Joseph Gordon-Levitt Says Becoming a Dad Feels Like 'Getting to Live Life Again': 'A Time Machine'

Mar. 15, 2025

Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Photo:Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/Getty

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/Getty

Joseph Gordon-Levittis opening up about one of his favorite aspects of fatherhood.As a guest onThe Drew Barrymore Showon Monday, Sept. 30, the actor, 43, shared one thing he loves about being a dad, after recently revealing that he and wife Tasha McCauleyquietly welcomed their third child, a daughter, nearly two years ago.“One of the things I love about being a dad is that you feel like you’ve gone back in a time machine in a way,” he explained to Barrymore. “You feel like you’re getting to live your life again, but from a different angle.“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.Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Frazer Harrison/GettyHe continued, “Because they’re experiencing so many of the things that I remember experiencing — whether it’s learning to walk or going to school. Or learning a skill and it’s hard at first, but you have to keep working on it and then finally you get it.““But of course, I remember it from my perspective, not from their perspective,” Gordon-Levitt said, excitedly adding, “Now I’m getting to experience it again from the dad perspective!“In addition to their daughter, theBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fstar and McCauley are also parents to two sons, whom they welcomed in August 2015 and June 2017.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Todd Owyoung/NBC via GettyThe proud dad of three appeared on the PBS podcastAmerican Masters: Creative Sparkin July, where he revealed that the couple had welcomed their daughter.“I’m a dad. You know, one of the best parts I think about playing with kids is their lack of inhibition, willingness to just, like, pretend that something else is happening,” Gordon-Levitt said. “Pretend that reality is, is completely something else.““My daughter’s almost 2. She’ll just be perfectly happy to pretend to make eggs. And there are no eggs. She doesn’t care. She doesn’t need convincing VFX,” he continued. “All you have to do is go ‘shhhh’ and a pretend faucet is turned on. It’s water. That I think is a lot of acting and you can just make reality whatever you want to. It’s magic.”

Joseph Gordon-Levittis opening up about one of his favorite aspects of fatherhood.

As a guest onThe Drew Barrymore Showon Monday, Sept. 30, the actor, 43, shared one thing he loves about being a dad, after recently revealing that he and wife Tasha McCauleyquietly welcomed their third child, a daughter, nearly two years ago.

“One of the things I love about being a dad is that you feel like you’ve gone back in a time machine in a way,” he explained to Barrymore. “You feel like you’re getting to live your life again, but from a different angle.”

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.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

He continued, “Because they’re experiencing so many of the things that I remember experiencing — whether it’s learning to walk or going to school. Or learning a skill and it’s hard at first, but you have to keep working on it and then finally you get it.”

“But of course, I remember it from my perspective, not from their perspective,” Gordon-Levitt said, excitedly adding, “Now I’m getting to experience it again from the dad perspective!”

In addition to their daughter, theBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fstar and McCauley are also parents to two sons, whom they welcomed in August 2015 and June 2017.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

The proud dad of three appeared on the PBS podcastAmerican Masters: Creative Sparkin July, where he revealed that the couple had welcomed their daughter.

“I’m a dad. You know, one of the best parts I think about playing with kids is their lack of inhibition, willingness to just, like, pretend that something else is happening,” Gordon-Levitt said. “Pretend that reality is, is completely something else.”

“My daughter’s almost 2. She’ll just be perfectly happy to pretend to make eggs. And there are no eggs. She doesn’t care. She doesn’t need convincing VFX,” he continued. “All you have to do is go ‘shhhh’ and a pretend faucet is turned on. It’s water. That I think is a lot of acting and you can just make reality whatever you want to. It’s magic.”

source: people.com