MARK Wahlberg is difficult to shop for. RUBEN V. NEPALES
Conclusion)
LOS ANGELES—In the second part of our feature on some stars’ Christmas plans, thoughts and memories, we spoke with Mark Wahlberg, whose fondest New Year wishes, we are sure, include his “bro” Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Floyd Mayweather Jr. if that fight happens in May next year. We also highlight the holiday thoughts of Katie Holmes, Naomi Watts and Hilary Swank.
Mark Wahlberg
I make sure that I don’t look at the credit card statements. My wife is really big on holidays. She likes to make it special. But the exciting part for me is that right after Christmas, we will go on vacation for 10 days. We will go where the kids can hang out and I can relax for a little while.
I must buy my wife something very nice. I must make sure that I don’t question her about how many gifts she buys each kid. I don’t worry about getting gifts for myself even though my wife is always getting me stuff. I am a hard person to shop for because I don’t really need anything other than a “How was your day?” when I get home.
Katie Holmes
I like to take my daughter to “The Nutcracker” every year at the Lincoln Center in New York. It’s a tradition. Then, on Christmas morning, we have monkey bread. It’s the best thing—it’s frozen bread dough with butter and brown sugar. You put it in the oven. It’s gooey and sticky—never-ending—that’s why you can only have it once a year.
Naomi Watts
I love an old-fashioned white Christmas. That reminds me of the movies you grow up watching. I did spend the first 14 years of my life in England. So it was normal to be in a cold environment at Christmas—to have hot meals and stuff.
When we did move to Australia, we spent Christmas on the beach and ate seafood. It was quite a change for me. But I’ve learned to love that as well. We try to spend every other Christmas in Australia even though it’s really a long way to travel from New York. I still have a grandma and some cousins and aunties in Australia. So I love going back there and spending a few weeks over the Christmas period.
But it’s lovely being in New York at Christmas as well. We go ice skating and see the Christmas tree (at the Rockefeller Center). Christmas shopping at nighttime is always nice.
If my mom is with us at Christmas, she’s on duty (in the kitchen). (Laughs) I love watching my mom cook. I love her food. I love a roast. We divide the cooking, though. Like she’ll do bouillabaisse and something major seafood-oriented. I’ll do something else.
Hilary Swank
I’m trying to be a little more environmentalist so I don’t love the idea of cutting down trees to put up for a couple of weeks in your house. Although I know that people plant them for that. I still wish they would plant them and leave them.
I actually have a fake tree and it looks real. No one would know so don’t say that maybe in your writing (laughs).
(E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com. Follow him at https://twitter.com/nepalesruben.)