At 62, Nicolas Cage says becoming an older father has reordered his life. In an episode of The New York Times podcast “The Interview,” Cage described a “very monastic life,” cutting back on risk, and focusing on raising his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
Nicolas Cage is 62, but the biggest shift in his life doesn’t sound like it came from Hollywood at all.
On Saturday’s episode of The New York Times podcast “The Interview. ” Cage reflected on how becoming an older dad has reshaped his priorities—and how the impatience that once drove him now mostly stays in the past. “It’s no secret that I have over the years. particularly early on. perhaps. had a lack of impulse control and probably shouldn’t have bought that car or shouldn’t have bought that property or whatever it was. ” he told host David Marchese.
He also linked that younger-day impulsiveness to the way he approaches work and public life now. Cage said he still has “the comedian in him” looking for chances to catch people off guard. “You get a laugh when you do something unexpected. That’s what makes people laugh in my view, or you do something marvelously witty,” he said.
But the actor drew a clear line between that instinct and the lifestyle that used to come with it. “I am extraordinarily boring right now. I live a very monastic life. I am not taking any risks whatsoever if I can avoid it. I am really going to go the other way. And I am all about raising my three-and-a-half-year-old — my toddler — to have a happy and healthy life. That is my focus,” Cage said. “That, and when I work. That’s it.”.
Cage and his wife, Riko Shibata, welcomed a daughter in 2022. The actor also has two adult sons from previous relationships.
These days, his biggest “vices” are less dramatic but more constant: caffeine and screen time. “I’m drinking 200 milligrams. you know. strawberry energy drinks six times a day. and I’m not good with my phone. and the doomscrolling’s got to stop. ” he said. He added that he is no longer drinking martinis or doing any “unexpected things in life” at the moment.
Age, too, has changed the way he moves through the world. “When I was 19, no. Now I’m 62, sure. I think I know what to do and what not to do, whether it’s at home or in a restaurant or out in public, whatever,” Cage said.
He also described a more careful approach to kindness—especially when he’s in spaces where other people may have their own big feelings about him. Cage said he avoids going out unless he feels capable of treating people with kindness. He said he’s more mindful in public interactions because he knows how disappointing it can be to “meet someone that I admire and have them ruin your day by being unkind.”.
The attention he gives his youngest daughter is the centerpiece of the new routine. When asked if he has considered slowing down professionally. Cage said much of his attention now goes toward raising his youngest daughter. “I’m all about my toddler. I mean that she takes 80% of my energy and I’m focused on that. ” he said. adding that he wants to make time to be around to “nurture her and guide her.”.
Cage said he’s “lucky right now because she’s young enough that as long as we can travel together and I can come home to her, that’s good,” adding that it allows him to keep showing up for her.
This isn’t the first time Cage has spoken about prioritizing family in recent years. In November 2023, while reflecting on approaching 60, he told Entertainment Tonight that he wants to spend more time with his daughter. “I’m taking stock of what’s really important, you know?” Cage said. “Maybe not make quite as many movies.”.
He later told Vanity Fair in December 2023 that he has “said what I’ve had to say with cinema” and is ready to step back from his career. “I may have three or four more movies left in me,” he said.
Back on “The Interview. ” the logic of his change feels straightforward: the risks he used to chase have been replaced by a kind of steadiness—and the work. for now. is raising a child. “I am really going to go the other way. ” he said. then closed with the simple boundary he’s drawn around the rest of his life: “That. and when I work. That’s it.”.
Nicolas Cage Riko Shibata The Interview David Marchese older father monastic life toddler energy drinks doomscrolling cinema family priorities
He’s finally boring lol
So basically the guy got scared and became a monk? I get it though, kids will humble you. 62 still having a toddler is crazy.
Wait so he stopped taking risks because he had to raise his kid… or is it because he’s an older father now so his “car/property” days are over? Either way, sounds like PR talk. Also the podcast title is confusing, like what interview, his or theirs?
I don’t really buy it. Nicolas Cage was always “taking risks” in his movies, like half the time he’s screaming. Now he says he’s not taking risks whatsoever if he can avoid it… but you can’t tell me that isn’t just something he says for the Times podcast. Monastic life sounds nice though, good for him.