Hollywood Hippie

Funny guy, free spirit, and film’s most laidback leading man—there’s no-one quite like WOODY HARRELSON

- Laura Brown

Woody Harrelson’s pied-à-terre in Los Angeles—which he and his wife, Laura Louie, have had for 30 years—looks just like one would imagine. It’s a rambling home set amid a bucolic backdrop, the very definition of restful. Rest, however, has been in short supply for Harrelson this morning, as he’s just hopped off a plane. Prior to our interview, he shuffles out of the house, sticks his head in the pool and heads straight for a vegan brunch, which must be contributing to the 57-year-old looking about 45. Or maybe today, thanks to the fatigue, 46.

LAURA BROWN: Last time I saw you was in London. You’d been there for months shooting [Solo: A Star Wars Story, out now] and had basically emigrated from the US. What was it like coming home?

WOODY HARRELSON: It was great. I’d been in London for a year, then I did the press for LBJ [the Rob Reiner-directed film in which Harrelson portrays former US President Lyndon Johnson], and then I went [home] to Maui. The first thing I did was go directly over to Willie Nelson’s house, since he’s near the airport. I went over and lost a bunch of money playing cards, so then I felt even more at home.

LB: Maybe everyone just needs to move to Maui. When did you first meet Willie?

WH: I met him on his bus in 1998. I went to his concert, and his wife came up after and said, “Willie wants you to come say hi.” So I go back and open the door to his bus, and it was like Cheech & Chong with the smoke billowing out. Through the smoke I see this real spry dude with long hair [saying], “Come on in. Let’s burn one.” So I go in, and we just had the best talk about everything, you know? Incredible guy.

LB: Is that how you ended up in Maui?