Interview on the TODAY Show

On March 1st, Australian TV show the TODAY Show released an interview of Patrick Dempsey which he gave while he was in Sydney as a TAG Heuer ambassador for the re-opening of the flagship store. You can find the video and transcript below.

Journalist: He’s the sexiest man alive and we all know him as McDreamy. Patrick Dempsey has been lighting up our screens for decades appearing in everything from Grey’s Anatomy to Disney films. And now he’s Down Under re-opening the flagship Sydney boutique of watch brand TAG Heuer. I sat down with him for an exclusive interview.

Journalist: Welcome to Australia mate!

Patrick Dempsey: Thank you so much, great to be back here (smiles).

Journalist: Well what do you like about coming to Sydney?

Patrick Dempsey: The people. Everybody. Great sense of humour, really direct and honest and fun.

Journalist: We’re a bit silly.

Patrick Dempsey: Yes, and I appreciate that.

Journalist: And nobody takes themselves that seriously.

Patrick Dempsey: Right. They take the piss out of everybody which is good. So every time I hear the accent I smile and I feel really happy.

Journalist: You’ve had this career, you are having this career that spans all these different kinds of genres like there is literally something for everyone. How do you choose what you want to do?

Patrick Dempsey: Well last year I did the Ferrari movie and I’ve been tracking that movie for a number of years. Of course I love racing and I love that period of racing; it takes place in 1957, the 3 months leading up to the Mille Miglia. So that was one thing, I just wanted to be part of a nice racing movie with an incredible filmmaker which was Michael Mann. And then I did a horror movie last year as well and I did that for my son because he loves that genre.

Journalist: Well you are a real rev-head like you love things that go fast, don’t you?

Patrick Dempsey: Yes.

Journalist: What do you love about it?

Patrick Dempsey: I think it just clears your mind. You don’t think about anything other than where you are and what you’re doing and that’s what I like about it. And certainly the camaraderie and the challenge. And it’s nice to get a little scared every now and then, the “wow what happened there?”. It’s a meditation I think in many ways because the speed is intense and the focus required, you don’t really think about anything else.

Journalist: Where do you go from here in your career? It feels like you’ve done so much already.

Patrick Dempsey: There’s a lot I haven’t done as well too I think. A lot of different directors I’d like to work with, different countries, I’d like to work over here a little bit more, I like being here. I think location and director and script. The next thing I’m doing is a psychological thriller, a little independent movie so I’ll do that next. And we’ll see.

Journalist: So when you do something like that, is that hard to delve into? Do you sort of have to pre-warn everyone around you: “Look by the way I’m probably going to to be bit crazy for the next few months while I’m shooting this”?

Patrick Dempsey: I like to be on location and away from home so I can focus a hundred percent on the role and not be distracted. But now my kids love to read the scripts and they come in with really strong opinions like there were a few things I was offered and they were like “That’s not what you should do next” and they have a good opinion about I should do.

Journalist: And what do they think about coming out to Australia?

Patrick Dempsey: My daughter’s loving it, she loves it here, yeah. Of course the temperature, she loves the water and the sun. Prices are a lot better here than in the States so it’s really good. My wife and daughter have been enjoying themselves a little too much but they’re helping the economy. (laughs)

Journalist: Well tell me about the store that’s opening tonight.

Patrick Dempsey: It’s a great place to go in and get a sense of the entire collection and the one I’m wearing right now is very special. Sixty years ago Carrera with TAG Heuer, Jack Heuer created Carrera watch and that was inspired by the Rodriguez brothers. Actually, it was conversation he had in the pits at Sebring with their mother and father, talking about the Carrera Panamericana and that’s how it started as well as the connection with Porsche, the 911 started 60 years ago as well in 1963. So please go to the boutique and check it out.

Journalist: I’m sold, I’m there.

Journalist: You do have teenagers, that’s the two sons and the daughter as well. What do they think when you go out and you’re doing these sorts of things and you’re named like the sexiest man alive? Like how does that make them feel?

Patrick Dempsey: (laughs) Well they laugh and they’re upset ’cause they had their own opinion on who should be the sexiest man alive.

Journalist: Who did they think?

Patrick Dempsey: I won’t bring that up now because I got the title so I’m just going to hang on to that. (laughs) Their favourites didn’t make it.

Journalist: But what does that feel like when you know, you’re just sort of sitting at home and someone calls you and says “Oh by the way you’re the sexiest man alive”?

Patrick Dempsey: I thought, yeah I thought it was a prank call to be honest with you. I thought they were just making fun. I called my publicist and then they said “You’ve won, they’ve asked if you’d be the sexiest man alive for People magazine.” And I’m like “Come on, seriously, what’s going on? Am I in trouble? Why are you calling me at this hour in the morning?” (smiles) So it’s flattering, it’s fun to take it too seriously. I’m surprised I’m still in the mix at this age.

Journalist: Oh like a fine wine.

Patrick Dempsey: I have a lot of make-up on, my wife’s a make-up artist so she takes good care of me.

Journalist: Well what does she think? She’s like of course I know that’s why I married you.

Patrick Dempsey: (laughs) Yeah she was happy.

Journalist: It’s such a weird honour.

Patrick Dempsey: So strange.

Journalist: You know it’s not specifically for your acting but it’s like “oh well thanks everyone thinks I’m hot, this is good”.

Patrick Dempsey: Yeah that’s good. I’m happy. Now can I get another job out of it.

Journalist: Well thank you so much for the chat. thank you for walking up with TODAY.

Patrick Dempsey: It’s a pleasure. Good morning!