Man of Style: Josh Hartnett; Corcoran, Monica
INSTYLE   09-01-2004

Byline: Corcoran, Monica
Volume: 11
Number: 10
ISSN: 10760830
Publication Date: 09-01-2004
Page: 273
Type: Periodical
Language: English


"Sorry if I seem dazed," says Josh Hartnett. "I just took some punches to the head." Barroom brawl? Woman on the warpath? Hardly. He's been prepping for an upcoming role as a boxer. Meanwhile, the actor, 26, takes plenty of hits as a lovesick guy in the new thriller Wicker Park. Hartnett, who divides his time between his native Minneapolis and Manhattan, also craves a little companionship in real life: "I want a dog, but I travel too much."

You seem pretty laid-back. How do you feel about dressing up? I used to hate it, but I've found myself trying new things. I will wear red, blue and green now-I used to wear only gray. I care less about what is perceived to be cool.

Who has the best "dress up" style? Marcello Mastroianni. He was always put together but a little off too. He had a style that seemed to come naturally to him. Who wouldn't want to be that cool 19605 guy who all the chicks fall over?

Maybe you. I understand you've been known to wear a disguise in public. After Pearl Harbor came out I couldn't go anywhere without wearing a hat and glasses. I felt like I was living in a fishbowl. So sometimes I grow a cheesy goatee because it helps me to hide better.

Do you still feel like a heartthrob? You don't stay the hottest guy forever unless you're, um, Dionysus. As long as I can do what I want and women still find me remotely attractive, I will be happy.

What else makes you happy? Travel. I've been all over Italy, France, a bit of Spain, England. I like to drive around and just explore. When I was in Ireland I went to a peninsula where my ancestors are from and found a Hartnett Laundromat.

Do you have an Irish temper? I probably do. Driving brings out my worst side. I have extreme road rage.

If you could live in another decade, which would it be? The 19505. I'd love to be around the beat writers in New York or San Francisco. It would also be great to be alive at the turn of the [20th] century to see what it was like before planes and cars.

No cars. No road rage. Right. It would save me a lot of stress.

What defines a man more-what he drives or what he drinks? They're both cool indicators. I drive a Prius. I like Jameson's whiskey. But I drink beer mostly. It's not helping my boxing.

What are your thoughts on personal grooming? No one is allowed to touch my eyebrows. Someone once plucked them on the set, and it hurt like hell. You know those little hairs between the brows? I am fine with them.

What relaxes you? I paint-oils mostly. You have so much freedom to experiment-like any art. My family is made up of jazz musicians who like to break the mold. One of my little brothers studied African drumming in Ghana; the other plays sax. My sister is a bass guitarist; my dad is a guitarist too.

And what painters do you admire? Matisse, Renoir, Picasso. Van Gogh was a genius. They all have intriguing stories, but not many people know them. We read about actors and athletes. Wouldn't it be great to see a magazine cover that said "Inside Modigliani's secret Passion"? I would love to play an artist.

What do you find exciting in a woman? Originality. Someone who is comfortable with herself. I admire that most of all.

What's your idea of a great first date? One where neither of you wants it to end.

What's the longest date you've ever been on? Three years. That was a long date.

Copyright Time Incorporated Sep 2004