THE ANSWERS WITH...PAUL FEIG

The multi-hyphenate behind box-office hits like Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters talks style, watches and his cocktail superpower.

-  Oren Hartov

DIRECTOR, SCREENWRITER, PRODUCER, actor, comedian, martini connoisseur. Paul Feig is not prone to idle. As well as a full diary, he can also lay claim to an unmistakable sartorial flair, consistent affability and enthusiasm for all things well-made. In short, he’s something of a bon vivant whose taste transcends the confines of the era in which he lives and works.

He’s probably known best for creating Freaks and Geeks, the short-lived yet cult-hit series that launched the careers of Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel; or for Bridesmaids, one of the funniest movies of the 2010s; or perhaps for his 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters with an all-female lead cast. But despite being a charismatic presence at the best-dressed parties, these days he spends most of his time behind the camera. Last year, he edited the film Grand Death Lotto starring John Cena and Awkwafina, which he directed for Amazon Studios, and exec produced the Starz series Minx— the tale of the first erotic magazine for women. He launched his own spirit, Artingstall’s Brilliant London Dry Gin, in 2019, and during lockdowns took to Instagram to showcase his love of cocktails, leading to the release of his book Cocktail Time! The Ultimate Guide to Grown-Up Fun soon after.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning?

It’s very sad: I reach for my phone. I wish I wasn’t so addicted, but everything comes through there. To me, it’s like getting up in the morning and getting the paper first thing.

What’s one thing you’ve done recently for the first time?