Joel Edgerton says his two-year-old twins influenced his outlook on life and his career.
In an interview with ET’s Nischelle Turner from the premiere of his new Apple TV+ show: Dark matterOn Monday, the 49-year-old Australian actor opened up about how his toddlers – who he shares with his partner Christine Centenera – have changed his life for the better.
When asked if his children have influenced the roles he considers, the actor said, “100 percent.”
He explained, “You know, there are things in the show that really speak to me about how important family is and what it would mean to be separated from family.”
Edgerton initially confirmed that he and Centenera – who is acting as Vogue Australia‘s editor-in-chief – were interviewed in an interview with Oprah Daily At the time, several media outlets reported that the couple had given birth to a single child, only to later announce that they had become parents to two children.
For the actor, it was his children who dictated the plot behind it Dark matter – an adaptation of Blake Crouch’s best-selling novel – more meaningful and thought-provoking. In the book, Jason Dessen (Edgerton) is kidnapped on his way home in Chicago one night, only to find himself in an alternate version of his own life.
The story – an exploration of “the path not taken,” according to AppleTV+ – sees Edgerton’s character racing against time to return home to his wife (Jennifer Connelly) and his young son (Oakes Fegley) as they traverse a “stunning landscape.”
Edgerton told ET that while he would like to see some of the lives that could have been — including one in which he was almost a professional painter — the path he chose and the life he had with Centenera and her friends leads, happy is children.
“I definitely don’t want to take over this life, that’s for sure,” he joked. “I would take a look at my alternative life, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. No matter how stressful or confusing my life has become, it is the best thing in the world.”
While it’s certainly possible that Edgerton’s “stand-ins” have their own projects and awards to their credit, nothing compares to the actor’s recent role on one of the hottest television shows in the world right now, which has almost certainly earned him popularity points, according to Kids: Bluish. In an April episode of the children’s show, the actor lent his voice to play a police officer in the show’s third season.
Edgerton said that while it was great to have a small role on such a popular show, as an actor from Australia, it was even more special for him to see the world fall in love with a show from his home country.
“I recorded right before I became a father. We’ve been waiting for our twins to arrive and now it’s super cool,” he said. “But I’ll tell you what’s even cooler [it’s] an Australian TV show you’re asking me about.”
It shouldn’t be surprising at all Zero Dark Thirty Star, however, as the show continues to make waves worldwide. “The Sign,” the episode in which Edgerton guest-starred, reportedly received 10.4 million views worldwide on Disney+ within its first week of streaming Disney.
“I watch more children’s television than adult dramas at the moment, and that’s fine with me,” Edgerton noted.
Of course, he’s focused on a particular adult drama at the moment – Dark matter. For the AppleTV+ project, Edgerton will executive produce and star alongside Connelly, 53, as well as Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson and Amanda Brugel.
He promises that fans of the book of the same name will not face any major surprises or twists. The actor and EP said they felt it was important to stay true to the novel that has captivated millions of people worldwide.
“We have to change some things and I think that’s good because when you read the book, there really aren’t any big surprises other than who might play the characters,” he told ET. “But the fact that there is additional backstory to the characters and different resolutions is cool.”
Watch the trailer Dark matter in the player below:
The show will premiere in two episodes on May 8th, with episodes released weekly until June 26th.
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