Here's what Chris Pratt will sacrifice
NEW YORK — There's an exuberance to Chris Pratt that's tempered by a hefty helping of realism.
Yes, he's elated to be fronting the reboot of the dinosaur franchise Jurassic World (in theaters Friday), playing a Velociraptor trainer who goes up against a marauding mutant beast. He's shooting the remake of The Magnificent Seven with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, followed by Morten Tyldum's sci-fi drama Passengers with Jennifer Lawrence, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy 2. But Star-Lord has a limit.
"When I'm done with the third movie, I have to take time off," he says.
Because he'll lose his mind?
"I'm going to lose my marriage," Pratt says matter-of-factly. "And if something else comes up — I have to take a break, be present, and be supportive of Anna while she's working on her show (CBS' Mom). She works her (butt) off and goes home and is parenting our son while I'm out of state."
The Anna in question is comedic actress Faris, Pratt's wife of nearly six years and the mother of their son Jack, almost 3. And since it's a question lobbed at every actress, how does Pratt, 35, balance fatherhood, marriage and the kind of soaring, sizzling career that allows the once-schlubby TV supporting player from Parks and Recreation to work with the industry's best and brightest?
"Thank you for asking me that question. No one ever asks me that question. They ask her that all the time," he says.
"Schedule is the main focus. Making sure that everything is very well thought out and planned out, essentially slashing spontaneity and taking that out of our lives. Making time to be present with Anna and Jack and making that a priority."
He's aware that his wife is carrying the load for the next 11 months.
"I lean a lot on Anna to basically come out to where I'm filming every third week, when she has a week off from Mom. She's going to be traveling with a baby to come see me," he says. "We have to be prepared to make sacrifices. If that means you don't do a job that you really want to do, you don't do it."
And like many an actress, Pratt is more than willing to allow himself to be ogled for his physical attributes, in this case his chiseled, buff bod.
"He said something like, 'We can end the objectification of women and we can just start objectifying men. That's what we need to do.' He's in that position right now," says his Jurassic co-star Bryce Dallas Howard. "He's charismatic and hilarious and a leader."
