I think about my career and the next movie I'm going to do, or a character that I'm studying for.
Q. Of all the movies you've been in so far, which has been your favorite to act in?
A. Probably The War. I've done a lot of movies that had challenging roles, but this is the most challenging role I've ever had. And a challenge to an actor is probably the most fun you could have - to work so hard at the role and really think about it. I love getting into the character.
Q. How tall are you?
A. I'm 5'2"
Q. What three sport teams are you favorite?
A. I'm a big fan of hockey now - my brother's getting into it. So for hockey, it's probably the Kings because I live in L.A. and because of Wayne Gretzky. I also like to go to Laker games and the Dallas Cowboys because of working with Troy Aikman on Wavy Lays commercials.
Q. Do you like music and if yes, what type of music do you listen to?
A. I try to be open-minded to everything. Basically, I'm really into jazz, and up-beat jazz, like the Brand New Heavies and Madhouse is a good jazz band. I also like rock 'n'roll - early rock like Hendrix and The Beatles - I love The Beatles. I'm also into musicals. I like Les Miserables and I really like Jesus Christ Superstar.
Q. What part of Alaska North filmed in and do you like Alaska?
A. Actually, North wasn't filmed in Alaska. All the Alaska scenes were filmed on a set in Culver City, on the Sony Studios lot.
Q. Do you like video games and if so, what's your favorite game?
A. Yes, I do like video games. I don't play them all the time, but when I do play them, I usually like to play a lot of strategy games, like Myst. Games that you have to stretch, not shrink your brain to play. I'm a bit Star Wars fan, so Revel Assault is my favorite arcade-action game.
Q. In the June-August issue, Elijah mentioned that he goes to a different kind of school. Exactly what kind of school does he go to?
A. Well, I don't actually go to a school. I have a tutor that comes to my house to teach me.
Q. What grade are you in?
A. I'm in eighth grade.
Q. How does Elijah get to and from work?
A. Usually there will be a van that will pick us up, and the driver usually brings some of the other actors...and we'll go to the set. That's if I'm on location. If I'm home doing a movie, my mom usually drives us to the location.
Q. for you Canadian fans, particularly me, do you ever think you'll film a movie in Calgary? Or will it normally be in the U.S.?
A. It actually depends on what movie it is. There are many movies that could be filmed in Canada. I never know, when I read a script, if the film will shoot in Canada or not. I'm sure it would be a fun experience to work there though.
Q. Who is the person who most influences you the most?
A. My mom most likely influences me the most.
Q. Have you ever visited foreign countries?
A. Yes, I have been to London twice and Canada (Toronto) once. I think that's it.
Q. What would you like to be in the future?
A. Well, I definitely want to be something that's in the movie business. Whether it's writing or directing or producing. I believe that actors can make very good directors because they understand (the actors) point of view. So I definitely want to try out directing.
Q. What's your favorite subject in school?
A. My favorite subject in school would probably be English or History. It's interesting to learn about History because you learn about things that were sort of unexplained. Since most of history is unexplained and it's not 100% fact, it's interesting to learn about it. I like English because I'd like to be a good writer and I love to read.
Q. I would like to ask whether Elijah has been in a stage play?
A. Well...yes and no. Yes, I have been in a play at school, but I haven't done anything professional.
Q. What is your favorite Beatles Song?
A. "I am the Walrus" is one of my favorite songs.
Q. Do you read Elijah's World?
A. I look through it when it comes out. It's really well done.
Q. How old are your brother and sister?
A. My brother is 20, almost 21. And my sister just turned 11.
Q. Since you get tutored at home, do you have a lot of friends like we have, since we go to a school?
A. No. The only way I can really meet friends is probably on movies. Because there is usually kids working on the movies I do. I'm usually not home, so that sort of stops me from meeting people at home. The only downside is that the friends that I meet on films usually don't live close to me. so I can't keep a solid relationship with any of my friends. But I've got some friends that live in California.
