Actor Jordan Bridges on Dad Beau Bridges, Uncle Jeff Bridges, His TNT show, Rizzoli & Isles, Working with Director Clint Eastwood on J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio Out Late Autumn, More
Jordan Bridge’s last name is a famous one. The son of multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Beau Bridges, grandson of the late, great Lloyd Bridges and nephew of Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, Jordan has carved out his own significant body of work in the acting business. Currently in a recurring role in the TNT TV show Rizzoli & Isles and with a role in the upcoming Clint Eastwood picture, J. Edgar, slated for theaters at the end of autumn, Jordan is on an upwardly arcing trajectory. You can listen to the entire interview with Jordan below.
Listen to the entire Jordan Bridges interview:
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The actor sat for his CYInterview and shares perspectives on his acting experiences:
“Some of the first lessons I learned, early on, in terms of work ethic and respect for you know, the people I’m working with, those are things that still kind of resonate with me even today and things that I try to stay true to. I think that’s important to always bring everything you have to the work and that’s always something I intended to do…I really look at each new opportunity, each job as a fresh start and you know I try to take each role as a unique thing.”
Jordan has a special relationship with his uncle, Jeff Bridges. Besides the older Bridges being able to guide and provide advice on the acting business there’s more to the relationship.
“The dude has taught me more about life really and kind of surviving as a creative person more than kind of the ins and outs of the business. He’s really given me amazing guidance just as a person. He’s taught me that, he emphasizes the process over the product generally. If I were to kind of simplify and crystallize what I’ve learned from him, I think that’s a big part of his, you know, maybe his philosophy in life…That’s certainly what I’ve got from him is that you throw yourself into the work and you don’t worry about the results or whether or not it’s going to be a hit or whether or not people will love it or whether or not it’s gonna lead to other things…
My primary teacher was definitely my father [Beau Bridges] in all things, but Jeff, I admire him as a father and as a husband. I mean, you know, it’s a rare thing in this town and in this business to see a marriage that sustained so long as theirs has and is so rich and that’s something that really inspires me as a husband and a father. I really admire both him and my aunt Sue. I think it’s amazing what they’ve accomplished.”
Presently, Jordan can be seen playing a cop on Rizzoli & Isles. As Frank Rizzoli Jr. he has the opportunity to immerse himself in the lifestyle of a Boston police officer. The younger Mr. Bridges enjoys researching roles:
“I was really excited. It’s my favorite part of the job is getting to step into the shoes of people who normally you wouldn’t get to do that. It’s interesting, as a kid, one of the early signs that you know I was going to be afflicted with the challenges of being an actor was that I use to dress up and for hours at a time kind of live in a pretend world, pretending to be other people. And so when I became a professional [actor] that was the aspect of it that I loved more than anything is the research and really kind of trying to immerse myself into the world of whoever I was playing.”
Slated for late Fall, Jordan will be appearing in the upcoming Clint Eastwood film J. Edgar starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film is based on the life of former Director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. Film enthusiasts have probably heard stories about the manner in which Mr. Eastwood works as a director. Having Jordan speak about working with Clint gives insight into what the movie legend is like in that respect:
“I’ve always been a huge admirer of Clint Eastwood and you know it was kind of a long process of auditioning and I read for like a couple different parts…So then when I got the call, I was absolutely thrilled…It was the most relaxed experience I’ve ever had on a set. Mr. Eastwood approaches the work with so much assuredness and cool and confidence. There’s no stress and yet it’s very energized, the set and very on point, very professional. So it was great to be a part of that.
He, there was not the typical thing where a director will say, ‘Action and cut.’ And very loudly. He just would just sort of say, ‘Ok, whenever you guys are ready, go ahead.” And then when the scene kind of played out, he would say, ‘Alright, that’s it, that’s good. Let’s try one more time.’ You know, it was very relaxed and yet, he knew, it was clear that he knew exactly what he needed to get and when he got it, he was happy to move on. You know, it was great, really refreshing great experience.”
In J. Edgar, Jordan plays a lawyer in United States Department of Labor who clashes with Hoover’s boss, at an early stage in J. Edgar’s career. Bridges tells us the film jumps back and forth during periods of the FBI director’s life.
“I play a lawyer in the labor department and it’s early on in Hoover’s career before there was an FBI and he was working for justice, for the justice department. And labor and justice were kind of clashing because they wanted to deport immigrants and as a lawyer at the labor department, you know, I, these people have a right to be in the country and I felt that they were illegally deporting the immigrants. So I was kind of clashing with his boss…It’s early on in Hoover’s career and the film kind of jumps back and forth between different touchstones of his life and I’m kind of in an earlier segment.”
Finally, Jordan wants everyone to know he loves the opportunity to entertain people as an actor.
“I want them to know that I love my job. I love doing what I’m doing. I love performing. I love entertaining people and I think that it’s a great gift and an honor that I get to do this as my job.”
Jordan Bridges’s official website is at www.jordanbridges.com
You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com