He loves the theatre, the cinema ("now also TV fiction, when it is very well-made), James Cagney, the Beatles, Lindsay Anderson, Italy, Fellini, "the ironic Liverpool" of his "beautiful" youth, his friend David Grieco. A little less the Rolling Stones, "I thought that Mick Jagger and I were friends, but suddenly, he burned bridges. And I still do not understood why."
Is Rome the life?
I adore it. Not only because I have worked here, in Mortacci by Citti and Caligula by Tinto Brass. It's the cradle of the great history. It's so ancient, nevertheless lively, pulsating. The truth is I will never be home in the city of someone else, like in Rashomon. Thank God! Otherwise, there's no individualism, only homogenization.
Kubrick?
A genius. He was brilliant with me personally, I do not refer to him on the set...
Which work will you introduce at the Festival?
War and Peace, in which I star as Prince Bolkonsky and Jerry Was a man, an
episode of a new TV series made in the US.
From the theatre to the cinema, and now to the TV fiction.
It's a way to tell a story like the other arts. And if it is a colossal
production like War and Peace, it is a very good way.
Do you like Tolstoy?
A lot, and other Russian literature, particularly Chekhov. But I have not attempted to become Bolkonsky for Tolstoy, rather for Matilde Bernabei, the producer. Two years ago in Taormina, I was in a swimming pool, when Matilde greets me with "Good Morning, Prince!" She did not have to fight hard in order to convince me.
What do you think about a Festival dedicated to fiction?
Great! It's a product that has a huge market, it really merits a festival.
Which things have changed from since your debut in if....?
Everything. But we are talking of a natural evolution. When I was much younger we believed and we fought for the ideals. Now there are less ideals, but we live the same. We are excited like before, but in a different way neither better nor worse just different.
You have no nostalgia?
For Heaven's sake! I have a privileged life but I like to look towards the future.
How do you imagine it?
I watch it: in my offspring's eyes.
In the interview book with you, Spagnoli writes that you're one of rare actor that succeeds to recite with the shoulders…
And profile with the feet! I said it! It seems I have a film camera in the brain. But, word of honor, I'm not crazy.
You're also considered an icon.
I'm lucky because up to now nobody has asked me to say grace and I don't know how to do miracles.
How many women have you made fall in love?
Perhaps you want ask me how many times I lost my mind? All those with chemistry, the attraction chose for me. I have taken many slaps, but I pull myself together. Because I don't make the lover, but the actor.
Plans for the future?
A film with my friend David Grieco, next season, in Africa. It's in a language in which there's no need to use translators or to conform because it is free.
Translation © 2007-08 by Alex D. Thrawn for www.MalcolmMcDowell.net