Additional Coverage:
- Nicolas Cage says he lives a ‘very monastic life’ at 62 as he focuses on raising his toddler (businessinsider.com)
Nicolas Cage, now 62, says becoming an older father has significantly shifted his outlook on life and what he values most.
In a recent episode of The New York Times podcast “The Interview,” Cage opened up about how his youthful impulsiveness shaped both his acting and personal choices. Reflecting on his past, he admitted to some questionable decisions fueled by a lack of impulse control, such as buying cars or properties on a whim.
“There’s a comedian in me that loves catching people off guard,” Cage explained. “You get a laugh when you do something unexpected or say something witty.”
However, those days feel far behind him. Compared to seven years ago, Cage describes his current lifestyle as “extraordinarily boring” and “very monastic.” He avoids risks whenever possible and focuses his energy on raising his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
“I’m all about giving my toddler a happy and healthy life,” he said. “That, and my work. That’s it.”
Cage and his wife, Riko Shibata, welcomed their daughter in 2022. He also has two adult sons from previous relationships. His biggest indulgences now are caffeine – notably strawberry energy drinks – and too much screen time, which he admits he’s trying to curb.
“I’m drinking six of those 200-milligram energy drinks a day,” he joked. “And I’ve got to stop doomscrolling on my phone.”
Gone are the days of martinis and spontaneous escapades. Cage says his temperament has mellowed with age, and he’s more mindful of how he interacts with others in public.
“When I was 19, no. Now at 62, yes.
I know what to do and what not to do, whether I’m at home, in a restaurant, or out in public,” he said. He tries to treat people kindly, knowing how disappointing it can be to meet someone you admire only to have them be unkind.
When asked about slowing down professionally, Cage emphasized how much his daughter now demands his attention.
“She takes up 80% of my energy,” he said. “I want to nurture her and be there to guide her.”
He feels fortunate to be able to travel with his family and return home to his daughter, making it a priority to be present during these early years.
This isn’t the first time Cage has spoken about shifting priorities. Last November, as he neared 60, he told Entertainment Tonight he was “taking stock of what’s really important” and considering doing fewer films. In December, he told Vanity Fair that he has “said what I’ve had to say with cinema” and anticipates only a handful of movies left in his career.
For now, Nicolas Cage’s focus is clear: family first, and a quieter, more grounded life ahead.