Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Film Festival (www.sbfilmfestival.org) were honoring one of their own, a true living Legend: Kirk Douglas. We met with Mister Douglas and reflected about is long life, his achievements and what it means to be Alive and Kicking in the XXIst century.

Q: You already have so many Awards and now an Award named after you at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, how do you feel about it ?

Kirk: Well, it’s overwhelming! I guess that if you wait long enough and live long enough you get all the Awards! The secret is to keep living and not worry to much about tomorrow. But being honored in Santa Barbara is very special for me because I have a son living here and I do live here from time to time. My wife and I also have 4 grand-children living here, so this town feels like family to me.

Q: What is the scret of your longetivity? What keeps you going?

Kirk: ….hum…work! And of course you need to be lucky in that process. Look at me, I had a stroke, I have two new knees, but I keep going and going. And you need to be thankful for the life you get. You need to be appreciative.

Q: What movie would you like to put in a time capsule? A film that represents you the best?

Kirk: Well, all my movies are a work of passion, they all represent a little bit of me. It’s a tough question. I guess that I would need to pick “Spartacus”. Because this film truly represents the fight you need to lead in life to be a free man. It’s about finding and choosing your own destiny. And looking at my life, this is really how I created my own destiny.

Q: You’re also very much involved with charities, what motivates you in that domain?

Kirk: Work is important, but working for and helping other people is even more important. I realize every day how important it is to help each other, especially with what’s going on in this world right now. My son Michael is also very much involved with charities and I think he is doing a great job. If you can, do give and do help! The more I think about it the more I think we are here to help other people.

Q: You’re such an inspiration for many actors today but who was your inspiration?

Kirk: John Barrymore… such an inspiration, and a great actor.

Q: Life is a journey and you have written so well about it in your many books, like “Climbing the Mountain”, what is the greatest lesson you have learned from life?

Kirk: That you are just a grain of sand in the universe, and your time is limited, so you have to make the most of it. And to make it the most of it is to give and help other people.

Q: What are you the most proud of in your life?

Kirk: For sure I’m the most proud of my sons. And I’m proud of the fights I have lead for various charities and political causes.