11 quick questions for nathan fillion | members only access

Nathan Fillion, 52, currently plays the title role on ABC’s _The Rookie_, although he is anything but. The seasoned actor has a long list of credits to his name, including as the lead for

eight seasons on another hit ABC show, _Castle_. He explains what he’s learned with age and how, “over time, I have really come to trust my judgment.” YOUR _ROOKIE_ CHARACTER BEGAN HIS

POLICE CAREER IN HIS 40S, BECOMING THE OLDEST ROOKIE IN THE DEPARTMENT. CAN YOU RELATE? This is so honestly outside my realm of experience, because I was always the youngest_ _guy in the

group. I was always the kid [thinking], _Hey, they let the kid [tag] along_. I was always learning something from these old farts, and now I’m the only old fart. Here we are. You go from

being someone’s son to now your someone’s dad, and now I’m of the age I can be someone’s grandfather. Now I’m on a show where the entire concept is [that] you’re the old fart_._ SPEAKING OF

AGING, YOU POSTED A PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEMOANING THE STATE OF YOUR EYEBROWS WITH THE CAPTION: “THINGS I DIDN’T WORRY ABOUT IN MY 30S.” WHAT OTHER DIFFERENCES ARE YOU NOTICING IN YOUR

50S? Your eyebrows never stop growing — what the heck? If you want to get into shape, I’ve noticed it takes a lot longer. Injuries come a lot easier. It’s all those classic things of — you

used to get hurt and it would get better, and now they just stop getting better. You have those challenges, but at the same time, I’m an expert in everything that is really important to me,

and that comes with experience. That comes with trial and error. That comes with mentorship, learning, working and making. WHAT ARE YOU NOW AN “EXPERT” IN? I am the perfect traveler. I’ve

traveled enough to know exactly how to travel. I have a section of my closet that is for all my travel stuff. I have my toiletries there, my charger, a small toolkit — everything TSA

approved — sanitizing wipes to wipe down wherever I sit on the plane, masks with a little bit of scent, my noise-reduction headphones charging. I have the perfect clothes. My luggage is

built for perfect travel. I’m ready. That comes with age and experience. That’s wisdom. SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT IN YOUR 50S? Over time, I have really come to trust my

judgment. What that actually translates to is I have no patience for anyone else’s shenanigans. I have become a cranky old fart is what happened. I can phrase it however I like —  I’m

stubborn, I’m set in my ways. There’s so many things I won’t entertain because I just don’t have the time or the patience or the energy.  My whole life right now is about being relaxed and

being happy and really focusing on making sure all my choices lead to those goals.