Jason Sudeikis thinks ‘Ted Lasso’ probably manifested his split from Olivia Wilde
True to his unflinchingly optimistic character from “Ted Lasso,†Jason Sudeikis has adopted a positive outlook on his high-profile split from longtime partner Olivia Wilde.
In a recent interview with GQ magazine, the “Saturday Night Live†alum opened up about hitting “rock bottom†around the time of the breakup, which occurred in November. He and the “Booksmart†director, with whom he shares two children, were together for seven years.
“I’ll have a better understanding of why in a year, and an even better one in two, and an even greater one in five,†he said in a profile published Tuesday for GQ’s August issue. “It’ll go from being ... a book of my life to becoming a chapter to a paragraph to a line to a word to a doodle.
“That’s an experience that you either learn from or make excuses about. You take some responsibility for it, hold yourself accountable for what you do, but then also endeavor to learn something beyond the obvious from it.â€
From a stoned Amsterdam monologue to a pair of sports coverage TV ads to a newly beloved sitcom, ‘Ted Lasso’ isn’t just a show. It’s a vibe.
When Sudeikis’ Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso†premiered in August 2020, viewers were quick to draw similarities between the personal lives of the actor and his happy-go-lucky character.
In the sports comedy, Sudeikis portrays a peppy American football coach who is unexpectedly recruited to manage a British football (as in soccer) club while going through a rocky period with his wife.
Speaking to GQ, Sudeikis acknowledged the connection to his real-life relationship with Wilde, who helped him develop the premise for “Ted Lasso.â€
It was during a brainstorming session with Wilde that the comedian first “riffed†on the idea that “marital strife†should inform his character’s decision to leave his family in America and pursue new opportunities in England.
A tearful Juno Temple and Hannah Waddingham react to their nods for Apple TV+’s feel-good comedy, which scored big at Tuesday’s Emmy nominations.
“I wonder if that’s true,†he said, when asked about his own life eventually imitating his art. “I mean, isn’t that just a little bit of what Oprah was telling us for years and years? You know, manifestation? Power of thought? That’s ‘The Secret’ in reverse, you know?â€
If divided into a Venn diagram, Sudeikis mused, all his “personal stuff†and “professional stuff†would resemble a flat circle.
“And yet one has nothing to do with the other. That’s the crazy thing,†Sudeikis added. “The [story of ‘Ted Lasso’ is] bigger than that, I hope. And anything I’ve gone through, other people have gone through. That’s one of the nice things, right? So it’s humbling in that way.â€
Harry and Olivia sitting in a tree? The former One Direction heartthrob and the “Don’t Worry Darling†director sparked dating rumors over the weekend.
Shortly after Wilde was first romantically linked to rumored boyfriend Harry Styles — who stars in her upcoming sophomore film, “Don’t Worry Darling†— Sudeikis wore a tie-dye hoodie to the Golden Globe Awards, prompting speculation and a few cruel memes about his emotional state.
After winning an award for his “Ted Lasso†performance, the actor delivered a long, meandering acceptance speech, prompting some to wonder if he was high, heartbroken or both during the virtual ceremony.
(The Times later confirmed that Sudeikis wore the sweatshirt to represent his sister’s dance studio, Forward_Space, which was printed on the rainbow fabric.)
Jason Sudeikis, who won a Golden Globe for his role in “Ted Lasso,†lit up the internet with buzz about his acceptance speech and casual appearance.
“I wore that hoodie because I didn’t wanna f— wear the f— top half of a Tom Ford suit†over Zoom, he told GQ. “I love Tom Ford suits. But it felt weird as s—.â€
“I was neither high nor heartbroken,†he clarified.
With Emmy nominations fast approaching and “Ted Lasso†heavily favored in the comedy categories, Sudeikis discussed his approach to moving forward after experiencing hardship.
“I think if you have the opportunity to hit a rock bottom, however you define that, you can become 412 bones or you can land like an Avenger,†he said. “I personally have chosen to land like an Avenger.â€
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