Nigel Havers is an actor with tales to tell. And this month he’ll be telling them in Richmond. Deana Luchia is laughing already...
With a career spanning over five decades, Nigel Havers has anecdotes aplenty. No wonder the 74-year-old is taking his one-man show, Talking B*ll*cks, back on tour. We don’t have long for our phone chat – he’s already done some voice-overs and several interviews today – but it’s more than enough to have me in stitches. Big screen, small screen, stage: Havers has starred in everything from Chariots of Fire to Benidorm, from Coronation Street to Yasmina Reza’s enduringly popular play, Art. And he has the stories to prove it...
What was your worst audition?
The BBC used to have a Radio Rep department, and when I was about 17 or 18 I went to audition for them. I went in and they asked me: “What have you prepared?” I hadn’t prepared anything. I had no idea. So I grabbed a newspaper and read out an article, which was just a ludicrous thing to do, and they said: “Stop! No! No! You can go.”
Who’s been the most interesting character to play?
When I did The Charmer [a 1987 period drama about a charming conman], my character was an absolute bastard. He conned women out of all kinds of things, and eventually he ended up killing one of them. I thought he was so blindingly awful that I just had to play him. It was such fun. What a character to play! It’s always more fun playing villains than good guys.
Are there any roles or scenes that you would like to do again?
I’d like to do another version of Chariots of Fire [he played Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 film] because I loved every moment the first time. The training, becoming an athlete, all the people – I just loved every day of it. I still run, two or three times a week. If I do the long run, it’s seven miles; the shorter one is four and a half.
What has been your funniest role?
The first comedy I did was a series called Don’t Wait Up [a BBC sitcom about a father and son that ran from 1983-90] with Tony Britton. That was just a joy. I suddenly realised that comedy was a lovely thing to do. It’s also the hardest thing to do in many ways, but I treasured learning everything from Tony, who was my tutor. He was everything to me; he taught me how to do it.
Who has been your favourite director?
David Lean. I was in awe of him. In A Passage to India, I wasn’t used to it every day, so I asked if I could sit with him on the days I wasn’t filming. He said: “I’d love you to.” And so I watched him and learnt everything he did. Later, I directed one little film for the BBC [The Real Arnie Griffin, part of a BBC series of dramas, The Afternoon Play] and I loved it. But they never asked me back to do it again. It ties you up for a hell of a long time, but if someone asked me, I’d direct again.
What’s most important for you when considering a new role: location, script, cast or fee?
The script is number one. Location never worried me until I got older, but now I want to know where I’ll be. I don’t want to be far from home, which is to do with getting old. Money: that really doesn’t come into it for me. As for the cast, I don’t mind who I work with.
Even so, who has been your favourite actor to work with?
All of them, but Judi Dench is someone who makes me laugh every time I see her. And when I worked with her, we had such a ball.
Is there anyone you haven’t enjoyed working with?
Not one. Actually, there is one, and she will remain nameless. [He laughs and, without missing a beat, promptly says her name]. Judy Davis. [They worked together on A Passage to India]. It was always all about her.
You worked on the US drama, Brothers and Sisters. What are the main differences between UK and US sets?
In America, the actors don’t collaborate; they’re all sitting on their own in different parts of the room. Here, the actors will all be sitting together, telling stories and making each other laugh. So when the director comes in and says, “We’re ready for you now,” I always reply, “Excuse me, I’m in the middle of a story. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
Nigel Havers is Talking B*ll*cks at Richmond Theatre on April 5. Visit: atgtickets.com The tour returns in the autumn, calling at G Live, Guildford on Oct 26.
