Steve Carell on the Battle of the Sexes and How to (Gracefully) Get Your Ass Kicked by a Woman

So what’s it like spending time as one of history’s great male chauvinist pigs?

There was something behind all of his flash and mouthiness. I was 10 when they played this match, and even then I knew Bobby Riggs was playing a character. It was clear to me. I thought it was funny that people got outraged by what he was saying. I saw his sleight of hand and trickery. That’s why people could love and hate him at the same time. They hated the content of his speech, but they knew it was a gag. He knew it was a hot-button subject and jumped on it and hoped to come out on the other side with some cash.

[Riggs] really took a page from Muhammad Ali’s playbook in terms of creating a persona that was going to rile people up, going to draw attention to him and whatever he was promoting. I don’t think his heart was that of a chauvinist. I just don’t. And in talking to Billie Jean, I think she felt the same way. He’s annoying, silly, funny, but I think she saw through the façade.

Aside from acting roles, have you ever pretended to be something you’re not?

I think everybody does to a certain extent. You do it to acclimate to whatever situation you’re in. For me, take for example going on talk shows. I’m not a gregarious person naturally so I have to play to that situation and push out of my comfort zone. So it’s not exactly who I am. I’m a much quieter person. And generally don’t like to talk about myself. So that’s a persona I have to create in order to do what’s required.

Have you ever competed with a woman and lost?

I still play men’s league hockey in California. One of the teams we play against is all-female. More often than not, they kick our asses. (laughs) Yeah. Yeah.

Fox Searchlight

How’s the hitting in those games?

It’s a no-check league but they’re a pretty rough team. They’re skilled, too. Unlike our team, they actually have plays. And strategy. Which we most certainly lack. And my wife beats me at tennis on a regular basis.

So there’s no wounded male pride there?

No, just human pride, that’s all. Who likes to lose? But I am accepting of it. I’m a competitive person but I don’t let it ruin my day.

Some guys can be uncomfortable around strong women. What have you learned working with Emma Stone, Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig, and so many others?

I don’t boil it down to “I’ve worked with powerful or strong women.” I’ve worked with really great people. I don’t delineate. It’s not a male-female thing, just a matter of human respect. If you’re having a problem working with anyone, or befriending anyone, or understanding anyone, start with yourself and try to ask what’s making you uncomfortable? Maybe it is a confidence thing. I don’t know. I’m not intimidated by smart, funny, or talented people. I admire those people. I want to work with those people and learn from them. It’s exciting.

As a veteran of extreme chest waxing (The 40-Year-Old Virgin), you must have an opinion of the humiliating risks a man will take to present an enhanced version of himself to the world.

I distinctly remember the on-set medic, who was a woman, asking me if I wanted to take some Advil beforehand to numb any pain I’d experience. I said, “Oh, no, no, I’m fine, it’s just some hair off my chest, no big deal.” I never had anything waxed before, but she must have because she looked at me with, shall we say, a degree of skepticism. She knew that I didn’t know. So let me just say that there’s nothing funnier than friends laughing at you when you’re in pain. That is a quintessential guy thing. Guys love to see their friends suffer. (laughing through his words now) At one point, Romany Malco [the actor who played Jay in 40-Year-Old Virgin] had to leave because he was getting sick. The blood pooled to the surface of my chest and he had to actually leave the scene.

Fox Searchlight

So you recommend waxing, but only if you bring friends?

Yeah, it’s always good to have some friends laughing at you.

If you met a guy like Riggs today, how would you react to him?

As you asked that, I’m trying to think if there is anyone like Bobby Riggs today. I guess the closest thing would be a professional fighter like Conor McGregor, who’s really out there in terms of promoting themselves and drumming up interest in whatever they’re doing. I was just watching something, who was it…every year for training camp, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the players all try to outdo each other when they show up. One player showed up in a chauffeured driven antique Rolls-Royce convertible, which I thought was just fantastic. He’s having fun, creating interest. It is show business. Bobby Riggs understood that.