Liev Schreiber Covers Hamptons Magazine

Liev Schreiber is a busy man these days. While raising their two young boys, Alexander 'Sasha', two next month and Kai, 6 months, he and girlfriend Naomi Watts are learning the fine art of parenting while pursuing their busy acting careers.

The 41-year-old actor has seen great successes this year, with the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the filming of next year’s Salt with Angelina Jolie.

Liev talks to Hamptons Magazine about fatherhood, losing sleep and making memories.

On being a father: “Probably the biggest change has been less sleep. There’s also been a significant amount of play, which wasn’t really a part of our lives before because of work. And now you’re sort of forced to take the time to play, which has been a real blessing and a lot more fun.”

On the surprises of being a parent: “There are two things. One is how natural it is, and the other is how difficult it is. I had no idea that it would be so easy, but it’s just something... you take for granted that you have the ability to do. I think it came naturally to me.”

On the moment that fatherhood hit him: “The minute that they show up and you hear that first scream, it’s a pretty profound feeling. You know that you’re in for it—you’re in for the best thing that ever happened to you and the hardest work you’ll ever do. There’s just no questioning what you’ll do for your child. You’re not sure of that until your child is born and looking you in the eye and needing something, and then it just sort of happens. If you had asked me five years ago would I be willing to uproot my life and my sleeping schedule for a very small human being, I probably would say you’re out of your mind. But then it happened and you realize, of course, how could I do anything else?”

On making memories in the Hamptons: I think probably one of my most vivid memories of time spent in the Hamptons would have to be Sasha’s insatiable appetite for sand. I remember the first time we took him to the beach in Amagansett, he couldn’t get enough of the stuff. And just being able to have those quiet walks early in the morning—particularly off-season, when you’re on the beach early and nobody else is there. Sasha’s on the ground, running around the beach with his dog, having the time of his life. Pretty good stuff. There’s something really timeless about the ocean and the consciousness expanding. You have that perspective of nature.