Harrison Ford, the acclaimed actor known for roles such as Han Solo and Indiana Jones, revealed his thoughts on the possibility of working alongside his wife, Calista Flockhart. In a recent interview with Variety, the 83-year-old star explained that while he is open to the idea of a professional collaboration, it would have to come from an outside suggestion to avoid distracting audiences.
Ford stated,
“If we get to work together, we’d want it to be someone else’s idea,”
emphasizing his concern that viewers might lose immersion by knowing the real-life marriage between them. He added,
“That kind of casting might not be the best way to bring people into an imagined situation, because (audiences) may say, ‘Oh, I know they’re married; now I’m not even thinking about the movie anymore.’”
The Couple’s Desire to Share the Screen Has Not Yet Materialized
Though Ford and Flockhart have been married since 2010, their collaboration on screen has yet to happen. At the 2023 Los Angeles premiere of the series Shrinking, Ford discussed his enthusiasm about possibly working with Flockhart in the future. He told People magazine,
“We’d love to find one we could do together,”
adding that the right project has not yet presented itself.
Ford’s Upcoming Work Features Michael J. Fox, Highlighting Parkinson’s Experience
While Ford has not worked with Flockhart on screen, he is set to collaborate with another renowned actor, Michael J. Fox, who will guest star in the upcoming third season of Shrinking. Fox, who has lived with Parkinson’s disease for more than 30 years, joins Ford’s character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, who is depicted as recently diagnosed with the condition.
Ford praised Fox’s contribution to the series, stating,
“It’s been essential. Michael’s courage, his fortitude and his grace, more than anything else, is on full display.”
He continued,
“He’s very smart, very brave, noble, generous, passionate guy, and an example to all of us, whether we’re facing Parkinson’s or not. You cannot help but recognize how amazing it is to have such grace.”
The actor stressed how Fox’s presence influenced his portrayal of someone living with Parkinson’s.
“So he gives me both a physical representation of the disease to inform myself with, but more than that, he allows me to believe that Paul could believe that he could be adequate to the challenge,”
Ford revealed. He also emphasized the seriousness with which they approach the depiction:
“The truth is that we can’t be f—— around with this just to make a joke or anything. Parkinson’s is not funny. And I want to get it right. It’s necessary to be correct with what we do in respect of the challenge that Parkinson’s represents, and that we don’t use it for its entertainment value.”
Ford Responds to Emmy Nomination and Reflects on His Career
Ford recently earned his first Emmy nomination for his role in Shrinking, a recognition he accepts without ego. He expressed his perspective on awards, saying,
“I don’t think there’s anything competitive about creativity, and I don’t understand the need to compare and contrast one person’s work to another’s. If you like it, you like it; if you don’t like it, look at something else.”
He also shared his passion for acting, regardless of accolades:
“I’m grateful, but I would have done what I did — and I’ll do what I’m doing — regardless of whether it’s deemed worthy of mention or not. Because it’s what I do. It’s what I love doing. I love telling stories. I love pretending to be somebody else.”
Iconic Roles and Memorable Moments from Ford’s Career
Harrison Ford’s acting career spans nearly six decades, beginning with his film debut in 1966’s Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. Among his many iconic portrayals, Ford is perhaps best known for playing Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise. He shared a story about one of his character’s unforgettable lines in the original trilogy, clarifying the famous “I know” response after Princess Leia’s declaration of love.
Ford explained,
“I was supposed to say, ‘I love you too,’ and I thought that was a little un-Han Solo-ish. I thought it was a little banal. So I said no, and (director) Irvin Kershner agreed with me. George (Lucas), when he saw it, was not so sure, and made me sit next to him at the screening of the film the first time we ran it for an audience. They laughed, but it was a good laugh, so we kept it in. Thank you, George.”
Ford’s Commitment to Acting Shows No Sign of Slowing Down
Despite a career spanning almost 60 years, Ford has no plans to retire any time soon. When asked about his intentions, he remarked,
“No. That’s one of the things I thought was attractive about the job of an actor, was that they need old people, too, to play old people’s parts.”
This reflects his belief in the ongoing relevance of veteran actors and his passion for the craft that keeps him going strong.
