Ryan Reynolds: Samuel L. Jackson gave me bees

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, 32, has starred in films such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Definitely, Maybe. The Hollywood hunk, once engaged to singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette, is now married to Scarlett Johansson. His new film The Proposal is out next week.

In The Proposal you play a long-suffering assistant. What’s the worst job you have ever had?

I used to work at a yacht club and the parents would go off on their boats, leaving me to babysit their children. They were the worst children I have ever encountered in my life. They would call me ‘boy’. I hope they turned out OK but at the time I wished exotic diseases on them.

There’s quite a nude scene in the film. Do you feel closer to co-star Sandra Bullock as a result?

We have known each other for nine years, so we were friends already but I would say only her doctor and her husband know her better than I do now. The scene is more of a naked stunt scene and after the first few hours you give up being modest.

You recently ran a marathon. What can you compare it to in terms of pain?

Skydiving into an ocean of broken glass, maybe? No one can truly prepare for running 26 miles in one go. It was pretty startling but I ran it for a good cause.

The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research?

Yes, my father has had Parkinson’s for around 16 years and I’ve experienced extreme emotions dealing with his illness. I found myself getting more and more angry as he continued to deteriorate, which was happening at a pretty accelerated rate. I became conscious of my anger and realised it was because I was being apathetic – I wasn’t doing anything about his illness. So although I still feel enormous upset about my father, I feel good about stepping up and doing something.

And you even had bronchitis at the time?

Yes, I was so sick but I was going to run that race even if it killed me. I know there is a real cynical attitude towards actors and celebrities in this world and I knew that if I didn’t do it, everyone would think I had no intention of running in the first place. I even ran 30 minutes faster than I had trained for. Saying that, a man with one leg passed me, so did a guy in a head-to-toe latex Batman suit and even a blind lady.

Did she have a stick?

A stick? She would cause less destruction if she had a Formula One car. No, she had a guide who ran with her.

What’s the best gift you’ve received since becoming famous?

I had a colony of 10,000 bees delivered to my doorstep from Samuel L Jackson.

Was there any context to the gift?

Well, we definitely had a conversation about bees. I’m not involved in any bee movement, it was just idle chit-chat. It was basically a wedding present. We live in a very green household and we do as much as we can to leave as small a footprint as possible. So somewhere in the back of Sam’s mind, he must have thought: ‘The best gift I can give this guy is a swarm of bees.’

When did you realise you were officially a celebrity?

I prefer to think of myself as an actor rather than a celebrity. I know I’m very lucky and that I am breathing pretty rare air at the moment but I really just enjoy making films. Plus I have three older brothers who remind me just how worthless I am if I ever forget.

Did you fight as children?

I didn’t really consider myself a brother, more of a moving target.

I hear that Canadian jokes are like their roads – very long and not very good. What’s your best joke?

At least it wasn’t long.

Oh my God, that is maybe the worst ever way to end an interview.

I will mention the five-year-old.

Thanks very much, I would really appreciate that.