We recently chatted with Being Flynn and Little Miss Sunshine actor Paul Dano and couldn't resist asking him about his live-in relationship with fellow indie dreamboat actress (and playwright, natch) Zoe Kazan. Unlike most Hollywood bros, Dano was refreshingly open about his brownstone-perfect coupled life. In fact, they seemed downright normal, almost swoon-worthy so. Something tells us this is a Hollywood couple whose melodramatic split you won't see splashed in the pages of a trashy tabloid. Keep reading for what turns him on, how he shares the TV, and his tips for long distance loving.
What's your idea of a perfect date?
"I like low-key. I like small. I like quiet. I would not take a girl to a club on a Thursday. I would not take her to a really noisy, swanky restaurant. I would go to some little spot that I think is special--and get her drunk."
What's the best quality you like in a girl?
"I don't think there's one. I'm spoiled, you know. My girlfriend is beautiful, smart, funny and super talented. I guess I like someone who challenges me. That's a turn-on."
Any fun spring date plans?
"We have to go to London at some point this spring, which I'm looking forward to. We're also going to see a couple Knicks games. I'm a big sports fan. That's probably not her idea of a hot spring date, but that's my idea of a hot spring date. I don't know, we're pretty domestic. We like our neighborhood. New York in the spring is awesome here. Spring and Fall in New York are the best seasons here to get out and about. I like the little park in Dumbo between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridge. I like Prospect Park."
You and Zoe live together in Brooklyn. Do you have a favorite hangout in Brooklyn?
"I like a restaurant called Bruci and there's some really nice people who work there and good food. They change their menu a lot, so maybe that's what keeps me coming back. I never know what I'm going to get."
How do you make the relationship work?
"Choose your battles wisely. We're pretty good. When she's more busy, I let her put on Project Runway or whatever. But if I'm more busy, I get to watch the Knicks game so we sort of balance each other out."
What is the best and worst part of working in the same profession?
"The worst part is one of us is often going away to work somewhere far. Sometimes we both have to. That's by far the hardest thing about it. And the best thing about it that we can help each other out. We're there for each other in a way that is I think uncommon. We both understand what each other does and we're very supportive."
Any long distance tips?
"This whole Skype video thing is pretty good."