Robert Downey Jr talks about his Hollywood journey after Oscar win

The Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr who will next play four characters in HBOs spy drama The Sympathiser coming April 14 spoke about his journey from uninsurable actor to Oscar winner reported PeopleAccepting the Best Supporting Actor award Downey peppered his deadpan speech with emotional moments addressing the years he spent in the grip of drug addiction in the late 90s and early 2000s He thanked his wife for loving me back to life along with his longtime lawyer joking that the attorney had spent half of their 40 years together trying to get me insured and bailing me outI think if you develop a moral psychology things are a lot easier Downey 58 told People in this weeks cover story And I think its hard to explain away certain behaviours when there are ways to heal So I have a lot of empathy for them and I also am a little bit sceptical about anyone who doesnt lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass Thats allStanding next to him Downeys wife Susan added I feel like anyones journey no matter how fraught or positive whatever it is it is your journey Theres nothing we would do differentlyAway from the spotlight people close to Downey say he has retained a lowkey emphasis on helping othersHis ways are heartwarming said fellow Avengers star Jeremy Renner who was in the ICU last January following his horrific snowplow accidentHe noted that Downey checked in on him constantly We ended up having great chats on FaceTime like we were dating or something recalled RennerThe couple who have been married for 18 years and work together at their producing company Team Downey have built a strong foundation at home As a rule they dont go two weeks without seeing each other and family dinners are both joyful and punctual We all love his playfulness says Susan sharing how Downey often leads word or improv games with his kids at the tableHeres the interesting thing she says I came from an incredibly stable household and Roberts was lets say less than that And yet hes the one who brings the real kind of homeyness to it and I just make sure everythings working and running wellFrom equipping the home with pancake art tools to singing loudly at jam sessions with kids Exton 12 Avri 9 and Indio 30 Downey leans inHe really cares about whatever they care about said Susan I think that he craves and therefore wants to provide the stability that probably he didnt necessarily haveDowney told People his home life provides him with focus It just gives me honestly something to attach my neurosis to thats positive he says And I love when I can ask Susan if she thinks we should paint the kitchen a different color or if maybe a new rug in her office whatever Im not saying that Im like a fledgling interior designer But theres two kinds of people and Im the kind that cares about the drapesThe Academy Awards provided another fullcircle experience for Downey when Oppenheimer won Best Picture with a familiar face at the microphoneIts crazy that Al Pacino one of my favourite human beings on earth presented Best Picture Downey told People And its also crazy that I think deservedly he won the first time I was nominated in 1993 for Chaplin for Scent of a Woman he said reported PeopleThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever