Photo:David ReissStephen Moyerhas a passion — a passion for pickleball.“It’s stupid,” the British actor, 54, says wryly of his obsession. “Just stupid. Yes, I am part of the ‘dink’ cult. I can’t believe it got me,” he says with a laugh.Moyer — who’s now starring in theSexy Beast, the Paramount+ series that acts as a prequel to the 2001 gangster movie starringBen Kingsley— says that the game was critical in passing the time during the recentSAG-AFTRAandWGA strikes.“It was actually kind of holding me together,” admits the formerTrue Bloodstar, who lives in the U.S. with costar–turned–wifeAnna Paquinand their12-year-old twins.Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin in 2021.Jon Kopaloff/GettyHe explains, “I’d take the kids to school, and then I’d go play pickleball. And then whenthe picket lines opened, I’d do picketing for the strike, and then go back and do a bit of pickle and then school pick up. It was like school, pickle, strike, pickle, school.“Not event the change from summer sun to wintry weather has stopped him from playing: “The other day we were clearing the snow off of our courts. It was like 34 degrees, and the wind was blowing the ball everywhere. But we still played.“Sanne Gault/Paramount+Moyer, who also directs two episodes ofSexy Beast— in which he plays East London gangster Teddy Bass — says his love of the game possibly stemmed from his youth playing ping pong in Essex, just outside of London.“I grew up playing table tennis right, and there is very little I find as satisfying as when you’re playing really good, competitive table tennis, just the back and forth of it all. Backhand, forehand, backhand forehand. I love it.“As for tennis snobs and pickleball haters? Moyer assumes they just haven’t tried it yet.“Or of course,” he jokes, “those that live next to a court.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Sexy Beastis now streaming on Netflix.
Photo:David Reiss
David Reiss
Stephen Moyerhas a passion — a passion for pickleball.“It’s stupid,” the British actor, 54, says wryly of his obsession. “Just stupid. Yes, I am part of the ‘dink’ cult. I can’t believe it got me,” he says with a laugh.Moyer — who’s now starring in theSexy Beast, the Paramount+ series that acts as a prequel to the 2001 gangster movie starringBen Kingsley— says that the game was critical in passing the time during the recentSAG-AFTRAandWGA strikes.“It was actually kind of holding me together,” admits the formerTrue Bloodstar, who lives in the U.S. with costar–turned–wifeAnna Paquinand their12-year-old twins.Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin in 2021.Jon Kopaloff/GettyHe explains, “I’d take the kids to school, and then I’d go play pickleball. And then whenthe picket lines opened, I’d do picketing for the strike, and then go back and do a bit of pickle and then school pick up. It was like school, pickle, strike, pickle, school.“Not event the change from summer sun to wintry weather has stopped him from playing: “The other day we were clearing the snow off of our courts. It was like 34 degrees, and the wind was blowing the ball everywhere. But we still played.“Sanne Gault/Paramount+Moyer, who also directs two episodes ofSexy Beast— in which he plays East London gangster Teddy Bass — says his love of the game possibly stemmed from his youth playing ping pong in Essex, just outside of London.“I grew up playing table tennis right, and there is very little I find as satisfying as when you’re playing really good, competitive table tennis, just the back and forth of it all. Backhand, forehand, backhand forehand. I love it.“As for tennis snobs and pickleball haters? Moyer assumes they just haven’t tried it yet.“Or of course,” he jokes, “those that live next to a court.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Sexy Beastis now streaming on Netflix.
Stephen Moyerhas a passion — a passion for pickleball.
“It’s stupid,” the British actor, 54, says wryly of his obsession. “Just stupid. Yes, I am part of the ‘dink’ cult. I can’t believe it got me,” he says with a laugh.
Moyer — who’s now starring in theSexy Beast, the Paramount+ series that acts as a prequel to the 2001 gangster movie starringBen Kingsley— says that the game was critical in passing the time during the recentSAG-AFTRAandWGA strikes.
“It was actually kind of holding me together,” admits the formerTrue Bloodstar, who lives in the U.S. with costar–turned–wifeAnna Paquinand their12-year-old twins.
Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin in 2021.Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Jon Kopaloff/Getty
He explains, “I’d take the kids to school, and then I’d go play pickleball. And then whenthe picket lines opened, I’d do picketing for the strike, and then go back and do a bit of pickle and then school pick up. It was like school, pickle, strike, pickle, school.”
Not event the change from summer sun to wintry weather has stopped him from playing: “The other day we were clearing the snow off of our courts. It was like 34 degrees, and the wind was blowing the ball everywhere. But we still played.”
Sanne Gault/Paramount+
Moyer, who also directs two episodes ofSexy Beast— in which he plays East London gangster Teddy Bass — says his love of the game possibly stemmed from his youth playing ping pong in Essex, just outside of London.
“I grew up playing table tennis right, and there is very little I find as satisfying as when you’re playing really good, competitive table tennis, just the back and forth of it all. Backhand, forehand, backhand forehand. I love it.”
As for tennis snobs and pickleball haters? Moyer assumes they just haven’t tried it yet.
“Or of course,” he jokes, “those that live next to a court.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Sexy Beastis now streaming on Netflix.
source: people.com
