Much-loved actor Nigel reveals the sage advice he was given by Michael Caine, how he stays healthy, and his love of panto
● Private Lives is a very funny play about love and friendship. I love acting opposite Patricia Hodge. I play Elyot while she plays his ex-wife Amanda. They meet again while honeymooning in the South of France with their new spouses. Patricia is the perfect Amanda.
● We toured the play last year and I formed my own theatre company to put it on. I chose Private Lives because I’d never done the play. I’d been asked a few times but never been free.
● Michael Caine once gave me some very good advice. He said the secret to a long career is never to turn anything down. I was working with Michael years ago, and he said, “I’ve never turned anything down in my life”.
● I’m still learning. I’ve learned a lot from just doing this play. The thing is, you kick off a career, and you don’t really know how to do it. So it’s best to do as much as you can. With every job you learn a bit more.
● Reality TV is not for me. I will never do another television reality show after I’m A Celebrity… in 2010. My wife Georgiana was furious I did in the first place. One of the reasons I left was because I knew she wasn’t happy about it – even though she never saw it, as she was in Africa at the time. Another reason was that I wasn’t enjoying it and life’s too short. Another was Lembit Opik! I’d never do another.
Private Lives is playing at the Ambassadors’ Theatre until November 25. See www.atgtickets.com
AgeIsBut ANumber
I used to be terrified and in denial about age. No
