Austin Butler is entering a new chapter and opening up about the mindset thatâs guiding him forward. In a new interview for Vanity Fairâs Hollywood issue, the âElvis and Dune: Part Twoâ star reflected on the kind of life he wants to build, sharing that he spent years believing he needed to sacrifice everything to be a âgreat artist.â He told the outlet that pressure stemmed from feeling like his personal experiences werenât âenough,â but heâs now shifting toward a healthier, more grounded perspective focused on long-term growth.Â
Butler, 34, said heâs letting go of past mistakes and working toward becoming a better friend, partner and eventually a husband and father. While he isnât a parent yet, he has already embraced being a âfun uncleâ to Ashley Tisdaleâs 4-year-old daughter, Jupiter. Last year, he told E! News that he feels like part of Tisdaleâs family and loves spending time with her children. Tisdale has shared their bond publicly, saying Butler supported her throughout her pregnancy, even FaceTiming the baby in the hospital the morning after she was born.
Reflecting on Growth and the Artist He Hopes to Become
In his Vanity Fair profile, Butler spoke about how grief shaped him, revealing that he spent years trying to numb the pain of losing his mother to cancer in 2014. He said that allowing himself to feel emotions instead of avoiding them ultimately made him better both onscreen and off. The actor also described himself as an âanalog guyâ who avoids spending time on his phone, adding that he often longs for the mystery of old Hollywood when audiences didnât know everything about an actorâs life.
He reflected on pivotal moments in his career, from his early Disney Channel roles to his breakout performance in Quentin Tarantinoâs âOnce Upon a Time⦠in Hollywood,â and his experience working with Denzel Washington in Broadwayâs âThe Iceman Cometh.â Butler said his acting process is slow and intentional, explaining that every role begins as a âblurry pictureâ that comes into focus over time. Though heâs often drawn to darker characters, he said he hopes upcoming roles explore emotional intimacy and connection, citing âBlue Valentineâ as the type of storytelling that resonates with him.
Butler also briefly emphasized the importance of protecting his mental health. At the New York City premiere of âCaught Stealing”, he told Extra he plans to âturn my phone offâ and âdisappearâ for a bit once the press tour ends, calling time away from technology âvery, very good for the brain.â
Shutting Down Dating Rumors and Choosing a Fuller Life
Along with his reflections on growth, Butler addressed speculation surrounding his relationship with Emily Ratajkowski. The two sparked rumors after they were photographed having dinner in New York City in September, but Butler told Vanity Fair they are simply friends. âThe true answer is that I have a lot of friends and weâre friends and we had dinner,â he said, adding that public scrutiny initially made him want to âhide.âÂ
Even so, he said heâs no longer willing to restrict his life to avoid speculation. As he put it, âIâm going to live a constricted small life because Iâm afraid of what other people are going to say or what theyâre going to think?â
Looking ahead, Butler said heâs focused on building a meaningful life both personally and professionally, adding, âYou get one life, so how can I allow that to hopefully make me a better friend and a better partner â and a better husband, one day, and a better father, one day, God willing?â
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