Chris Pine needed his big break in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement more than anyone will ever know.
During his Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, Pine reflected on the role. He was paid $65,000 for the role, which saved him as he had an overdraft in his bank account.
“It was the height of summer and I was getting off at Magnolia. I was on my little Verizon tiny little flip phone, my silver one and I got a call from my agents that I booked a job,” Pine recalled. “I pulled over onto the side of the freeway and they said, ‘You're getting paid $65,000,' And it was like they had just told me I'd made $50 million. It was absolutely Earth-shattering.”
While this was not his first role, Pine felt that The Princess Diaries 2 marked the moment that he actually “started working.” $65,000 is a good amount of money, but it didn't last long for Pine.
“I got that $65,000 and I just remember distinctly knowing in that moment that my life had changed somehow, even though $60,000 at the end of the day turned out to be about $15,000,” he said with a laugh.
“That lasted no time at all,” Pine elaborated, revealing he had an overdraft of $400 before the Princess Diaries 2 call.
“And I owed my parents rent money. But that is a wild feeling. I'll never forget that,” Pine concluded.
Who is Chris Pine?
Chris Pine is an actor and filmmaker. He is currently promoting his directorial debut, Poolman. Pine co-wrote the script with Ian Gotler and directed the film himself. He also stars in the film.
Poolman premiered on September 11, 2023, at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Vertical Entertainment subsequently acquired the distribution rights to the film. They will release the film on May 10.
After The Princess Diaries 2, which was his first major role in a film, Pine would gain notoriety for starring in Just My Luck. He also starred in Blind Dating, Smokin' Aces, and Bottle Shock.
He would then land his biggest role to date. Pine starred in J. J. Abrams's Star Trek reboot as James T. Kirk. He would reprise the role in two sequels, Into Darkness and Beyond in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
Outside of the Star Trek series, Pine would also make his way into the DCEU. Pine starred in Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman as Steve Trevor. He most recently appeared in the 2020 sequel, Wonder Woman 1984.
His other film credits include Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, Horrible Bosses 2, Into the Woods, Hell or High Water, and A Wrinkle in Time. Pine would also star in the animated superhero film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling. In 2023, Pine starred in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Wish.
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