It may have been nine years since we made a weekly television appointment with Adrian Grenier when starring in the hit comedy Entourage, but the US actor continued to apply his talents in fields he is deeply passionate about. One of which, as United Nations Environment Goodwill Ambassador, is supporting environmental causes ranging from sustainable foods to reducing global carbon pollution.
Grenier’s latest initiative, launched as part of his Lonely Whale organisation, is Stop Sucking. It is a global awareness campaign with the aim of reducing the ocean pollution through the elimination of single use plastic straws.
He was recently in Dubai to discuss the initiative with a range of organisations such as Dubai Expo 2020, Tesla and Freedom Pizza with the goal of developing sustainable options to their respective business practices. Speaking to The National on the side lines of these discussions, he also gave us a few insights on his perceptions of luxury.
If you could wake up anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you be?
I have been to a lot of places and nearly all the time, when I get there, I vow to move there. So, it is the same here in Dubai. This is my first time here and there no place right now where I would rather be.
You’re sitting down to the perfect meal. Where are you, who are you with and what are you eating?
My favourite meal is tacos and I am having them in this cool place in Austin, Texas, called Vegan Nom. They make the best vegan tacos. It doesn’t matter who I am with, either friends or alone, if I am eating it then it’s a great meal.
What is your dream home?
It needs to be small, minimal, cosy and with lots of nature surrounding it.
What does luxury mean to you?
Freedom of the burden to have to work.
What’s the most overrated luxury item in your opinion?
The Kardashians.
What was your first ever luxury purchase?
My home in Brooklyn, New York. I got it 15 years ago and it is still there. It is definitely the manifestation of everything I had always wanted to the point of that I built my own music studio inside the basement.
What will you never be caught wearing?
While I am open minded, I don’t like wearing my ties too tight.
Are you a collector?
I am when it comes to music records. I have like 3,000 of them. I DJ too, so a lot of the music I have is also some weird stuff - like speeches for example – that I would like to blend in to my sets.
What piece of advice you would give your younger self when you first entered show business?
It would be to just go out there and do it. Don’t change anything because all the lessons you will learn will be from all the mistakes that you are going to make.
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