One of Mr. Billington's last interviews before he passed away in 2005 was given to PHASE II.
INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL BILLINGTON
Q. What can you tell us about one of your first roles on "United" in 1965?
Q. In 1970 you landed the role of "Paul Foster" on UFO. How did you wind up getting that
part?
Q. How did you approach playing "Col. Foster"? And, were or are you a fan of science
fiction?
I hadn’t seen much Science Fiction but I did like Forbidden Planet when I was a ‘kid’ and I
remember vividly The Day The Earth Stood Still. Both films made a strong impression on
me and still try to catch them in re runs on T.V.
Q. Gerry Anderson had already built up a reputation as a producer of successful television
shows at the time. Was this a comfort to you being in a show produced by him?
Q. What was your overall experience working on UFO? Any interesting stories about being
on the set or working with the special effects and props?
Q. Did you happen to stay in touch with any of the crew or cast of UFO (Ed Bishop,
Gabrielle Drake, Gerry Anderson)?
Q. UFO still has a huge fan following and you attend the conventions frequently. What are
your thoughts on why it's lasted as long as it has?
Q. The DVDs for UFO are out and they have been remastered and the episodes look better
than ever. Have you seen the new prints and do you still watch the show sometimes?
Q. You did a guest star spot on 'The Prisoner" in 1967. This is another show that has
developed a big following over the years. How was it working with Patrick McGoohan?
Q. In 1973 the mini-series "War and Peace" came along in which you portrayed "Lt. Berg".
This was a rather epic series with a huge star-studded cast. Did this help propel your acting
career? Did bigger offers come your way because of that?
Q. In 1977 James Bond (Roger Moore) shot you- KGB agent "Sergei Barsov" in "The Spy
Who Loved Me" in the powerful opening sequence. Landing a role in a Bond film is quite an
accomplishment. You've read for the James Bond role before, how did you wind up in this
007 outing?
Q. Having read for the Bond character in the past and not getting it, if you had gotten
the role, how would you liked to have played him if given that freedom with the role?
Q. There is a lot of coincidence surrounding you and the James Bond movies and actors.
Such as reading for Bond at times, then acting as a Bond villain, beating out Timothy Dalton
(another Bond) for the role in "KGB: The Secret War". Tell us, have you ever had an
interest in being a secret agent?
Q. You provided the voice of the "Deputy Inspector" in the little known animated film "Flicks"-
a kind of funny Saturday morning matinee parody. What is it like acting with just your voice
only?
Q.You've guest starred on a lot of British and American television (The Prisoner, The
Protectors, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island, Magnum P.I.). What did you notice was the
biggest difference between performing in the U.K. as compared to the U.S.?
Thank you for this interview Mr. Billington, we appreciate it very much.
by Barry King
A. United was a "soap" about Football which went on the air twice a week for the B.B.C in
which I played the "replacement" Goalkeeper. It was done on the early video tape system in
1966 so it allowed me to see myself on the screen in a long two handed scene for the first
time. It also allowed me to practise my football skills and judging by my performances in the
first couple of episodes I was a far better goalkeeper than actor. I was shocked how little
emphasis I gave to the lines and how casual I seemed on the screen. I really wasn’t
convincing at all. Also, I was not good at accommodating the wishes of the actress who
played my wife who was far more experienced than I was so the tension between us was
evident. I suppose I was thinking that I was a 'method' actor but now, having taught it in my
later career I see now how far I was away from ‘being’ it. I had clearly seen too many Marlon
Brando films. The writers soon latched onto this and my wife and my marriage quickly was
'on the rocks'; a sure sign that we were on our way out of the show. Once I was told that my
contract wasn't to be renewed, I relaxed and almost over night my performance became
‘real ‘ and ‘convincing’. The Producer was shocked by the sudden improvement but not
enough to reverse his decision so after three months I was back on the streets. The trainer
of the professional football club who trained us, the actors; suggested that I should trial for
the team as a ‘keeper’ but my mind was made up; I wanted to carry on acting. Not sure I
would make the same decision today!
A. The role of Paul Foster came by chance. The series was in Production and it was decided
to change one of the Actors, mainly because he had a strong accent which might not have
registered well with American Audiences. Sylvia Anderson saw a photograph of me and
thought I might be right as a replacement. Tests were held and I got the role.
A. I hadn't played a serious lead character before so it was a bit of a challenge .It took some
time to get the right 'look' and in that time I developed the character along with the writers to
be a sort of embryonic James Bond; with a kind of neutral accent and without the private
gentlemen’s club dimension. The rest I suppose was me as I was then, bit of a 'rough
diamond'.
A. I knew the success Sylvia and Gerry had had with Thunderbirds and I knew that they
knew what they were doing. Everything seemed pretty well planned so I just ‘dug in’ and
left it to them.
A. I really didn’t involve myself with anything else except the playing of my role and knowing
my lines. Each script as it arrived was a complete surprise and rarely got changed. It was
all pretty straightforward. Some days were harder than others, especially on Moonbase
which was very hot and very technical. O'‘like a parrot' and I can still quote them to this day.
A. I have stayed in contact with Sylvia Anderson and I consider her one of my closest
friends. I occasionally see Ed Bishop and met up with Gabrielle a couple of years ago,
but that's all. We all pretty well went our separate ways after the series ended.
A. I think the reason it has remained popular is the imaginative detailed model work and the
fact that nearly all the stories are 'character driven'. It took a lot of courage to make
episodes like ‘Kill Straker’ which is really a two hander between Ed and Myself, and
the episode 'A Question of Priorities' which was really all Ed.
A. I have the D.V.D. box set but I must admit to not having seen it. Maybe my son will show
it to his kids one day? Apart from clips at conventions I don’t get to see it much.
A. I have nothing but praise for Patrick McGoohan. I did not experience any difficulties
working with him on The Prisoner, although I really didn't have much of a part, mainly
fighting which was a pleasure for me to do. It gets the tension out of the body; and actors
like to physicalize their roles as much as possible, I think. The direction he gave me was
minimal and effective, as though the master craftsman was instructing his apprentice in
clear terms. I'd like to have worked more with him but unfortunately it didn't happen ever.
A. War and Peace came along as a surprise as I did not have to audition for it. I was
overwhelmed at the prospect of doing something so 'lofty' and although my role was
not large it was unlike me and I would have to characterise it, which I relished. I also
got to see Anthony Hopkins up close and was very impressed with his Pierre; a far cry
from Hannibal Lector which I’m sorry but I can't take too seriously. It’s pure comedy!
I can't say it did anything for my career. In fact I can’t think of any one role that
propelled me upwards; it was always in small, progressive steps and it stopped short of its
ultimate goal; to make intelligent and meaningful movies. I never got there.
A. Cubby tested me for Live and Let Die and liked what I did. Not enough to give me the
role though. He said I was too young and maybe I'd get a shot at it later; but like all things
there is a right and a wrong time. Live and Let Die, Man With The Golden Gun and
Moonraker would have been perfect for me and my type of acting. Everything that
followed after wouldn't have been. The Bond Films changed organically. However,
Cubby called me up to do the small role in The Spy Who Loved Me in what probably
is the most famous sequence in any Bond film so in that way my thumbnail sketch of
Bond (with a Russian Accent) is immortalised on the big screen. A modest glimpse
of what might have been perhaps?
A. The Bond Producers have dug up one or two of my old screen tests and plan to
use them in the Additions for Moonraker and onwards. Their comments, and I haven’t
seen them, is that they have a nice 'edge'; whatever that means? I suppose My Bond
would have been that way and I would have been very happy with that.
A. K.G.B The Secret War was a joy for me to work on. It was close to doing what I'd always
wanted to do; make small movies with young directors. Unfortunately, The film didn't work
out well in sales, I think because something’ more Bondlike’ was expected from me but the
director wanted to get as far away from Bond as Possible. He certainly succeeded, but the
film lacked any big sequences and was not drawn on a large enough canvas to satisfy true
'spy' fans; however it was an honest try on a tiny budget. The only reason I got the role over
Timothy, by the way, is I didn't ask as much money as him. Did I ever like the idea of being
a Spy? Well... It might have been interesting.
A. You know I have never seen 'Flicks'- I didn’t even know it was a cartoon. When I did it was
a live action film starring Martin Mull and Joan Hackett; so how we became 'pen and ink'
amazes me!
A. Working in England gives you more time. The Brits like to rehearse so it's usually built
into the schedule. You can do a guest role in the U.S. and never see many of the other
cast members and your dialogue can be changed 'over lunch' just before the camera turns.
It's the perfect way to get indigestion! You never really feel you have developed much of a
character, but then Americans cast almost entirely to 'type' - that’s because they have so
many actors to choose from!
