From 'The Office' to the ark

Stone Phillips: In your wildest dreams, did you ever imagine that when your ship came in it would be the ark and you’d be playing Noah?

Steve Carell: Yes.  (laughs) It’s something I’ve—I’ve dreamt of since I was a little kid. No, in my wildest dreams, never.

Never thought anything like this.  I frankly never thought I’d be successful let alone being in a movie of this scope. 

Carell: It is the best motion picture in the history of the world.  And I don’t think I’m overstating that.

Carell plays a former TV anchorman-turned-politician whose first assignment as a freshman in Congress, comes not from the House Speaker but a higher authority, Morgan Freeman as God.

Carell: I believe, and I’m committed to this belief, that this movie may make $1 million.  (laughs) And that’s a lot of money.

Phillips: Well, I hate to break the news to you.  You know, “Bruce Almighty” with Jim Carrey pulled in $240 million—

Carell: Uh-huh (affirms).

Phillips: —in this country at the box office.

Carell: Really?

Which got Carell thinking... what he could say about his movie that would rope in an audience.

Carell: It is the first triple X family friendly movie.  And we walk that line.  We walk that line between full-frontal nudity and family-friendly.  The kids are gonna love it.

Phillips: You got some quality time with animals making this movie.

Carell: Yes, I did.

Phillips: Personal favorite?

Carell: I loved them all.  And they all smelled wonderful.

Carell (referring to camel on set): Really bad breath.

Carell: If you can imagine what a bird armpit smells like.  And I had birds all over me for three days. 

And you sort of get used to it.  And then, you start having that kind of earthy bird smell.

Phillips: You know, I read that before you became an actor you were a mailman.

Carell: I was.

Phillips: Now, if any job could prep you to play Noah, it’s gotta be delivering the mail.  I mean, what mailman has not had to deal with some ornery animal?

Carell: Stone, I would say that’s a stretch.  I would really say that’s a stretch, connecting the whole mailman thins with Noah.  I don’t know—what are you reading—

Phillips: Well, I was thinkin’—I was looking through your bio—

Carell: Noah and the mailman?  Come on.  Okay.  All right.  All right.  I’ll go with you.  Yeah.  Being a mailman was so much like being Noah because I had to deal with-- (chuckles) I had to deal with lots of animals.  Yeah.

Phillips: Now, you’re getting the hang of this.

Carell: And I remember one time I was delivering the mail and it rained for 40 days.  And my mail truck floated away.  But luckily, all the dogs in the neighborhood had climbed onboard.  And I saved them.  So there really is a direct correlation.

Carell has proven that fans will follow him no matter what role he takes on or how much hair he grows or has removed.

Phillips: So now, you’ve played a 40-year-old virgin and a 600-year-old lover of apes and alpacas. How are you doing with your real life role?  43-year-old husband, father.  How do you keep things real when you’re experiencing this kind of success?

Carell: When you wake up in the morning and your son walks in the room and he just smells like poop, that’s about as real—I mean, that's it.  It’s like, “Well, time to change him.”  You just have to make a commitment to what is important and, you know, your kids--              

Phillips: How old are you kids now?

Carell: Now they’re three and six.

Phillips: Do they think you’re funny?

Carell: Not really.  No.  I think they think I’m weird.

Phillips: Who at home makes you laugh?

Carell: My kids definitely.  I’ve taught my 3-year-old son to burp.  So now, he talks and burp at the same time.  Which, I’m very proud.  I’m very proud of that.

Following in his father’s footsteps. He’s a genius. 

Maybe it’s the kid in Carell that’s at the core of his appeal—the childlike enthusiasm that drives his humor and the characters he invents. Like the “German who says Nice Things,” one of our favorite Carell creations.

Phillips: I just wanna know before we leave, what would “The German Who Says Nice Things” say about the time we have spent together, this interview?

Carell: He would say--  “This was the best interview I have had all day.” Your sound guy, his ears are bleeding right now. 

Phillips: My ears are bleeding.  Thanks.

Carell: Thanks.

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