|
|
 |
Q&A with Keith Allen - Radio Times, June 2007 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Benji Wilson braves an audience with the man behind the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham.
BW: You're appearing on Parkinson
to talk about your new
autobiography. Nervous?
KA: I don't really like doing chat shows.
I find it very difficult to decide who
to talk to - you never quite know
whether you're going to talk to the
audience or the interviewer. I was
a stand-up comic, so I'm used to
performing to an audience. On
chat shows you feel as though
you're ignoring them.
He'll try to get you to talk
about your past. He loves
childhood trauma.
It's all in the book. If I was worried,
it wouldn't be in the book.
Why have you written an
autobiography at the age of 54?
For a great big advance. I was offered
some money to write it. I'd never
really considered it, but it just seemed
like something to do.
Is there something we should
know about? Are you dying?
Not that I know of.
How can you remember any
of the stories when you were
wasted all the time?
I wasn't wasted. I never really took
drugs until I was 34. That's two-thirds
of my life. No, it's not. It's
three-fifths. Anyway, I wasn't wasted
at all. I don't even drink very much.
That's a myth about me. I only
drank for a certain period. Which
was the whole of the 90s.
But before that I was
never wasted, really.
Why did Judi Dench once
threaten to sue you?
I gave a dinner at the Groucho Club.
Strangely, I was giving an example of
how you can get a publisher to prick
up their ears if you come up with a
list of wrongdoings withs which to fill
your memoirs - for example, "I've
slept with Judi Dench". I told the
story and there were various
journalists there. The next thing
there were stories everywhere saying,
"Keith Allen slept with Judi Dench".
Of course, I didn't at all. But that's
why she threatened to sue.
You've done a bit of everything -
writer, director, presenter, singer.
Why have Bafta and the RTS
never given you any awards?
I get the recognition I deserve.
I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham to
a generation of kids [in Robin Hood]
and that's quite a heavy thought.
It's interesting. I don't think I've ever
had mass appeal because the areas
I've worked in have been vaguely
underground. So Robin Hood is
a different kettle of fish altogether.
Is it annoying that your daughter
Lily's more famous than you now?
You're joking! Anything that takes
the edge off me in the press I more
than welcome. Celebrity is a spectator
sport. I just find it tiresome, the s***
that's written about me. I'm not
moaning - I get very good press
as well. It just does make me laugh
at how singularly irresponsible it is.
I read the other day that Lily wept
with me at Diana's funeral. Well, we
weren't there. What a load of drivel.
One final question: some people
think you are - to use your
phrase - "a complete a***hole".
Why would that be?
I don't think people give a f***
about me, to be quite honest. I think
I'm like Marmite - you either love
me or you hate me.
**
Read our interview with Keith Allen and Richard Armitage - or take a look at our full Robin Hood guide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Advertiser link |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EMAIL A FRIEND |
|
| Want to share this page with a friend? It's quick and easy! |
| Email a friend |
|
|
|
|
|
