By Justine Harman
OCTOBER 14, 2014

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been enchanted by James Marsden’s hyperrealized good looks: those striking cheekbones, the oversaturated blue eyes, and that “Hey, Girl” smirk. But when we meet at The Fat Radish, a sun-drenched farm-to-table eatery on New York’s lower east side, I realize what I always realize when I meet actors: James Marsden is just one man. He’s not some bizarre amalgamation of every out-of-reach hottie and chiseled screen star I’ve ever idolized. He’s just a guy who makes jokes that don’t land, gets worried that he’s hurt your feelings (when he hasn’t), and connects with whomever happens to be in his orbit—be she a microphone-wielding journalist or a drink-bearing waitress. (No wonder he was so good at playing Liz Lemon’s adorable hot dog vendor husband, Criss Cross, on 30 Rock.)

And yes, of course, he’s divine looking. But when he challenges you to a full-on beer chug—according to the actor, he and his dad both possess an uncanny ability to rocket back cold ones—you forget that he’s the star of Nicholas Sparks’ latest, The Best of Me, out Friday, and not just another frat boy teasing the hopeless competitor inside you. And therein lies James Marsden’s charm: No matter how old we get, he stays the same age. Save for a few salty flecks at his temples, he’s as arresting and youthful now as he was in 2000’s cult-loved Gossip (you know, the dark, sexy one with Norman Reedus and Kate Hudson).

Here, we grill the 41-year old on the curse of being born beautiful, his real-life high school sweetheart, and what it’s really like to play second banana to Gosling:

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Based on the best-selling novel by author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of two former high school sweethearts, Dawson (James Marsden) and Amanda (Michelle Monaghan), who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart. In their hometown for the funeral of their beloved friend, they are suddenly forced to face the love that they’ve never forgotten, as well as the life that got in their way. The film also stars Luke Bracey, Liana Liberato, Caroline Goodall, Sebastian Arcelus, Jon Tenney and Gerald McRaney.

At the film’s press day, actor James Marsden spoke to Collider for this exclusive interview about playing the romantic lead that the audience is rooting for (unlike in his last Nicholas Sparks film), sharing the role with Luke Bracey, getting the first kiss right, and how much he enjoyed working with Michelle Monaghan. He also talked about how he kept his appearance in X-Men: Days of Future Past a secret, as well as what attracted him to the highly anticipated HBO sci-fi/Western series Westworld, how Jonah Nolan sold him on the project, the terrific cast (which includes Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Rodrigo Santoro and Miranda Otto), and how he hopes that it goes to series so that he’ll get to do more. Check out what he had to say after the jump.

Your first time around with a Nicholas Sparks movie (he was in The Notebook), you were not the guy the audience was rooting for, to get the girl.

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For the stars of The Best of Me, James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan, having Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato play their younger selves was a blessing, and for Marsden a bit of a curse!

“It was great to see Luke go in there and sweep her off her feet. He set the bar a little high for me,” Marsden said in our exclusive video interview, as he and Monaghan laughed. “In the gym, too!”

Bracey and Liberato play Dawson and Amanda as young sweethearts who are basking in the glow of first love.

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I’ve uploaded more HQ stills from the movie “The Best Of Me”.

GALLERY LINK:
Movie Productions > The Best Of Me > Promotional Stills
Movie Productions > The Best Of Me > On The Set

I’ve uploaded 27 HQ candid photos of Jimmy in Los Angeles on October 10, 2014.

GALLERY LINK:
Paparazzi Photos > 2014 Candids > [2014.10.10]Los Angeles (HQ)

Jimmy posed for a photocall at press conference for “The Best of Me” at Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles on October 6, 2014. I’ve uploaded 34 HQ photos from this set to the gallery. I also added over 200 HQ photos from “The Best of Me” World Premiere.

GALLERY LINK:
Photoshoot Outtakes > Photocalls > “The Best of Me” Press Conference (HQ)
Public Appearances > 2014 Appearances > [2014.10.07]”The Best of Me” World Premiere (HQ)

Actor James Marsden just dropped $1,834,075 on a Mid Century home in an exclusive neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills!

Built in 1959, the post-and-beam-style home is the quintessential Hollywood Hills home designed for indoor/outdoor living with timeless design.

Inside, Marsden’s new digs has wide spans of open living space and walls of glass that merge the indoors and out. When he needs privacy, James can retreat to a large master suite with a massive walk-in closet. Just down the hall, there’s two more large bedrooms. The fourth bedroom is a great versatile space, and would make either a great office or and additional guest suite.

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James Marsden was honored to take over the late Paul Walker’s role in The Best of Me, the handsome actor told Us Weekly in an interview on Monday, Oct. 6.

“All I can say about that is he is just one of those tremendous actors that was even that much more special of a human being,” Marsden told Us when asked about Walker. “There was a wonderful energy about him and he was a terrific actor. You always want to be good stepping into a role like this but [it] felt a little bit more of an honor to play this role because of him,” the X-Men actor shared.

Walker, who died in a car accident in November 2013, was originally cast to play Dawson in Nicholas Sparks’ upcoming romance flick. A month after Walker’s tragic death, the role was offered to Marsden.

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We knew he was from Oklahoma, but we had no idea James Marsden could sing country like this.

When the actor and his Best of Me co-stars stopped by On Air With Ryan Seacrest on Wednesday (Oct. 8), they were joined by Lady Antebellum, who have a song on the soundtrack for the Nicholas Sparks adaptation. When Seacrest suggested that Marsden join Lady A for a song, he was initially reluctant — but once the first lines of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” came out of his mouth, it was clear he was up for the challenge.

“Now I’m just pissed, because he’s better than me,” Lady Antebellum singer/guitarist Charles Kelley joked.

Watch Marsden’s performance for yourself below:

Source: Billboard

Jimmy attended the world premiere of “The Best Of Me” at the Regal Cinemas L.A. Live in Los Angeles on October 7, 2014. I’ve uploaded 180 HQ photos from this event to the gallery.

GALLERY LINK:
Public Appearances > 2014 Appearances > [2014.10.07]”The Best of Me” World Premiere (HQ)