At 76 years old Eugene Levy is doing something he’s never done before.
The beloved, award-winning comedy actor – known for roles including the earnest dad in the American Pie film series and more recently the endearing motel owner in Schitt’s Creek – is for the first time performing in front of the camera as himself.
His latest series is a travel show, and as per the title – The Reluctant Traveller – sees Levy being sent to locations and encouraged to participate in activities that put him well out of his comfort zone.
But he’s told Backstage – the film and TV podcast from Sky News – it’s really not having a character to hide behind that he found most difficult.
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“It was the most frightening aspect of doing this show,” Levy said.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever done that – I’ve always played characters that, you know, the further removed they are from who I am, the more comfortable I was.
“So, this is like ground zero.”
But he says despite being a challenge, it’s definitely paid off.
“It’s been good for me, I feel actually like the show has almost been acting like a great shrink or something.
“I think it’s done good things for me as a person, and I’m actually more comfortable now than I was when I first started the show, because I had some things I had to work on.”
Pic: Apple TV+
The actor also admits that he didn’t hold back when it came to portraying himself.
‘Expand my horizons’
“I think I’m revealing more about myself than I ever have in my life – to anybody.
“But I thought it was important for the show to let people know the whys of the reluctance aspect of the show instead of it just being on the surface.
“So, it had to be more revealing in terms of who I am and what my phobias are.”
At the start of the first episode, we hear Levy saying that aged 75 (when the show was filmed) he thought that it was time to expand his horizons.
It may sound late in life to make such a change, but the actor says it all comes down to attitude.
“What doing this show has kind of taught me is it’s better to try something and then decide whether you like it or not, instead of not trying it at all.
“And I’m at an age where if I don’t try it, then you just end up saying bye-bye and what have you done? You’ve basically kind of stayed in a shell that you thought you were comfortable in.
“Much better to just give it a go and then make a decision as to how much fun you’re actually having.”
A jumbo challenge
The episodes take the star to countries including Finland, Costa Rica and Japan, and in each of the eight places he visits, Levy spends time with locals and is encouraged to get involved in their culture.
While many of the experiences end up surprising him by being more enjoyable than he expects, he admits that there was one thing he was asked to do that he did attempt to decline.
“I did actually say no when they asked me to take a stool sample from an elephant,” he explained.
“I said, ‘No, I don’t think I can do that’ and then my producer, David Brindley, I heard off camera saying, ‘Oh, I think you can’. And I went, ‘Oh, yeah, yeah, we’re on this show, it’s for the show, it’s for the show, Yeah, Okay’.
“And would I do it again? No.”
The series is like a bucket list in itself, with Levy ticking off travel experiences many people dream of.
But he says when it comes to his own life to-do list, he’s got a fairly simple philosophy.
“Continue breathing, I think is the only thing on my bucket list that makes any sense.
“I love doing things that are kind of fun – this has been fun, and totally different for me, which makes it exciting.
“But you know, in what I do, which is mainly in the world of comedy, as long as you’re having a good time doing it, you can keep doing it.”
The Reluctant Traveller is out on Apple TV+ – hear our review on the latest episode of Backstage, the film and TV podcast from Sky News.
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