The ex-Filer on parenthood, partners in crime and pockets full of potatoes and peasby Jeanne Wolf June 6, 2001 Can Duchovny shake off Fox Mulder in his quest for the big screen? David Duchovny gets assaulted by weird extraterrestrials and double-crossed by the government, and it's not just another day in the life of Agent Fox Mulder. While he gained world fame tracking aliens on The X-Files, he's now playing them for laughs in Evolution, the new sci-fi comedy from Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman. Though he recently made his final exit from the series, Duchovny's sexy FBI agent will live on in reruns and the X-Files movie. Offscreen, everyone knows Duchovny is crazy about his wife, actress Téa Leoni. She's about to be seen in her own summer bid to break the box office, Jurassic Park III. It's Téa and their two-year-old daughter, Madelaine, who have him longing to spend more time at home. Duchovny is the master of deadpan, but he cracks up when he talks about being silly while trying to save the world with Evolution costar Orlando Jones. He teases that costar Julianne Moore provides a new partner for sexual tension. Important stuff first: You have a scene where you moon Julianne Moore and some assembled military guys who are giving you a hard time. Whose idea was that? It was mine--an improv moment. I just dropped my pants and pressed it against the windshield of a Jeep. Ivan Reitman said, "I don't know if I'll use your ass, but it's on film." Then he came back from one of the screenings and said, "People love this movie, but when you moon, it's like the audience just gets energized. It's like your ass is the great equalizer." I replied, "I've often said that myself." Actually, I had someone take a Polaroid of my ass, and occasionally I'd flash it at a cast member. Now that I think of it, I lost track of that snapshot. I guess I should have kept an eye on it. What did you think when you saw your rear onscreen? I thought it was shockingly white. Actually, Julianne said the same thing, but I could tell she loved it. Anyway, if we do a sequel, Orlando is going to do the same thing. It'll be the dark side of the moon. Reitman made slime famous in Ghostbusters, and he made some of the alien stuff in Evolution pretty gooey. Didn't it get disgusting? Well, I went through some pretty gross moments for The X-Files. I've had things like fish hooks in my face. Slime is like a walk in the park after you've been fish-hooked. Was it a kick to sort of spoof your image as Agent Mulder? I swear I had no intention of doing that. I saw Evolution as a big special effects-driven sci-fi movie. It does have aliens, but that's a coincidence. I realized that people are making the connection when one of my lines gets a big laugh. I go, "No government--I know those people--don't trust them." I had no idea when I said it that people would think of Mulder. I don't go around thinking I am Mulder. Actually, I don't like making fun of some image I have, but you take laughs wherever you can get them. Do you have to work hard to remind people you're not such a serious guy? Until I die, I know people will keep coming up and saying, "I didn't know you were so funny." That's why I don't like to be thought of just as Mulder, because the overall impression you get of him is not humorous, even though we did some funny stuff on the series. You were known as a pretty naughty guy on the set. Do you plead guilty to staging some nasty pranks, like putting mashed potatoes in the jacket pocket of fellow cast member Seann William Scott? My defense is that growing up we always had to finish every bite of food on our plates. To this day, if I see leftovers, I get peeved. So, I happened to walk into Seann's trailer, and there were some mashed potatoes left from lunch. I put them in a few strange places in his clothing. Anyway, a few days later, he was out with his girlfriend, and he was paying for some ice cream, and he reached in his jacket pocket and came up with a handful of potatoes and peas. Did anyone think it was funny? Orlando did, because he and I became best buddies and partners in crime just like our characters in the film. But Julianne was a little motherly toward Seann. She got upset that we were teasing him. You live for the moment when an Academy Award-nominated actress turns and says, "Now David, did you put potatoes in Seann's shoes?" Speaking of Julianne, you don't get one single love scene with her. Did you feel cheated? This is a goofy movie, and if you saw a love scene, you'd be going, "Eww, yuck." At least we got a nice kiss at the end. A kiss is enough. You also finally gave The X-Files viewers what they wanted and kissed Agent Scully in your final episode. Yes, I did finally kiss Gillian. Originally, I was supposed to kiss her on the forehead. I said, "Come on, we've been teasing for so long, let's have a real kiss. Let's make it a romantic ending." Are you really gone from The X-Files? I'm done with the series. Creatively, I can't justify going back. I think it's a great show, but I've done eight years of it. I don't feel like I'm abandoning ship. I think I've fulfilled my personal contract with the fans, and I think they understand. Are you sure? I know others have gotten some flak for leaving their series. Instead of applauding them for wanting to do other creative things, some people are going "You idiot." They just think about all the money you're giving up. Any mixed feelings? I feel scared. I said it felt good, but actually it feels a little uncomfortable. I don't know what's next. I'm actually working on writing a couple of scripts. And I'm interested in directing. I love that more than anything I've done. Would you do another series? The reason I left X-Files is because I wanted to do other things. For me to jump into another series at this point would be hypocritical. Anyway, I don't think I could ever find another show as influential, weird and original as X-Files. So, I have no desire to go back to TV. I feel I've done it, and I've done it in the best possible way. Téa understands. She said, "I can't believe you stuck it out as long you did." She's extremely supportive. Ironically, you and Téa are both going to be competing for a chunk of the summer box office, since she's in Jurassic Park III. Did you guys compare notes? We didn't, but we did compare bruises, because you bump into things when you're running from scary creatures. To be honest, the dinosaurs were harder on her than the aliens were on me. She's not used to it like I am, fighting off a menace. What's the most romantic thing you've ever done for her? You're going to laugh, but I got her an online trading account. She loves playing the stock market. So, for her, it was a very romantic gift. Has being a father changed you? I'm probably softer. Parenthood definitely affects you. It's not like I gave up all my vices and stopped driving fast. Actually, I never did that in the first place. When you have a child, it really frees your emotions, but it's so overwhelming you feel like going, "Ow, don't make me feel so much. I'm going to cry if you keep laughing." That kind of thing. If you could talk to the David just starting out, what would you share? I'd probably say, "You've got to love acting, because the odds are you won't succeed at all. Don't chase money and fame. Chase the work because you love to do it." Then I'd say, "Get out of my way, you young, handsome bastard. Stop trying to get my jobs; I'm not done yet!" Back to Duchovny Quotes Back to David Duchovny Dreamland
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