Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Rupert Everett to our Showsuite at Wallacea Living.
A highly-regarded actor and writer, Rupert spoke to journalist, Phil Hilton, about his super-stardom, how he feels about getting older and his new book, ‘The American No’. Read on for some of the highlights from their fascinating conversation.
You write so well about the inspirations you’ve had through your life. What inspired you to become a performer?
My first visit to the cinema was so different from everyone younger experience, because I had never seen a moving picture. I didn’t have television until Churchill’s funeral when I was about seven but, going to the cinema aged four, and seeing that kind of coral-coloured, silk curtains with the lights coming up, and the atmosphere, (which admittedly did have something kind of sexy about it, which one didn’t quite understand), that was an electrifying experience for me. I don’t think anything has been as good as that really. That, and Julie Andrews playing Mary Poppins. My emotions were so strong, and I don’t think I’ve felt as strong emotions since. The whole experience of going into those huge rooms, those palaces, those provincial cinemas; I mean they were extraordinary things. I think that was what drove me into trying to be a performer.
Do you ever go into the cinema and watch your own movies on the big screen?
I once went with a couple of friends on holiday to Rome and we saw a film of mine playing in the cinema. We were drunk, and we went in and decided that we would take all our clothes off and watch the film in the dark with all these people. It was very embarrassing actually. But, on the whole, no I don’t.
Taking you back to 1984, Bucks Fizz were big in the charts, Heaven night club opened and it was a very big year for Rupert Everett. Could you take us back to that time?
It was the year that I did my first play in the West End, called Another Country. It was originally in a theatre called The Greenwich Theatre, which is a wonderful theatre, and I auditioned to play the lead part, which I got. It was one of those periods in my life where I was given green lights all the way, and it felt like my whole life was going to be a series of green lights. Then, the play went to the West End, and it was a great success. Looking back, it was an amazing moment in time I think, the 80s in London (and the 70s). I miss them very much.
What was success like at that time?
Success is fabulous but also terrifying. AIDS happened at exactly the same time as my initial success. I had moved to London in 1976 and hadn’t wasted much time, you know, making contact with a lot of people. So it was also a very scary time. On the one hand I had fame, and the other I had terror. I think a lot of gay people at that time felt rather like cartoon characters who were running towards the edge of the cliff before falling. I think I became quite impossible in a way, because of these two things: 1) I was always feeling like I was on the edge of catastrophe, and 2) on the edge of super-stardom.
Do you think if you sat opposite that Rupert today that you would get on?
I don’t think I would even recognise him. I was so reckless as a young person and, as we get older, on the whole, we become more careful. The careful you, looks at the reckless you, and thinks, ‘how did you do that?’.
Let’s talk about your looks. You were at one point a Versace model; what are the advantages and disadvantages to your looks over the years?
There are only advantages as far as I can see!
l grew really fast after leaving school. I was like a bean pole. I did think I had quite a nice face sometimes, but I could also see myself as a myopic giraffe, lumbering around. Also, growing so fast, you have to come to terms with height. Normally, it happens slowly to a person, but it happened to me so fast that I was hunched over until I was about 30. I think vanity is about wanting to be more good looking, rather than feeling fabulous.
You’re brilliant on the subject of fame and have been around some incredibly famous people. Is being a global celebrity as much fun as it looks?
Of course it is! You can get a table in a restaurant and quite often, your meal will be free. You get free clothes, discounts in hotels and, if you forget your computer, people come after you saying ‘Mr Everett, your computer’; all that side of it is wonderful.
I think the trick of celebrity is that it’s great on the way up, and it’s not so much fun on the way down. Then, you have to make some pretty tough decisions with yourself, because people immediately start treating you in a different way and, quite often, you want to go on behaving like a very famous person and they don’t accept that. You have to really roll with the punches.
You write very empathetically about women in industry and the pressures on them to remain looking young. Do you think that’s got any easier?
I think it’s very difficult for women. When you come to Hollywood as a young actress, you have to strain every nerve to look sexy and be attractive because, if you’re going out with a couple of producers and they say, ‘you’re like my little sister’, you know you’ve had it. Women have to give out ‘come hither’ signs, but other people have to respect that they can’t take you. It’s a very difficult line to tightrope. The pressure on you to look good, particularly in the older days, is so enormous, and it doesn’t happen to guys.
I read that you’re weaning yourself off wearing tracksuits. What’s your dress philosophy? Where are you now?
Tracksuits again! When you get a little chunkier around the middle, it’s hard to see how people wear trousers without braces, because they’re always falling down! That’s the great thing about elasticated waists; I’m really for them. I love tracksuits. Also, the thing about a tracksuit is that you can have 10 in the same colour; they’re very practical. I love trainers too.
Do you ever go training in your tracksuits? What’s your exercise of choice?
I walk a lot. I do Pilates. All those sorts of things that you can do at Wallacea Living!
Let’s talk about London. You know London so well, where would you recommend?
I love going to the same places. One of the things I love most about my life is that I’ve developed home atmospheres in a lot of towns. And what I love about returning to any of those towns is going straight to the same place, and then going there again, and again, and again. Where I live now in London, there’s Ciao Bella, which is an amazing restaurant to go to.
What’s a recent night out for you?
I’m in bed at half past nine! I take my dogs out at 9pm for a walk and then I turn in. I’m just a dog person really.
Go on, tell us what it is you love about dogs.
Well, they’re vastly superior to human beings to start with. They’re just great companions and endlessly amusing. Once you develop a rapport with another type of animal, it makes you more faithful about life in general. There's communication beyond thoughts, I think that’s very valuable. Because dogs have such a short memory, they live in the moment much more than we do as human beings, so I believe they’re good teachers too.
Do you ever host friends at home?
Not if I can help it! I love restaurants. In a restaurant you can do everything. You can meet people in a restaurant and, if you have a row with them, you can walk out. The time spent at a restaurant table, particularly one that you go to often, where you have a perfect relationship with the staff, is wonderful. That’s the best luxury, going to a restaurant.
Where are you philosophically on the ageing process?
Well, I haven’t had a facelift yet. Sometimes I look at photographs and feel like I’ve got very jowly. I think ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have a facelift?’ but then, they’re very painful, and I’m not into anesthetics very much.
When Botox first started and I lived in Miami, (which was the centre of Botox), I did all of that but, you have to keep going, and because everyone has body image distortion, you never quite see how far it goes. Particularly for men, it can be very difficult. Girls get to wear make-up and frame their face with hair, men don’t really have that, so it’s a difficult thing for guys, I think. It’s better just to get old.
Finally, let’s talk about your book. Tell us about ‘The American No’.
The ‘American no’ is a phrase coined by a friend of mine and it’s what happens when you go for a meeting in Hollywood to pitch your idea. Normally, the meetings go very well and they say ‘Rupert, this is the perfect fit for us. We love you here.” You leave the place walking on air, thinking it’s in the bag, and then you never hear another word. That’s called the ‘American no’.
I was sitting in Soho one afternoon, wondering what to do with the rest of my life, and I came up with the idea of writing down all the stories that I’d pitched over the years to various studios, then at least they’d have some sort of life.
Is there part of you that thinks some of those producers will read these now and at last see their worth?
No, not really. When I was writing them, I started to see why they hadn’t worked, so I kind of felt more sympathetic to the rejection. They’re all a bit ‘out there’ and probably too ‘me’ and not mainstream enough.
They’re very funny - and some are a little naughty. I thought it was a great read and would certainly recommend it!
Rupert’s book is now available to purchase from all good book shops. You will also find it on the shelves in our library at Wallacea Living.
Our interview with Rupert was part of our ‘Live Passionately’ series of events. You can view our upcoming calendar of free events here. To book your place, call our friendly team on 020 3960 1000.
