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T ugh One of the most legendary actors of our time, Chicago native Harrison Ford talks with Michigan Avenue about his latest star turn in 42, his passionate work on behalf of Conservation International, and the blockbuster roles that have made him an American icon. BY NADINE SCHIFF-ROSEN T PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF GALE AND JEFF CRAWFORD he first thing I notice when Harrison Ford strides into the studio for our interview is, well, everything: the boyish grin on his ruggedly, stillhandsome face, the single earring, the scar under his chin, the whip. Okay, he has no whip. But he still possesses that piercing Indiana Jones intensity, even as he graciously shakes the hand of every assistant and grip on the set, who are left speechless in his wake. And with good reason. Ford is the stuff that myths are made of, a carpenter turned superstar. And in turn, he has starred in some of the most mythic movies of our generation: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, The Fugitive, and Patriot Games, to name just a few. But he���s not just an incredible box office draw; his heroic portrayals of ordinary men who triumph over extraordinary challenges have become part of our national lexicon���his characters are embedded in American culture. Ford is also a passionate and hands-on activist: a vice chair of the Board of Directors for Conservation International, a global organization dedicated to preserving nature���s biodiversity for the well-being of the planet. When he���s not filming or accepting awards for his conservation efforts, Ford is at his 700-acre ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. There he is known as an unofficial overseer, piloting his own helicopter to aid in wildlife and human rescue missions. Despite his obvious passion for adventure, he���s also comfortable at home with his wife of two years, actress Calista Flockhart, and their son, Liam. Luckily for his audience, though, even at age 70, the Chicago native shows no signs of slowing down. In 2013 alone, the actor is being featured in three major film releases. The first is 42, a biographical account of Jackie Robinson���s relationship to his mentor, Branch Rickey (played by Ford); the film is set to hit theaters April 12. An emotional story of how together they desegregated Major League Baseball, 42 promises to be another feather in the cap of the legendary actor in this, his fourth decade of American filmmaking. MICHIGAN AVENUE: You grew up in Chicago before moving out to LA to become an actor. What���s your affinity for the city? HARRISON FORD: I love Chicago. I love the energy of the place, the architecture, the people, the rigor of the place. Bitter cold in the winter, fierce winds, hot summers. During college I���d come back for summer jobs. I worked on a boat in Burnham Park Harbor, in a nightclub on the near north side. I was a manager at the first Crate & Barrel on Wells Street. I am always happy to go back to Chicago. MA: Do you still maintain a Midwestern sensibility? HF: That���s not for me to say. I���ve been out in Los Angeles for 35 years, and I think there are some things about my upbringing that reflect the values and the attitudes of the Midwest.... a kind of work ethic that I find particular to the Midwest. I can say that those were important, formative years for me, living in Chicago. MA: In 42, you star as Branch Rickey, the manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers who, in 1947, desegregated major league baseball when he brought on Jackie Robinson to play for the team. What attracted you to the role? HF: I felt emotionally connected to Branch Rickey���s ideas, to his history, to the way he MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 102-105_MA_FEAT_CoverStory_Spring13.indd 103 103 2/11/13 4:02 PM