This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of ELLE.
When it comes to comic-book heroes, Deadpool never had the name recognition of, say, Spider-Man. Yet the 2016 film starring Ryan Reynolds earned more than $745 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time—largely on the strength of the creatively killer action sequences and Reynolds's charmingly sardonic performance. But there was reason to doubt the potential franchise. Though Reynolds starred in hits like 2009's The Proposal, his previous superhero outing, 2011's Green Lantern, wasn't exactly a critical or commercial smash. One good thing to come out of that movie: Reynolds married his costar, Blake Lively, in 2012—and the couple now live in Westchester, New York, with their two daughters, James and Ines. If the suburbs seem like a surprising place to find a Hollywood power couple, it's a deliberate choice to keep their nuclear family from going nuclear. "It's not that we're hiding out," says Reynolds, 40, who grew up in a working-class family in Vancouver, "but it's nice to unplug." Up next: Reynolds stars opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Life (March 24) about astronauts on the International Space Station who come face-to-face with an extraterrestrial that—spoiler alert—may not be friendly. Here, Reynolds comes in peace.
ELLE: Deadpool likes to frequently shout, "Maximum effort!" What's the weirdest place someone's yelled that at you?
Ryan Reynolds: I'd love to be able to say "during lovemaking," but I'm gonna go with "stuck in traffic."
Deadpool pushes sexual boundaries. At one point, he refers to his prostate as his "on switch." Did you write that joke?
That was mine.
Is that from personal experience?
[Laughs] No.
You're famously self-deprecating. Is there a time you wish you'd been sincere?
Yes, definitely. Particularly in these last couple of months. For a movie that came out in February [2016]—but has somehow stayed alive and had awards talk—that really triggers that thing. I don't feel like I have any entitlement in that world, and I get a little self-deprecating. My wife actually said, "You know, you can let some of that in. It's all right." Another friend said, "You worked for 11 years on this. It's okay to accept the odd pat on the back." It's a challenge, because I usually make a joke. That's what kept me alive most of my life.
Not to get too analytical, but Deadpool processes pain through comedy…
That's also how I do it. That was my earliest maladaptive coping mechanism I forged when I was a kid. I had three older brothers and a father who wasn't an easy man by any stretch. And if he were still here today, he'd agree with that. But I found that my fists weren't going to do any significant protective work for me, so my mouth was it. Making my father laugh was a way to control him. It helped me get by.
Your new film suggests there's life in space. Are you a believer?
Mathematically speaking, it seems impossible that there isn't life out there. If you flick on the news, it certainly seems like we have aliens among us.… But I've had that ubiquitous story—a sighting in the sky I couldn't explain. I was on a road trip somewhere in Nevada or Utah. I saw a floaty light that didn't move like a typical aircraft. [Laughs] I also did a lot of hard drugs when I was young.
What has Blake taught you?
Alphabetical or chronological? She's as handy as any home-improvement character you'd ever meet. Her mom will say, "Ryan, how do I back up this hard drive?" And I'm just looking at her going, "You're asking the wrong person. Blake is right there."
She recently told a story about being on an airplane while everyone watched Deadpool—specifically, the sex montage with Morena Baccarin. What's it like for you to watch your wife kiss another actor?
I don't mind that as much. I don't mean that in a creepy way. What people don't realize is, there are 50 or 60 tired, hungry, overworked crew members standing directly behind them. But the Deadpool one, I remember shooting it and thinking, This is going to be tough playing in the headrest of every seat on a plane.
In your own experience, is sex better when you're in superhero shape?
[Laughs] It feels good in both versions.
You've said Blake made you "the father of my dreams when I thought I only had fun-uncle potential." Why did you doubt yourself?
There are 7 billion people on the planet. Pretty much everyone is doing it. It's not like you need to order the "baby-starter kit" on Amazon. Instincts will come to you at the weirdest places and times. But yeah, early on, I thought, Am I going to be a good father? But I'm so much more patient than I ever imagined. I can comb a doll's hair for six hours and suddenly remember to blink.
Do you have a favorite children's book?
My daughter likes On the Night You Were Born. It doesn't chronicle all the blood and screaming and the discomfort one feels cutting an umbilical cord. It's more whimsical. She digs that.
What's your most Canadian attribute?
You may be able to dig up a lot of sources who will deny this, but I'm polite. Generally, I care for other people. I always say "excuse me," "thank you," and "I'm sorry."
What's a lesson your mom taught you?
Work through something, and learn through it. My mom is a career student. She's always taking courses. She's 71 years old, and she just learned to play the banjo.
What will you be doing at 71?
In between routine prostate checks? I hope I'll be one of those bicycle-riding 71-year-olds. My mom rides a bicycle everywhere, rain or shine. And also enjoying watching my kids be adults.
