Chris Pratt on How Being a Father Has Made Him a Better Actor and the Best Advice Adam Sandler's Given Him

Chris Pratt has grown a lot over the years. Since his early arc in television going from romantic interest to comedic relief, Pratt has evolved both professionally and physically. The actor went viral when he dropped 60 pounds in six months to become Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, for the first Guardians of the Galaxy. But for Pratt, the biggest transformation came over a decade ago when he first became a father.

Men’s Journal spoke to the father of three at Panerai’s new flagship Manhattan store about how becoming a dad has made him a better actor, why dads are drawn to characters like James Reece from his hit Amazon series The Terminal List, and what he wants for Father's Day.

Men's Journal: How did it feel to have such a great reception to the first season of The Terminal List?

Chris Pratt: It’s really rewarding when people respond to your hard work. I put a lot into everything I do, but The Terminal List was the one I worked the hardest on. I got the rights to the book, produced it with a great team, then did some of the most difficult scenes I’ve ever done acting-wise. I hadn’t been involved with the pre-production process in that way before. For a long time I worked under the illusion the work started when I put my feet down on “the X.” I learned that's far from the case when I started on The Terminal List.

In The Terminal List, Jack Carr’s character, James Reece, loses his family. I have to imagine that hits home for you as a father.

Some critic said something like it was an “unhinged revenge fantasy.” And, to be honest, that’s exactly what it is in a way. Whenever you're put in a position, or even imagine a position, where those kids are in danger, your mind goes to wild places. I mean if I was put through the situations that James was in, I would probably do the same fucking thing. I think that's why those storylines resonate so strongly with fathers.

I think every dad secretly fantasizes about what they would do if someone ever fucked with their kids. Your partner sees you staring off into the distance and says, “Honey, what are you thinking about?” And you say, “Oh, nothing.” But what you’re really thinking is, Where's the duct tape and how deep is the trunk? I think that’s most dads. Or maybe that’s just me and I’m revealing something here! But as someone who’s talked to a lot of dads, I think we all ask ourselves what we would do. That’s one of the reasons Liam Neeson's movie Taken was such a hit. Us dads are just like, “Yes! Get ‘em! Use that special set of skills.”

Related: Cover Story: How Chris Pratt Became the All-American Actor Everybody Loves to Love

Do you think being a father has made you a more versatile actor?

Yes, undeniably. One hundred percent. I was having a conversation with my brother-in-law recently where we were discussing the craft of acting and how we collect tools and techniques as human beings. He’s reading books by experts like Sanford Meisner and Konstantin Stanislavski, and they’re sharing these various tools that actors as craftspeople use. My dad was a remodeling contractor and he had a shit ton of tools he'd use on various projects, including tools he fabricated himself to get a job done. As an actor, one of those tools can be substitution, where you're mentally substituting the reality you've felt in the past for one that your character is supposed to be experiencing.

And when you add the reality of being a father, being a parent, and what that means for us, it's a very powerful tool. That level of responsibility opens up a whole new cavern of emotional potential. What would you do to save them? What would happen to you mentally if you lost them? That instinct you have to protect them— those are all things you can try to fake, but it doesn’t really come close to what you have access to when you've lived it. For me, having kids is what it’s all about, and how it’s benefitted me as an actor is a pleasant byproduct.

Sounds like it's brought a lot to your life.

People say all the time, “Don’t rush to have kids.” I personally disagree. Rush. Have them. Of course, make sure you find a great partner, but don’t wait. I was talking to Adam Sandler a while back and he said, “Every day you wait is a day they don’t get to have you in their life.” The younger you have kids, the more time they get to have with you. It’s wild. Having kids is incredible. The things you normally take for granted in life are new.

As they grow up, it becomes more about connecting with them as individuals and what makes them unique. The softness of their hearts. How their minds work. How they’re the same as you. How they’re different.

Has having kids changed the kinds of roles you go for?

In the same way that being a father changes the kind of actor you are, it can definitely change the kinds of roles you want to be involved in. I've found myself wanting to do more PG movies. I see a lot because my kids want to watch them, and to be honest, some of them are bad. And I’m sitting there thinking, This is terrible. So at the same time as wanting to make movies that would entertain my kids, I’m also thinking about creating movies that are merciful on the parents.

Do you think the experience of raising a child differs for fathers versus mothers?

The journey is different for different partners. Sometimes as a dad, when the kids are young, you can feel a disconnect where the kids are closer to the mom. You feed them. You change them. But there is still a special energy reserved for the mom. But as time goes on, that connection grows, or at least that’s what I’ve experienced. You hit a point where you're like, I could never feel closer to this child than now. And then you get closer. You surprise yourself with how strong that bond grows.

Do you have a preference when it comes to Father’s Day gifts?

I’m a sentimental guy. So any kind of artwork that would remind you of the time when the kids were that age, and that time in our lives is a delight. I’m holding onto that tightly. That’s not going anywhere. Or a framed picture. It’s about time you spent with your kids—that they remember as well. That’s a gift. I think outside of Father’s Day, and beyond what your kids might give you, watches are great gifts for guys. Something that they’re able to use, but also pass down to that next generation.

I have a few Panerai Luminors in my collection, and recently added the new 212 BiTempo New York edition that has an etching of the Brooklyn Bridge. I really like their submersibles as well. I have a particularly fat wrist, so it can be challenging finding a watch that fits well but isn't so big that you feel it weighing down your arm. Their pieces fit me really well.

Is this a diving watch?

Those submersible watches are legit. [Panerai is] in the second year of its Navy SEAL collection, which is really awesome. The brand started with the Italian Navy and US Navy, leaning into that even deeper with the Navy SEALs. They’re legit-looking timepieces and of course super functional. One of the things I've gotten to witness working with the Navy SEALs is what prolific workers they are. That's why they find themselves on the tip of the spear.

That’s what makes them so desirable and successful at everything they do, beyond just the physical aspect of things. I've really seen what assets they can be to us in the film and television world, because that kind of diligence is really important in an industry that can be kind of chaotic. It’s also not that dissimilar when it comes to things they deal with regularly like the chain of command. They’re used to working in those situations—with higher stakes, of course. Give them a deadline and they get shit done.

Has your motivation to train waned, or are you still amped up to work out?

Staying healthy for the kids is a huge motivator. I think my health has also benefitted a lot from caring more about my sleep and going to bed early. I can’t afford to be a guy who's out until midnight. Katherine and I are in bed, head on the pillow, lights out at 9p.m. Best case scenario, we’re going to be up at 5 in the morning. That’s just the reality of the responsibilities of being a parent. Being present is important, and I don’t want to be stumbling around bleary-eyed. Now, if I could just stop eating the food off their plates when they’re done, I’d be golden.