(Theodore Wood/Camera Press/Retna Ltd.)
Bee Movie star Jerry Seinfeld says that studying Scientology made him a better performer -- and not because it gave him some good material.
The 53-year-old comedian tells Parade magazine that a teacher in high school turned him onto the religion almost 30 years ago. "It was interesting. Believe it or not...it's extremely intellectual and clinical in its approach to problem-solving, which really appealed to me."
Though Seinfeld has not continued with Scientology, he tells Parade that it helped him get his start in comedy. "In my early years of stand-up, it was very helpful. I took a couple of courses. One of them was in communication, and I learned some things about communication that really got my act going."
Could the same be said for the rest of Scientology's Hollywood devotees? The Church counts musician Beck, John Travolta, and of course, Tom Cruise, among its members. Seinfeld explains that as an entertainer, Scientology "really helped me onstage to understand how you have to invade the space of the audience a little bit...Not too much, because then it's obnoxious. But you can't be short of them either, or you won't control them."
Another draw for Seinfeld -- the gadgets. "They have a lot of very good technology," he tells Parade. "That's what really appealed to me about it. It's not faith-based. It's all technology. And I'm obsessed with technology."
But a representative for the 'Bee Movie' star said: "He is not studying Scientology in any way at this time. He did attend a course 30 years ago that he found interesting but he is Jewish and not changing his religion or faith in any direction.
"Jerry and Tom Cruise both have homes in Telluride, Colorado, which is their connection."
