David Schwimmer interview

David Schwimmer talks stage acting and slacking off with marieclaire.co.uk

Known to millions as Ross from Friends, David Schwimmer, 40, makes his directorial debut with Run, Fat Boy, Run, a London-set comedy about a slacker (Simon Pegg) who decides to run the Marathon to win back his girl.

Run, Fat Boy, Run is your first feature as director. Does this mean no more acting?

I really don't know. I'm really enjoying this. I think it goes in waves for me, where I'm really chomping at the bit to get back on stage or acting again?I don't know. I guess we'll see. I'm certainly not saying, 'No more acting!'

Were you a fan of Simon Pegg's before you worked with him?

I wasn't familiar with Spaced, but when I worked with Simon on [2006 thriller] Big Nothing, I bought all the Spaced DVDs. Actually, he bought them for me ? I'm kidding!

Have you ever been a slacker like Simon's character?

I've always been pretty energetic. I'm very goal oriented. My parents from a very young age raised my sister and I under a pressure to achieve. They're both attorneys. So good marks, getting through university, there was a huge emphasis and pressure to do well and keep going.

Do you ever get nostalgic thinking about your time on Friends?

I guess I don't really think about it. Friends, even though it was the longest single job I've had, still to me at the end of the day, when it was over it was a job. It was fantastic and I had a great time doing it. Those relationships, I'll never forget and that time I'll never forget. It was life-changing, in every way. I've done a couple of movies and two or three plays since then, and I don't think about it much.

Run, Fat Boy, Run is released on 7 September