DANNY DEVITO

The voice of The Lorax talks to Toxic!

 

Did you read The Lorax when you were a kid?

Doctor Seuss is a mainstay in my house. I have three kids, so when you get to revisit the books it’s great. My education really began when I had children. The Lorax is something they grew up with, and I experienced along the way.

Why did you want to do the voice of the Lorax?

When I was asked to voice it, I remembered the character – a cuddly guy with a big moustache. I said, “Oh my goodness, I remember this so well!” I jumped at the chance to have my voice coming out of this guy.

Zac Efron is in the movie – did you give him any advice?

Zac is like 24, he’s my son’s age! He’s such a nice guy, a genuinely sweet kid. We didn’t really get to work together though, I was in a room with a headset and so were they! That’s the way it works. I loved Zac, and I love Taylor Swift too.

What’s an interesting thing about doing a voice for a character?

Well it’s funny because although they’re recording your voice, they are also shooting film of you – so when I’m saying something as The Lorax and I’m gesturing, they add that stuff into the film as well to make it look more like me!

Did you grow a big moustache for the film?

No, I didn’t get that much into the role! I have had a moustache in the past, it was really scraggly and I was in Mexico at the time and nobody was shaving.

Who does the voices in the foreign versions of the film?

I do! I can speak English, barely. New Jersey English! I got it in my head that I wanted to try this voice in Italian, and then I started thinking it would be cool to do it in other languages.

What was your favourite book as a kid?

I was a big comic book guy, I liked all the DC Comics and Batman. If you’d have gone up to the kid I was back then and said, “Someday you’re gonna play The Penguin in a Batman movie!” it would have been amazing! I liked Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, all the Disney cartoons and comics as well.

What tips would you give Taylor Swift and Zac Efron?

They have their heads right on their shoulders. They should try to stay in the middle, if something really great happens to you, embrace it and let it go. If something really bad happens, embrace it and let it go.

There’s lots of gadgets in the film, do you like gadgets and stuff?

Oh, I love gadgets – I wish I had that doorbell from the film! Wouldn’t you like to have his motorbike as well, with the one wheel? Man, they should make those bikes!

The Lorax is in cinemas now!