‘Entourage’ star Adrian Grenier talks about his new role as director--and staying fit

Adrian Grenier’s laid-back attitude and leading-man looks made him an ideal fit for the starring role of Vincent Chase, the young actor who strikes box-office gold on the HBO series “Entourage,” and on June 3, “Entourage” the movie hits theaters, picking up where the TV series ended. So, does Vince marry the woman he just met and impetuously proposed to? “The movie starts … [at] Vince’s wedding party on a yacht,” Grenier reveals, cautioning, with a laugh, “I would hold off getting him any wedding presents at this time.”

Grenier, 38, also is a passionate filmmaker, musician and environmentalist. In 2002, he directed his first film, “Shot in the Dark.” It chronicled his search for his father, a man he had not seen since he was a young boy. “I wanted to explore the necessity of a role model — a father figure,” he says. “I didn’t need to find him as much as I needed to reconcile what he meant in my life.” Today, he considers reconnecting with his father a needed rite of passage. Grenier credits two strong women, his mother and grandmother, for picking up the slack resulting from his father’s absence and instilling honesty and compassion in him.

In March, Leonardo DiCaprio, a longtime environmentalist, helped Grenier get his next documentary, “52: The Search for the Loneliest Whale,” off the ground. The so-called 52-hertz whale was dubbed “the loneliest whale in the world” because it communicates at 52 Hz, a high frequency that is believed to be out of the range of other whales. A $50,000 donation from DiCaprio’s foundation, coupled with crowd-funding, will give Grenier and his team needed money to study ocean-noise pollution and to try to find and film the elusive mammal.

You swam with sharks in Costa Rica. Did you swim in a cage?

No. No cage is necessary. Sharks are very peaceful around humans. If you antagonize or spook them … they will defend themselves. Otherwise, they won’t come after you. … We need sharks. They are so important to the ocean’s ecosystem.

When you are home, what types of exercise do you do?

I like to change it up. I try to exercise three days a week. Lately, I’ve been doing high-intensity interval training. I’m really getting into running and lifting weights. Now and then, I’ll work with a trainer. One of the privileges of living in New York is walking. And exercise makes me feel good.

Do you use any devices to track your workouts?

I got a heart rate monitor so I can push myself and increase my limits. I also use apps so I have something to focus on and tangible goals to strive for. They keep it interesting and allow me to track my progress.

What kinds of foods do you choose? Do you cook?

I try to eat a balance of quality foods and like to explore a range of flavors. I enjoy slowly savoring the moment and every bite of food. Otherwise, it’s too easy to consume empty calories without even remembering it. I love to cook. My mom’s brown rice salad is one of my favorites. I add steamed or parboiled julienned vegetables and serve it cold on romaine lettuce.

What do you do to relax?

I don’t formally meditate anymore. I used to, but I got too distracted. Music relaxes me. … I’m also a big proponent of napping.

health@latimes.com