Did you ever think you would enjoy such a long, illustrious acting career? VerulamiumParkRanger This is a very quick answer: no. It’s amazing to think that I left drama school in 1960 and Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner came out in 1962. It’s so amazing, I can’t believe it. How has your understanding of the acting process changed with age? RoderickMI I’m not sure he has. Touch wood, it becomes easier to deal with your nerves. Am I still nervous? I think you should, really. I couldn’t imagine the first day on set not being nervous. But the older I get, the less crippling it is. Doctor Zhivago seems to have been as epic as the story itself. Do you have any anecdotes or memories? rapph My great scene was at the back of the train. People say, “Oh, that’s iconic, that!” It took two days to film because [director] David Lean couldn’t decide what to wear. I could tell he didn’t pull it close enough. David never made choices. he just edited as he went along. In order for the audience to understand that the student was now the leader of the revolution, they had to clearly see his scar up close. But I wouldn’t say to David Lynn – ‘Hey David, shouldn’t he be closer?’ – because what did I know? When we went through the whole rigmarole again, with David having decided what to wear, he pulled it close. So that’s my basic Zhivago anecdote. Did you see any of yourself in the character of Billy Liar? Arleneforster I remember when I did it on stage: I took over from Albert [Finney] and there was a bit about how grateful Billy is for his scholarship. When I went to school [Kingston High in Hull], always reminded me how lucky I was. I was not making good money because my very loving parents wanted me to be educated. When Albert came to see me—fortunately, I didn’t know he was ahead because it was a matinee—he said, “You’re going to have trouble with that grateful speech, aren’t you?” I couldn’t finish it. I was very tired. So that was the closest emotional point of both Billy’s experience and mine. Why the hell didn’t you get on the train with Julie Christie? I know I would have given it half a chance! peter10b Tell you why I didn’t get on the train with Julie Christie? Because it was in the script! The script read, “Billy doesn’t get on the train.” So what would I do? Have they changed it? You appeared in some great films in the 1960s, but then did little film or television work in the 70s. Was it a deliberate choice? Obo1971 I made a film called A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich which I thought was beautiful, but no one else was very interested, which was a big disappointment. So I got away with it a bit. I continued to do theater, so the plays kept coming. So it was kind of half on purpose, half by accident. I had a feeling something would come back. My friend, [playwright] Ronald Harwood, he cast me as Norman in The Dresser. afterward [director and producer] Peter Yates acquired the film rights. I remember Michael Caine telling me they wanted Orson Welles, but luckily Peter cast me with Albert [Finney]. And that’s when I returned to the film world. Your career seems to have moved effortlessly between comedy and drama. Your recent turn on Diane Morgan’s Mandy made me laugh out loud. Do you have a preference? Johnnybi First, let me thank Johnnybi, because I’ve heard about my little show on Mandy from nobody. So, I’m very encouraged that he laughed a lot. I thought it was funny. I think Diane is great and I wanted to be in one of her pieces. As for: do I have a preference? I like to be funny these days – now that I’m old. But they go side by side, like in The Dresser. What was it like working with Caroline, Craig and the gang in the Royle family? Did you specifically learn the ukulele? DeJongandtherestless and ThankYouJohn I was so nervous because my piece wasn’t really written so I had to do it with confidence. My wife said, “You have to be on the Royle Family Christmas Special.” I had so much fun playing Craig Cash’s idiot father. Finally, there was a character even more stupid than Craig. we never stopped laughing. As for Caroline: gosh, I’m glad I did, because she was so talented. Her performance when she’s upset about eating Christmas lunch because the turkey wasn’t cooked… I still remember it to this day. I already played the ukulele. My wife bought me one for Christmas. Then I got obsessed, threw away the cheap one from my wife and bought six expensive ones. We had a little company with Harry Hill, [actor and musician] Richard Lumsden, Humphrey Ocean the painter and [singer/songwriter/ukulele player] Steven Sproat as our teacher. We drank wine, ate a big pie and practiced the ukulele. We haven’t done it in a while so I stopped exercising. But I’m sure I’ll pick it up again one night and sing a little to myself. What is the best advice you have been given? alexHDEasy: when turning, never stand when you can sit and never sit when you can lie down. Especially when you’re in your 80s. Who is your favorite person to have worked with? 25 aubrey With Maggie Smith (left) in Quartet. Photo: BBC Films/Sportsphoto/Allstar I loved Celia Johnson. We did a BBC show in 1968, Ghosts, with Donald Wolfit and Fulton Mackay, but the stupid fans wiped it out. The BBC reused the footage instead of saving it, so only a tiny clip remains. I liked Maggie Smith when we did the Quartet in 2012. And Albert [Finney]of course, in The Dresser, and in a BBC adaptation of A Rather English Marriage with Joanna Lumley about these two old boys who are widowed almost at the same time. Is there a character you’d like to play on screen or in the theater but never got the chance? September Moon, I can’t think of one. James Bond? Yes. Let’s say Bond, but it’s not true! There was a dinner with – who is today’s Bond? Daniel Craig – for a movie we were both in [2007’s The Golden Compass]. Nicole Kidman was there and I said, “I’m going to do a little trick on him.” So I started talking about how I had rejected Bond because I wasn’t ready to do the work in the gym. And you know? – and I thought it was so charming – he was a little annoyed. Believe me. So I thought, ‘What a great guy,’ and I said, ‘Daniel, I’m pulling your leg.’ How was filming The Railway Children Return? Mr. Blancmange Well, I’ve been talking about it all day today. I am very happy to be in it. It’s a sweet movie. It’s not that fantastic a piece, but it’s nice. Has your working-class accent ever been a reason for rejection? Ever been tempted to go the Ian McKellen route and adopt the received accent? Do you think it’s easier now for working class people to get into acting? gin007 and Mary7KamIan McKellen? I don’t think I want to give him any publicity, thank you very much! Railway Children Return is in theaters from July 15
