paulkirkley

Richard E Grant: “I’ve outlived my father by 10 years, so every year is a bonus.”

Shortly after turning 40, Richard E Grant received some sobering advice from the former Hollywood child star Roddy McDowall. ‘He said, “Your roles are going to get smaller, whatever recognition you have will diminish, and the money you have in the bank will decrease,”’ recalls Grant. ‘That made an indelible impression on me.’ Indeed, byContinue reading “Richard E Grant: “I’ve outlived my father by 10 years, so every year is a bonus.””

Nicola Walker: ‘I looked, but I couldn’t find any other children of scrap metal dealers at Cambridge…’

In a Soho hotel, Nicola Walker is considering whether her ‘feisty face’ (her description, not ours) has been good for her career. ‘I’ve often played women who are downtrodden, or who are incapable of love, but I would hope I’ve never played them like that,’ she muses. ‘The character I played in A View fromContinue reading “Nicola Walker: ‘I looked, but I couldn’t find any other children of scrap metal dealers at Cambridge…’”

Michael Parkinson: “You’re only remembered for your mistakes. That’s why fame isn’t worth a dime.”

‘I hate this phrase “professional Yorkshireman”,’ says Michael Parkinson. ‘I really do not know what it means. Do I get paid for being a Yorkshireman? No. Am I proud of being a Yorkshireman? Yes. ‘Yorkshire people are a bit like Texans,’ he adds. ‘We’re the biggest piece of the country – a beautiful county that’sContinue reading “Michael Parkinson: “You’re only remembered for your mistakes. That’s why fame isn’t worth a dime.””

Trevor and Simon: “Looking back, we’re a bit surprised at some of the things we got away with…”

TV Heroes: They didn’t do duvets, but pant-swinging was virtually a legal requirement. The Saturday morning comedy legends talk celebrity freak-outs, skateboarding squirrels, overstepping the mark and inventing TV’s original (and best) Don Draper. “We were on the front of Radio Times once,” says Simon Hickson, as Trevor Neal, his comedy partner of some 30Continue reading “Trevor and Simon: “Looking back, we’re a bit surprised at some of the things we got away with…””

Michael Praed: “Robin of Sherwood holds up, but if you watched Dynasty now, you’d p*** yourself laughing”

TV Heroes: Michael Praed found fame as TV’s best Robin Hood, before quitting for an ill-fated stint on Broadway – and marriage in a hail of bullets in front of 60 million people. It was some “crazy shit”, he tells Paul Kirkley. Michael Praed has just described Liam Neeson as “an absolute bastard to workContinue reading “Michael Praed: “Robin of Sherwood holds up, but if you watched Dynasty now, you’d p*** yourself laughing””

Honor Blackman: “I hate the term ‘Bond girl’. Bond girls were those ladies who took one look at Bond and fell on their backs.”

Honor Blackman is used to sophisticated banter with sophisticated men. Whether trading dry bon mots with the urbane John Steed or holding her own in a sexually-charged battle of wits with James Bond, she gives as good as she gets, and doesn’t suffer fools gladly. So I’m glad I’ve done my research. And as BlackmanContinue reading “Honor Blackman: “I hate the term ‘Bond girl’. Bond girls were those ladies who took one look at Bond and fell on their backs.””

Adam Ant: “I think I died. A part of me died. And that will never come back.”

The Adam Ant story is remarkable even when pared down to its bare, sleeve-note essentials. To wit: London art student Stuart Goddard forms punk outfit Adam and the Ants, who cause a bit of a stir with the sort of fetishist lyrics and imagery you might expect from a band managed over-the-shop at Malcolm McLarenContinue reading “Adam Ant: “I think I died. A part of me died. And that will never come back.””

Amy Winehouse: “It’s kind of crazy the stuff that’s suddenly become available to me.”

Amy Winehouse has built her reputation, one way or the other, on what comes out of her mouth. Firstly, there’s The Voice – the one that unsuspecting listeners to her startlingly assured debut album, Frank, could be forgiven for assuming belongs to a middle-aged black woman who’s lived a bit, loved a bit and lostContinue reading “Amy Winehouse: “It’s kind of crazy the stuff that’s suddenly become available to me.””