Jeff Goldblum: 'I'm on the Brink of My Best Work'

Jeff Goldblum's 12-episode show The World According to Jeff Goldblum is a new documentary series about the subjects that capture his childlike curiosity: ice cream, swimming pools, tattoos, sneakers. “We focused on things that triggered a personal, little dreamy thought,” says Goldblum. He gives AARP his thoughts on aging, childhood and his career.

His show's most surprising discovery

We went to this enormous pool at the Houston NASA lab, so big there's a replica of the International Space Station at the bottom. Two women were suiting up to spend six hours underwater and simulate weightlessness. I went in the water with them, and it was just unbelievably inspiring and touching.

Tastiest food episodes

For the ice cream episode, I went to an ice cream social on an aircraft carrier. We did an episode on barbecue, and there's a place that farms crickets as an alternative protein. We barbecued some, and that was surprising.

Late bloomer

My acting teacher Sandy Meisner said it takes 20 years to call yourself an actor, and a lifetime of being a student. I think I'm on the brink of my best work acting-wise and music-wise. I play [piano] every day. The more I learn, the more I see of what I need to learn. Even simple things. Sometimes I go, “You know, I think I'm brushing my teeth better than I ever have."

Curious little Goldblums

I was thrilled to go to school as a kid. I was a good student, curious about nature and many things. I guess it's just in us — I have a couple of kids now, 4-year-old and 2-year-old boys. Amongst all the other things they bring, they're wildly inquisitive.

People with Jeff Goldblum tattoos

People come up to me at my jazz gigs and show me tattoos they have of me. It's hilarious and very sweet. I get a kick out of it. I feel lucky and grateful to have had a career I love and some movies that are popular, and people like some of the characters in them.

On aging

It's just a number. I live a clean life. I like to go to bed early and be wholesome and eat well. I've never smoked. I don't drink much. Luckily, everything's still working.

Retirement plans

I don't really think about it. For as long as I can see ahead of me, I'm going to contribute whatever I can and do something very challenging. I don't know how I'll feel in a while, but right now I have more of an appetite than ever to do more and more.

His show's lesson

That you have to keep learning. The reason time seems to go so slowly when you're young is because of a strange makeup of our brains whereby if we're learning a lot every day, it slows time down. Whereas if you're going through the motions or you're learning less, time speeds up on you. So be present, be spontaneous. Enjoy the moment, enjoy yourself and learn.

How to watch it: The World According to Jeff Goldblum will stream on Disney+, available starting Nov. 12 on disneyplus.com, iOS, Apple TV (tvOS), Google Chromecast, Android, Android TV, PlayStation 4, Roku and Xbox One. A free year of Disney+ is available to new and existing Verizon Unlimited and new Fios Home Internet customers.