Terrence Howard to Leave Jessica Alba, Awake for Island Holiday

Terrence Howard to Leave Jessica Alba, Awake for Island Holiday
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By Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith
Dec 22, 2005

Terrence Howard wraps up his role as a cardio-thoracic surgeon in Harvey Weinstein's thriller "Awake" with Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen Friday (12/23) -- and then the Golden Globe-nominated film actor plans to "disappear to an island.


ISLAND GETAWAY

"The one thing I've missed this year -- the greatest sacrifice of all -- has been being with my kids. It's going to be great to spend six days together away from everything," says the father of three young'uns with wife Lori.

After New Year's, "I'll go to L.A. and start turning up at shows and events. I'm getting to meet some incredible actors right now," he notes cheerfully. "The morning of the Golden Globes nominations, me and Joaquin exchanged phone calls -- to get a call from him was great," he says of fellow Best Actor nominee ("Walk the Line") Joaquin Phoenix.

Howard's nominated for "Hustle & Flow," and this year has also seen him in "Crash," "Four Brothers," "Lackawanna Blues" and "Get Rich or Die Tryin."' Naturally, he's been the center point of Oscar talk and critics' awards as this year's breakout star for months.

Asked about that, Howard laughs. "Oh, man, I've been at this for 20 years!" And he's been talked about as a breakthrough star before -- with roles in such films as "Mr. Holland's Opus" and "Dead Presidents." He also has been widely quoted saying he made only $9,000 for "Crash" and $12,000 for "Hustle & Flow."

That kind of payday is certainly behind him now. Next on his agenda will be portraying Thurgood Marshall in New Line's "The Crusaders," depicting the future Supreme Court justice during his younger, avenging attorney days, when he was determined to destroy segregation. The film will roll "as soon as everything's ready." It'll be a challenge to play Marshall, but Howard makes it clear, "I like the challenging ones. I like the ones where I could fall. The moment I jump and feel I'm going to fall, I know I'm going to do all I have to do to get there."