OnlyOnAOL: Jeff Bridges has the world's coolest hobby

By: Donna Freydkin

In "Hell or High Water," Oscar winner Jeff Bridges is the ultimate dude.

He's a Texas Ranger on the verge of retirement who winds up hunting two bank robbers, played by Chris Pine and Ben Foster (watch an interview with Foster above). We caught up with Bridges to talk scripts, sculpting and riding off into the sunset.

Would he ever retire, like his character?
"I don't know about retiring or quitting. I like the notion of retiring – putting on a new set of tires. That's appealing to me."

With "Hell or High Water," the words spoke to him.
"I love the ambiguity of the story, the examination of what's right and wrong and letting the audience ponder those things."

And yes, he totally connected with his character.
"Unlike actors, we can act until we're until we're on our deathbeds if we choose. Texas Rangers, they kick you to the curb. That was something I could understand. We had a Texas Ranger on the set and he was invaluable. He gave me so much input."

That being said, there's one major difference between them.
"Professions would be a big thing. I'm a pretender and you can't get more real than putting your life on the line and going after criminals."

He makes music, he makes art, and he'd love to do more of it.
"I've got a lot of different interests. I love music. I could dig deeper into that. I love to paint and do ceramics. I love it. I don't throw. I hand-build. I've got a teacher in Santa Barbara who has a kiln. I make these little heads. It's a side thing. Normally when I finish making a sculpture I'll have leftover clay and I let my hands go to town and they create these little heads. I don't know if they're aspects of my own personality."