Scott Eastwood recently shared on "The Joe Rogan Experience" how his father, Clint Eastwood, shielded him and his siblings from the pitfalls of child stardom and instilled a strong work ethic.
Eastwood, 40, explained that growing up with a famous parent offered him a unique vantage point on the entertainment industry. "I think I was lucky in some ways because I got to see it growing up and got to see like how it's bulls---," he said, referring to certain behaviors observed on modern movie sets.
He noted that his father's approach to acting was straightforward: "put your boots on [and], go to work, man." This philosophy, Eastwood suggested, helped him recognize and avoid negative industry practices. He contrasted this with some actors who, due to their star status, believe they can treat others poorly.
Clint Eastwood prioritized a normal childhood for his children, raising them away from Los Angeles in Carmel, California. "He did a really good job of protecting us from that and very private," Scott Eastwood said. "We didn't live in LA, we we lived in Carmel. It was a very...as normal as it could be, in the sense that he was like, 'No, you just you need to be a normal child and learn how the world works.'"
While his father did not encourage his children to pursue acting careers as minors, Scott Eastwood eventually found success as an adult actor in films such as "Fury," "Suicide Squad," and "Wrath of Man." He and his father also share a similar perspective on acting, viewing it as a job rather than a lifestyle that requires staying in character off-set.
"My dad was never like that," Eastwood explained. "He was like, it's a job. Like go to work, do the best you can, put in the reps, make sure you know your s--- and you come prepared, and you have something interesting, but leave it at the door."
In his latest film, "Lucky Strike," Eastwood portrays a soldier behind enemy lines after the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. The character must navigate 20 miles of German-occupied territory to reach safety. Eastwood commented on the clarity of purpose in World War II, telling NPR in June that it was "a fight for justice" against a clear enemy, unlike wars he sees as having more ambiguity.