Patrick Dempsey

‘Rome is good for romance’

Were you ever a cad like your character in the film?
No, but it was fun playing a playboy. I could never do it, but he was a lot of fun to play. I could never live that lifestyle. I’ve always been a ‘one relationship at a time’ kind of guy. Now it’s fun to play someone like that. It’s just fun having kids, and they were here for lunch and everything.

Can friends be lovers?
I think so, because they have a really strong foundation as friends. You know, they’re friends first and then they became lovers. So it can only get better from there.

How important is it to be friends with your partner?
I think you need the friendship, especially once you start having children. If you don’t have friendship, you won’t survive. The heat of the passion will recede with time, but you need to have that foundation. And then you start getting experimental and have fun in a relationship.

This film is refreshing because it’s from the man’s point of view. Romantic comedies are usually the opposite.
Yeah, it was a great idea. It wasn’t completely realized on the page, but they were ready to push it through, and we could develop the idea and see what we could come up with. It was something familiar enough that people would enjoy if we pulled it off. It really depended on the chemistry. It was an interesting idea. And I came in before Paul. I saw Paul’s movie, Sixty-Six. I thought he had a great visual style, and this looks really beautiful for a romantic comedy.

You are the Julia Roberts in the situation here.
I guess so(laughs). I hope I’m a little more masculine than that.
What’s your take on proposals in public places?
I think it’s a lot of pressure. I did it privately and just in the house, and then we went out and had fun. But it’s a bit of a cliche, I suppose.

Romance in public?
It depends on the environment. In certain cities it’s great, because it’s so exciting. Some cities promote being physical in public. Paris is certainly a great place, and the countryside in Italy, and where I was in New York are also good. It depends on where you are, but the environment really does a lot.

Which city in Italy do you think is good for romance?
Well, Rome is always good. That’s a fun place. Florence is another wonderful place. Lake Comos is amazing.

Are you going to be the next to get a house there?
No, that’s not going to be me(laughs). Oh, next to George Bush. Hey, Georgie. (laughs). No, actually we had a great time when we were there. It was a little romantic getaway for my wife and I.

You were in Japan a month ago. What was the most memorable about it?
The people. Everybody was so nice and beautiful. I’d love to visit every country. I think it’s important to travel. You have to understand that the world that we live in is global, and if you don’t understand it’s like going to a different town. You have to understand people and their culture and what their dynamics are in their countries.

Do you learn more when you travel or from reading about a place?
I’ve learned more from travel, and I think it opens your mind up and makes you less judgmental. It’s when you become isolated that you shut down, and the more you can understand other people’s ways of life, the better off you’re going to be and the more you’re going to appreciate your own. We all have to understand each other and get along.

You’re doing a lot of work now. Do you still have a lot of time for yourself ?
Well, that’s where the cycling comes in, because I’m working out but at the same time I’m getting a chance to collect my thoughts. As long as I’m working out and riding, it helps me. And then I have to make sure I have enough time with my family, that’s another way of balancing. If I get too far away from them, it’s unsettling. There’s certainly a lot to balance right now with the show and the movies coming out and the racing career and all these campaigns and things.

What is happening with your racing career?
It’s good. I raced Daytona. The goal is to race Le Mans and be competitive there and to get an invitation first. But sponsorship is key. I’m getting a lot more competitive. When I’m in the car and testing properly, I can get much faster. Because of the schedule and everything that’s going on, it’s hard for me to make all the races, so that becomes frustrating. But as a team owner, the team is doing well and hopefully we can get the sponsorship we need to continue. But it’s a great release for me, and the camaraderie is good. Sorry, I could talk about it all night (laughs).

How do you get on with your teammates, considering there’s a lot of ego involved.
Yeah, but you really have to protect each other when you’re in the cars, and the camaraderie is something that really appeals to me. I’ve known a lot of these drivers for years now. They have been my instructors at different racing schools, so they have been very supportive and the racing community in general has. I have a lot of respect for what they do. We respect each other and I think I’m getting faster and faster.