- Norton is recovering from his split with actress Salma Hayek by cozying up to former supermodel Helena Christensen - He was attending the awards ceremony for Britain's Q magazine in London on Tuesday night, and spent the whole night with Helena. (September 5, 2003)
- Norton was reportedly furious when former flame Courtney Love claimed he would never marry actress Salma Hayek because he can barely understand what she's saying; although Love apologized to the now separated couple in June, Norton is still alarmed by Love's frequently erratic behavior. (August 28, 2003)
- Norton is furious contractual obligations have forced him to star in a re-make of THE ITALIAN JOB, a project he reportedly wants nothing to do with -- Norton has apparently been making it clear on the set of the update of the classic British sixties movie that he is only appearing in the movie because he would be taken to court by film studio Paramount if he refused to do the film. (November 30, 2002)
- Considered for the role of Andy Kaufman in MAN ON THE MOON (1999). Director Milos Forman could not decide between him and Jim Carrey and left the decision up to the studio. The studio decided to go with Carrey.
- During filming, he and FIGHT CLUB (1999) co-star Brad Pitt took soap-making classes.
- Worked in Osaka, Japan, consulting for his grandfather's company, Enterprise Foundation, which works to create decent, affordable housing for low-income families.
- He and ROUNDERS (1998) co-star Matt Damon competed in the World Series of Poker at Las Vegas on May 1998 with the movie studio Miramax paying the $10,000 per person entrance fee.
- He applied to be a New York City cab driver, but he was rejected for the license because he didn't meet the age requirement.
- He played guitar with the band Hole in two gigs in Los Angeles, in December 1998.
- He worked as a waiter, a proofreader, and a director's assistant (to try to get his foot in the door) in New York City.
- His character Worm in ROUNDERS (1998) was originally supposed to smoke but avid nonsmoker Edward Norton refused.
- On his return to New York, it took less than two years of waitering before the young thespian to capture the eye of Edward Albee, one of the most celebrated playwrights of the 20th century. Albee was working with the Signature Theater Company on a new production of Fragments. One audition and Norton landed the role, as well as a slot in Signature's repertory company. He currently serves on its board of directors.
- Received a B.A. in history from Yale in 1991, but took many theatre and Japanese courses as an undergraduate.
- Turned down the role of Private Ryan in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998).
- Was said to have re-edited the film AMERICAN HISTORY X (1998) to lengthen his screen time. Director Tony Kaye then attempted to get his name removed but violated a Directors' Guild of America rule that states that directors that use pseudonyms (such as Alan Smithee) must not talk about why they had their name removed
- Was offered the part of Bateman in AMERICAN PSYCHO (2000) but turned it down
- Although he refused to smoke in ROUNDERS (1998) (despite his character being written as a smoker), Edward Norton did smoke in FIGHT CLUB (1999).
- During rehearsals for FIGHT CLUB (1999) Brad Pitt and Edward Norton found out that they both hated the new Volkswagen Beetle with a passion. In the film they are seen banging a Volkswagen Beetle with baseball bats.
- A close friend of Drew Barrymore.
- He does an impression of Dustin Hoffman in RAIN MAN (1988) in KEEPING THE FAITH.
- He scripted the talent in the choices scene between Nick and Jackie in THE SCORE (2000).
- In KEEPING THE FAITH, when Brian asks his congregation for the seven deadly sins and no one answers, he prods them, Come on, it was a movie with Brad Pitt! (referring to SE7EN). His previous film was FIGHT CLUB with Brad Pitt.
- KEEPING THE FAITH (2000) was dedicated to his late mother Robin Norton.
- Was in talk for the lead role in HART'S WAR (2002), but eventually dropped out.
- ROUNDERS' two main stars, Damon and Edward Norton were the two finalists for the role of Pvt. Ryan in the film SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998). In the end, the role did go to Damon.
- When trying out for the role of the altar boy in PRIMAL FEAR (1996), he went into the audition in character, complete with stutters and all, and this won his role.
- Norton gained 30 lbs of muscle to play Derrek Vinyard in AHX.
- Norton lost 20 lbs to play the narrator in FIGHT CLUB.
- Was nominated Best Actor Oscar in 1999 for AMERICAN HISTORY X.
- Nominated for Best Fight at MTV Movie Awards for FIGHT CLUB (2000) - for fighting against himself.
- Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at Academy Awards for PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
- Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role at BAFTA Awards for PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
- Nominated for Best Villain at MTV Movie Awards for PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
Quotes- Criticizing The US president over Iraq: "It's nice being in Europe this week. Almost everyone in Germany and France is in sync with the governments. I almost forgot what it's like to be proud of my government."
- "If I ever have to stop taking the subway, I'm gonna have a heart attack."
- "Acting? It's a longstanding compulsion I've had since I was about five or six years old. I can literally identify the moment it struck me. I went to see a play [IF I WERE A PRINCESS] in which a babysitter of mine [Betsy True, who later acted on Broadway] was performing. I was completely shell-shocked by the magic of this little community-theater play; it just riveted me."
- "Fame is very corrosive and you have to guard very strictly against it."
- "The more you can create that magic bubble, that suspension of disbelief, for a while, the better."
- "Life, like poker has an element of risk. It shouldn't be avoided. It should be faced."
- "I'm an actor and, each time out, I'm trying to convince the audience that I'm this character. Every little thing that people know about you as a person impedes your ability to achieve that kind of terrific suspension of disbelief that happens when an audience goes with an actor and character [he's] playing."
- "I've never felt any particular encroachment of the 'celebrity' stuff into my life."
- "I don't smoke and I don't want to smoke. I am not a fan of gratuitous smoking in films."
- "It's a nice position to be in; I'm lucky. At the same time, all the excitement of that has been put into stark perspective ... In some ways, the highs of it have been blunted, which in a way, is a gift."
- "First of all, you never make all things for all people and can't always pander to the broadest denominator. I keep an eye toward doing the themes that interest me. Do they move me? Interest me? Make me think? When I run across something that is provocative in an unsettling way, it appeals to me."
Awards- Sant Jordi Awards: Best Foreign Actor, 25th HOUR (2004)
- Street Film Festival (Milan): Street Award - Best Feature Film, KEEPING THE FAITH (2000)
- Golden Satellite Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, AMERICAN HISTORY X (1999)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actor, AMERICAN HISTORY X (1999)
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Most Promising Actor, PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, PRIMAL FEAR (1997)
- Boston Society of Film Critics Awards: Best Supporting Actor, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT (1996)
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Best Supporting Actor, EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU (1996)
- National Board of Review: Best Supporting Actor, PRIMAL FEAR (1996)
|
