he Third -. Charming
‘ROBERT DE NIRO ALWAYS HAS THE SAME EXPRESSION. EVEN IN HIS GREAT ROLES
HE IS WEIRD'
He says that the public persona of him is invariably wrong. ‘I’ilm actors get reputations for the parts that they play.‘ he says. 'No one really knows them. It‘s not like being on the TV. where you are in the press the whole time. As a film actor. you‘re only out once or twice a year and people don‘t get a view of what you‘re like. really.~
What sets liverett apart as an interviewee. and what is clear in his book. is that he isn’t afraid to say what he thinks. In Stardust he doesn‘t share any screen-time with Robert De Niro. but says that he wasn‘t too bothered about acting with one of the great actors of our time. Iiverett instead reveals: ‘l'd much rather work with Shirley Macl.aine. De Niro always has the same expression. I never understand when people say De Niro lives the characters: I think he is the same all the time. liven in his great roles. he is kind of weird.‘
Iivcrett‘s childhood was his ‘innocencc‘. The ‘plotting‘ phase came when he decided that the wanted to be an actor. Alter being kicked out of London's Central School of Speech and Drama for clashing with teachers. be found a setting better suited to his personality at (ilasgow‘s (‘itilens‘ Theatre. His performances attracted attention and his fame rocketed after Another (‘uuntry moved from stage to screen.
age of
His rebellious streak caused him to clash with the press. When he came out in 1989 he helped challenge the once commonly held perception that you couldn‘t be openly gay and a star. By this time he had entered what he calls his ‘maniacal‘ phase. running around between modelling gigs. acting and writing.
In his book. Iiverett says he only made inroads into the ‘queen‘ stage when he starred in mega bit My Best Friend '5‘ Wedding. the film that took his popularity Stateside. By 2004 he found himself cast to do the voice of Prince Charming in Shrek 2. He quips: ‘I guess they just saw what a self-involved vain person I was and thought. “That‘s the one“.‘
Iiverett’s all-consuming involvement in the making of St Trinian's. combined with the success of his autobiography. has given him a hunger to be more of a creative force behind projects. ‘I‘ve always wanted to combine writing with my work on the screen. which is what I’m doing at the moment. I‘d love to be able to write my own roles. The trouble with that. though. is that you need to have the opposite of the kind of attention deficit disorder that l have. You have to be able to focus on an idea for seven to eight years.‘
liverett plans to appear on the London stage next year as well as writing another biography. As I leave I‘m surprised to hear the actor shouting after me — ‘I hope I wasn't too much of a disappointment!‘ Perhaps Everett has just entered his ‘humble’ period.
Stardust is at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on 21 8: 23 Aug and on general release from Fri 19 Oct. St Trinian’s is out on Fri 21 Dec. Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins is out now
FILMSPECIAL
15' TOCATCH
Whether you want action, adventure, romance, sci-ti, European drama, animation, comedy, true stories or family fun, you’ll find it in our round-up of the best movies out in the coming months
EVAN ALMIGHTY
This sequel to Bruce Almighty continues with the conceit of the (literally) interventionist God. and this time the deity taps on the shoulder of Congressman Evan Baxter, played by Steve The 40 Year Old Virgin Carell. If that piece of casting seems inspired. then so too is the ever-demure Morgan Freeman as the omnipotent one himself. As if the original tale didn't wind up enough fundamentalist Christians, this installment is being billed as “a comedy of biblical proportions’. a reference to the fact that the storyline involves God asking Evan to build an ark in anticipation of a giant flood.
ETA 3 August
SERAPHIM FALLS
There are plum roles for big-hitters Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan in this gracefully-named tale of revenge in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War. Given that director David Von Ancken's province is that of the high-end American television thriller, handling the treachery and suspense of minds gripped by the desire for vengeance should present no great difficulty. Whether he’ll successfully evoke the story’s Specific setting and historical period, however, remains to be seen.
ETA 3 August
THE WALKER A fine cast comes together for this story of high- society intrigue on the Potomac. Woody Harrelson is an escort to DOS upper-crust ladies. and all seems to be going swimmineg until he becomes embroiled in a rather nasty murder case. The appearances of Kristin Scott Thomas. Willem Dafoe. Lauren Bacall and Ned Beatty suggest that The Walker might be a hot contender for an award from the Academy when the time comes. A stylish, bankable feature.
ETA 10 August >>>
19 Jul—2 Aug 2007 THE LIST 13