Friday, 20 July 2007

• Prev
• Next

John Travolta: I'm not homophobic

The Hairspray star answers your email questions

You play a woman in new movie Hairspray. What’s the single worst thing about being female?
Carly Turner, Great Yarmouth

High heels. I don’t know how you stand them. By the end of each day’s filming, my calf muscles were in agony and my feet ached.

I’ve only put a dress on once before. I played Barbra Streisand in a comedy routine on TV with Mike Myers. I thought to myself: ’Never again.’

How do you deal with the gay rumours?
Stephanie Knight, London

I don’t need to. A lot of people have said all sorts of things about me over the years. If I took notice of them, I’d never do anything with my life.

I try not to be cynical and to let it all bounce off. I was accused the other day of being homophobic. That’s also untrue. My view has always been that fame comes at a price – you pay that price with gossip and rumours.

Do you think Hollywood women are too skinny?
Emily Thomas, Cardiff

This is going to get me into trouble! I think they’re far too thin. I like well-built women. That’s my personal taste. I married Kelly Preston, who’s voluptuous. She looks slim but, trust me, she’s all woman and looks sensational.

What sort of women turn you on?
Gillian Cristal, London

The women I liked when I was growing up were Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. They were erotic to me. So I told the make-up artists on Hairspray: ’Bigger breasts, bigger ass, smaller waist, smoother skin.’ I wanted to make Edna Turnblad big and sexy.

Have you ever abused your celebrity status to get special treatment?
Mary O’Reilly, Belfast

The restaurant thing is a ‘gimme’. I don’t even have to make reservations. When I was 21 and first started on [70s US TV series] Kotter, I went to a diner and the tab was on them. They said: ‘We have a policy to give all famous people free food.’ I thought: ‘Wow! I can get an apartment near this diner and eat just about every meal here. I’ll be set.’

See the full interview in Now magazine - out now!