Rupert shares stories from his performances in The Happy Prince, Another Country, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Ideal Husband, Ready to Wear, Unconditional Love, The Next Best Thing, The Comfort of Strangers, Dunston Checks In, Shrek, and Stage Beauty in this interview about his acting career. He recounts working with Colin Firth, Bob Dylan, Robert Altman, living in Paris, and working in Hollywood compared to Europe in this Q&A moderated by Lesley O’Toole. This interview is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting.
Rupert Everett currently stars in THE HAPPY PRINCE. He first appeared on stage in 1981 as Guy Bennett in the West End production of Julian Mitchell’s play ANOTHER COUNTRY, a role which he repeated, alongside Colin Firth, in the 1984 film version directed by Marek Kanievska which saw him nominated for a BAFTA as Best Newcomer To Film.
Rupert followed up with another British film, 1985’s DANCE WITH A STRANGER, with Miranda Richardson and Ian Holm, in which he played the lover of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hanged in Britain. His first American role was in 1987’s HEARTS OF FIRE, co-starring Bob Dylan.
Rupert’s other film appearances include THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS, PRÊT-À-PORTER, THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, INSPECTOR GADGET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE NEXT BEST THING, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, STAGE BEAUTY and STARDUST. He is the voice of Prince Charming in the SHREK cycle.
Rupert lived in France between 1986 and 1996 and made LES LUNETTES D’OR with Philippe Noiret and Stefania Sandrelli, THE CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD directed by Francesco Rosi, co-starring Ornella Muti, Gian Maria Volonté and Irene Papas, QUIET FLOWS THE DON directed by Sergei Bondarchuk and the cult classic DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE.
In 1997, Everett’s role in MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING won him both Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for his performance as Julia Roberts’ confidante. In 2007 Rupert played both Camilla and Carnaby Fritton in a role originally made famous by Alastair Sim in 1954’s THE BELLES OF ST TRINIAN’S. The resulting film, ST TRINIAN’S was followed by a sequel in 2009, ST TRINIAN’S: THE LEGEND OF FRITTON’S GOLD.
He has worked extensively in the theatre appearing on Broadway and in London’s West End. His performance as Oscar Wilde in David Hare’s 2014 production of THE JUDAS KISS earned him the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play. Other theatre credits include PYGMALION, THE VORTEX, BLITHE SPIRIT and AMADEUS.
Everett’s television work ranges from PARADES END to PRINCESS DAISY. He played Sherlock Holmes and is currently appearing as Dr. Hendrick in the hit television comedy QUACKS. He also appeared in the award winning series BLACK MIRROR.
Rupert has written two novels and two memoirs as well as articles for The Observer, The Times, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair.
In 2008, his documentary THE VICTORIAN SEX EXPLORER retraced the steps of Sir Richard Burton, the infamous author, explorer and sexual adventurer. He followed this with a series about Lord Byron, another called LOVE FOR SALE and most recently, FIFTY SHADES OF GAY celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of homosexual decriminalization in the UK.
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Beginnings in acting
7:28 Citizen’s Theater in Glasgow
9:30 Another Country, Colin Firth
3:26 Princess Daisy, impressions of Hollywood
15:12 Dance with a Stranger, homophobia
18:58 Hearts of Fire, Bob Dylan
21:41 Music
25:02 The Comfort of Strangers
27:08 Ready to Wear, Robert Altman
28:55 My Best Friend's Wedding
32:05 Unconditional Love, The Next Best Thing, career downturns
34:42 The Importance of Being Earnest, The Ideal Husband
38:29 Dunston Checks In
40:26 Shrek, Stage Beauty
42:20 What you wish you’d known
44:21 Living in Paris
47:14 The Happy Prince
52:59 Colin Firth
57:00 Acting while directing
1:01:37 Back in Hollywood, what’s next