Speed Date: Get to Know 'Catching Fire's' Bruno Gunn—the Man Behind the Biceps
By playing Brutus in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” we get to know a lot about Bruno Gunn’s ability to portray a natural born killer. But we wanted to know much more about the man behind the ferocious muscle-bound tribute from District 2. So we asked Gunn out on a speed date to find out. Thankfully, he said yes!
1. Where did you grow up?
Pro Football Hall-of-Fame city, Canton, Ohio. Diehard Browns fan. I bleed brown and orange.
2. When did you realize you wanted to become an actor?
Not until my late ’20s. I was in New York City, working as an ad guy on Madison Avenue, and I had a good friend who said I should take an acting class. I was like, “Dude, an acting class? I’m from Ohio. I can do that?”
3. What was the first movie you ever saw?
Rocky! Talk about a great first movie to see in the theater. People standing up, cheering, screaming, yelling. I’ll never forget that. I thought it was normal, that this is what you do when you go to the theater: you yell at the screen.
4. What’s the longest relationship you’ve ever been in?
The one I’m in now. Ten awesome years. It’s pretty cool to see someone every day. It’s an amazing feeling to sit across from someone, and see them every day and go, “Ten years we’ve been doing this!” It’s cool. I wouldn’t trade it.
5. Do you want kids?
Oh yeah, we got names all picked out and everything. Good old Italian names. Georgio … Enzo … Roman … come on man, Roman Gunn is cool. Or Francessca May, if she’s a girl. And we’ll call her Frankie May.
6. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who aren’t on time. My father doesn’t say a lot, but when he does, it’s one of those gems. And he told me, “Always be on time.”
7. What do you never leave home without?
Smelling good.
8. Do you go out to eat alone?
Of course, I’m a New Yorker. New Yorker’s go out to eat alone.
[Related: Brutus, a.k.a. Bruno Gunn, on How to Be a ‘Catching Fire’ Victor]
9. What are your acting superstitions?
I never go into an audition with stuff in my pockets. I have to have empty pockets. No phone, no wallet. I don’t want nothing bulky weighing me down. I want to be as light as I can, so to speak.
10. Have you ever seen a ghost?
Absolutely! And of all places, it was in New Orleans. We stayed at some friend’s house, and they told us, “By the way, we have a ghost who lives upstairs where you guys are sleeping.” The first thing I said was, “Oh is he a friendly ghost?”
11. What’s your favorite holiday?
Anything in the fall: Halloween, Thanksgiving.
12. What’s your sign?
Scorpio. True to the Scorpio nature, man. Intense. Intense. Intense.
13. Did you have a nickname growing up?
Bru. Mostly just Bruno. I had one coach who used to call me B. One girlfriend, she always called be Bruny-Bru-Bru. But for the most part, no.
14. What are your deal breakers?
There’s a bunch of ‘em: If you can’t cook. I like a good cook. I like to cook, and I like someone who can cook. Slow drivers. I can’t handle being in a car with someone who drives on the defense. That’s a deal breaker. I’m an athlete. I like sports. So it’s important they’re active. They don’t have to be enthusiasts, but active.
15. Who should pay on the first date?
The f***ing dude, man. And the second date. And the third date. And the fourth date. If you want to impress the lady, take care of the lady. You’re a f***ing dude with testosterone; use it. Be the f***ing man. Be the man! Open and close doors. Pull the chair out. Bring home small gifts, it can be anything. Always be gifting. ABG.
16. Last question: Would you like to go out again?
F*** yeah, dude. That’s a no brainer!
See Bruno Gunn interviewed at the ‘Catching Fire’ Los Angeles Premiere (at the 1:30 mark)…
