Jason Biggs opens up to Total Film

Jason Biggs has had sex with a pie, glued his hand to his penis and dressed up as cupid (all in the name of his art, of course; what he gets up to at home is nothing to do with us), so perhaps Total Film shouldn't be so surprised to discover he's a rather open young man, who's perfectly prepared to discuss his sequined panties…

Ok, lets get the red panties question out of the way. How was it?

To be honest, they were awfully uncomfortable because the sequins went all the way around and there was a bit of erm…shall we call it chafing? In the groin area, that did not lend itself to comfort.

But surely you’ve been in more uncomfortable situations on camera than that?

I hesitate to call any of these situations uncomfortable. Obviously there’s a little bit of physical discomfort but as far as embarrassment or anything like that – I love doing it. So even the red panties, despite the physical discomfort, were really good fun for me. I like putting myself out there like that and I like going to those sorts of extremes and given my track record, it wasn’t really new territory for me.

Did you keep them as a souvenir?

The answer is yes. I swear I kept them. I kept the whole outfit, the cupid wings, the bow and the arrow and the red panties.

Have you worn it since?

Every Friday night.

Is there anything that you’ve been asked to do that you draw the line at?

No. Listen, if I have put my penis inside of a pie, if I have crazy glued my hand to my penis, if I have worn the cupid outfit, what would I say no to? When I think about the thing that wouldn’t do, it would probably have to involve animals or small children. Probably something that would be illegal. For me it’s all about context – I’ve not done jokes before not because I feared them making me uncomfortable, but because they didn’t work in the context of the scene or the movie. If something is gratuitous or unnecessary, that’s when I say no.

When you’re watching comedy, what makes you laugh?

My tastes sort of run the gamete, I mean I like the Marx Brothers. But as much as I love them, I love the Woody Allens’ of the world - things that are subtler and dialogue driven, but I also love Monty Python. I’ve always loved the British sense of humour. I love the Airplanes, but you know, if it’s funny, it’s funny; I’m very open-minded when it comes to comedy.

Do you feel like you have the upper hand when you work with a debut actor or director because you’re such a veteran of comedy, like with Michael Ian Black?

I didn’t actually, his comedy is very unique and I really respect it. I’ve always been a fan of his since he created the State – a TV show in America. I’ve always looked up to him and when we met it was total adulation all the way through and there was never a point when I was dictating what happened on set or anything. It was his project and I knew I was going to answer to him.

Were you able to improvise at all?

Yes, he gave me room to improvise and he’d be the first to tell me if a joke I thought of was funnier than a joke he thought of. Mostly though, his jokes were funnier, we tried going off script but always come back to it because at the end of the day, his stuff was the funniest.

Was it difficult to play a funny straight man in this film?

It was actually, it’s so much easier to just say the jokes and be broader, but when you have to find comedy in more subtle moments. It’s more reaction based, but to find a credible way to do that and still be funny is a challenge.

Was Sacha Baron Cohan ever on set?

He was, but only for about two days and I didn’t get to meet him, but I’m a big fan. He’s pretty incredible, I was bummed I missed him but I heard plenty through Isla!

What was it like working with her?

She’s sweet and fun, but the best thing about Isla is that she is down to do anything for a joke, like what we were talking about earlier with me – I’m not that unique as in that there’s a few young guys who do this kind of thing, where as young, beautiful women who will do anything for the sake of a joke and are willing to make a fool of themselves are few and far between. The movie would not have worked without her, so I really respect her for it.

How do you feel about American Pie 4 and 5?

Well, in a way it’s flattering because what we established and the name that we created is still being used, but on the other hand it feels a little bit like they’re exploiting it but it’s a business at the end of the day.

What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?

Ahh, I can’t think of anything! I travel spontaneously all the time, I don’t think I’ve planned a trip more than a few weeks out. I actually had a very romantic trip that I took that was very spontaneous with a girl I’d just met, so that’s probably the most spontaneous thing I’ve done in terms of travel and romance. We’d only just got together and it was just one, big crazy trip. After this interview I’m going up to Scotland and over to Madrid for a stag party. I was like, I’ve gotta do press in England and then there’s a week before I have to meet you guys in Madrid, so I’ll go golfing in Scotland in between! I love that shit!

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Sure, I haven’t experienced it first hand but I believe it can happen for some people and I’d like to believe it could happen to me. In my experiences, whenever I’ve fallen in love, it’s always been lust at first and then you fall in love. It takes a lot more than, in my case, that initial meeting. With most romantic comedies, the character is looking for love, so love finds them, but in this film – if that’s what we call love at first sight, then I believe in that, yeah.

Is it difficult for you to date? Do people have preconceptions of you, based on your work?

Yeah, I guess. I like to think that in meeting me, you see that I’m not really like my characters. Or should I say, I have something different to offer from that of my characters. There is a perception of me based on my work, but I hope that it doesn’t take long to get passed that! Girlfriend’s parents sometimes look worried! It’s funny actually, a friend’s wife, who I’m going on the stag night with, his wife and I met for the first time the other night and she pleaded with me to make sure her husband gets back in one piece. She said, I’ve seen your movies, I know what you can do! In terms of dating, it’s less about the roles I play and more just wondering what peoples’ intentions are, you know if you’re dating someone outside of the industry, there’s a lot of other stuff you have to cut through before you can trust each other. Also, if I date someone who’s not an actress, there’s an adjustment period for them and for me. I suppose that’s why actors date actresses – because there’s an understanding there.

Are you seeing someone at the moment?

No, I just got out of a two and a half year relationship about two months ago so, yes, I am newly single and figuring myself out. It’s a bit weird, but it was the right thing to do.

How do you feel about approaching 30 next year?

I’m actually excited; I guess it’s an important age, but it’s less the importance that I put on it and more about the importance the public puts on it and the connotations attached to it. 30 feels like some major milestone by which I should have set life goals, like what I should have accomplished. I have accomplished a lot in my career, so I’m not thinking along those lines. I guess in terms of relationships, should I be married by now? I mean, I don’t think so but erm, I think my parents have realised they’re not going to get a new daughter-in-law just yet.