The legendary Hollywood star Harrison Ford celebrated his 83rd birthday last month. Despite this, he has no plans to retire. In a new interview, Ford is opening up about what exactly motivates him to keep working in Hollywood.
Ford Reveals What Keeps Him Going
Ford was recently honored with his very first Emmy nomination for his work on the television show Shrinking. He was just asked about this while walking the red carpet at a Televerse event in Los Angeles.
“It’s nice, I appreciate the attention, and I appreciate… the proposition,” Ford told Fox News of his Emmy nomination, which is in the outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series category. “It’s gratifying, but my real pleasure is in the work.”
When asked what keeps him motivated to keep working in Hollywood, Ford replied by saying that what he loves is “the mystery of it.”
“What’s going to happen, who’s going to do what—it’s fascinating to be alive, and the stuff we do is so demanding, you’re really scared not to do anything,” he continued.
Ford went on to say that he feels energized by how fast-paced life is on a film or television set.
“It makes the day go by pretty fast,” he explained. “I like not knowing what’s going to happen. It’s very exciting.”
Ford concluded by praising the writers of Shrinking for pushing him further as an actor.
“I like having writers that you trust… they’ve helped me extend my range,” he stated.
Ford Gets Emotional
This comes after a video went viral online showing Ford give an emotional speech to the cast and crew of Shrinking after filming wrapped on season three last month.
“You guys are the best,” a teary-eyed Ford said in an emotional video posted to Instagram. “The very, very best at what you do and how you do it. And how you make people feel is just [expletive] amazing.”
“I love this place, I love working with you guys,” he added. “I hope we can all get back here and do it again.”
When he was later asked about getting his first Emmy nomination, Ford replied, “I don’t think there’s anything competitive about creativity, and I don’t understand the need to compare and contrast one person’s work to another’s. If you like it, you like it; if you don’t like it, look at something else.”
“I’m grateful, but I would have done what I did — and I’ll do what I’m doing — regardless of whether it’s deemed worthy of mention or not,” he continued. “Because it’s what I do. It’s what I love doing. I love telling stories. I love pretending to be somebody else.”
Ford Talks Retirement
Ford was recently asked by Variety if he ever plans to retire. Indeed, he had an answer to this question ready immediately.
“No,” he emphatically replied. “That’s one of the things I thought was attractive about the job of an actor, was that they need old people, too, to play old people’s parts.”
Ford is a true legend, and there will never be another one like him. We’re so glad that he’s still enjoying acting in his 80s.
God bless you, Harrison Ford!