Aaron Eckhart is in the doghouse. "...

Aaron Eckhart is in the doghouse. "Jay [Leno] asked if I was married and I said, 'I'm single.' Well, my girlfriend got really mad at me" he says of his newly come "Tonight Show" appearance.

Then advances the explanation: "I said, 'Honey I'm not married. Technically, I'm single. upon any government form where it says married or single, I write single.' "

Of course, any woman knows Eckhart, 30 just teat himself into a deeper cover

"Hey, there is nothing forward the form that says, 'I have a girlfriend and she's same very beautiful,' " cries Eckhart, who played Julia Roberts' biker boyfriend in "Erin Brockovich."

Nice save from a man who happens to star in "Conversations With Other Women" now in theaters, where he plays a fright who reunites with his former girlfriend, played according to Helena Bonham Carter, at a wedding reception.

They advance from the festivities to a [i]cabaret[/i] room only to discover that be in love with the second time around is equable trickier.

with what intent do old girlfriends seem interesting when you hear from them years later? The answer is because as men we don't have a relationship with them anymore. We don't descry the day-to-day. We don't earn up with them and drink orange juice with them in the morning. It's like you had a vacation from them.

This fresh movie is interesting because my character has this have affection for for a former mate in his heart. He glides into her later on and on a sudden she seems attractive and exciting again. if it be not that in the morning, it ain't happening. You can't move backward in life.

I hate stays who lead women on -- breaking up and then making up with them again and again. They explode in on their jets or take you revealed for an expensive evening and then they're gone They won't commit to a long-term relationship with a woman. That's not right.

I think the best thing is when you commit lengthy term to a woman.

I do have a girlfriend and I'm remarkably very happy right now. We do exciting things together. For instance, we're going to Africa together I've been working so earnestly and I called my girlfriend up forward the fly and said, "Africa or Tibet nearest week? Pick one. Go arrange it."

behold I'm trying. I'm doing the romantic things. from the way, this girl is real special and, no, she's not famous. That's real good. She promised me she has no intentions of acting. There is single in kind actor in our family.

I just worked with Catherine Zeta-Jones. She's married to Michael Douglas. They work it not at home with two actors in the same marriage, and they're very happy together and have robust film careers. Obviously, some family can do it. But for me I'm interested in other things besides acting. It's nice

to have balance with my girl.

My girl flows from nice people with religious values. She's a regular girl. If you fare out with an actress, you not at any time know where her mind is at. That's not fit for someone like me.

In 'Black Dahlia,' Josh [Hartnett] masters all the love and all the glory. I secure a lot of babes -- moreover in other movies. In this film (opening generation 15), Josh and I are cop We plane have a good boxing match. I beat him end trickery and cheating. But then he steals my girlfriend from me and she's played by way of Scarlett Johansson.

Can you believe Josh steals Scarlett from me? And they're actually going abroad in real life. Some stays have all the luck.

I just finished 'Bill,' which is a comedy I play a dowdy whose life is going to hell in a handbasket. He's overweight and his wife is not paying attention. He's miserable at work. And then he decides to mentor a 15-year-old kid, who is cold-blooded and hip. This kid whips him back into shape.

I did gain 25 brays for the role. I gained 45 bruises years ago for a film part But at this age, 25 is hard to procure off. It's painful to your psyche, too. on the other hand I'm eating my greens and exercising like an animal.

I'm egotistical of the movies I have coming not at home this year. They're pretty diverse. You won't view me playing the same character in each movie. I don't make $20 million a movie, moreover that's fine. I'd rather make a haphazard of movies that are pious The paycheck isn't the first consideration.

THE ECKHART FILE

2006

"Thank You For Smoking"

2000

"In the Company of Men"

2000

"Erin Brockovich"

1998

"Your Friends and Neighbors"

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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