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Both you and your sister are actors. Does it run in your family?
No, not at all. I don't know where it comes from. We both did it in school. There was a lot of local drama in our area – a lot of local drama in our area that was very vibrant, and very attractive to us as kids. We just got caught up in that. I think that's really to blame.
Your big break was in the film Cal, in 1984. What ever happened to the actress [Helen Mirren] that you were playing opposite in that?
[Laughs] I don't know, she didn't amount to much. I was thrilled when she won the Oscar the other day – I went to see The Queen three months ago, and she's just fantastic in the film. She's a terrific actress.
No, not at all. I don't know where it comes from. We both did it in school. There was a lot of local drama in our area – a lot of local drama in our area that was very vibrant, and very attractive to us as kids. We just got caught up in that. I think that's really to blame.
Your big break was in the film Cal, in 1984. What ever happened to the actress [Helen Mirren] that you were playing opposite in that?
[Laughs] I don't know, she didn't amount to much. I was thrilled when she won the Oscar the other day – I went to see The Queen three months ago, and she's just fantastic in the film. She's a terrific actress.
You've also co-starred with, among others, Robert DeNiro. Do you ever get star struck when you kind of act with people like that?
I did with DeNiro. He's just such a major star. He was great though. Very much about the work, very professional. He's somebody I've admired for a long long time, like a lot of people. That was great for me, getting to work with him.
You played a very unsympathetic character in Sliding Doors. Did you ever get a hard time from people after that?
The odd time I did. The odd woman would say something to me jokingly if I met them at a party. He certainly was a pretty unpleasant character. Especially for women. A woman's worst nightmare I suppose. Slippery, untrustworthy, and just the worst type of male.
You've also acted with the great Olympian Carl Lewis. Did you actually have scenes with him?
Yeah. He was fantastic, it was a real privilege. He was amazing. He must be 6ft 2 or 3 or something. Extraordinary. Very sweet, very nice guy, terrific athlete.
I know you have written and directed for the screen and also you have done a novel. What other ambitions do you have left? Are there any areas you don’t want to conquer?
I'm working on the second novel, so my immediate ambition is finishing that. But I think writing and acting is enough for me. I'll stick with the writing as well as acting, though. Writing a novel is a long old commitment.
I did with DeNiro. He's just such a major star. He was great though. Very much about the work, very professional. He's somebody I've admired for a long long time, like a lot of people. That was great for me, getting to work with him.
You played a very unsympathetic character in Sliding Doors. Did you ever get a hard time from people after that?
The odd time I did. The odd woman would say something to me jokingly if I met them at a party. He certainly was a pretty unpleasant character. Especially for women. A woman's worst nightmare I suppose. Slippery, untrustworthy, and just the worst type of male.
You've also acted with the great Olympian Carl Lewis. Did you actually have scenes with him?
Yeah. He was fantastic, it was a real privilege. He was amazing. He must be 6ft 2 or 3 or something. Extraordinary. Very sweet, very nice guy, terrific athlete.
I know you have written and directed for the screen and also you have done a novel. What other ambitions do you have left? Are there any areas you don’t want to conquer?
I'm working on the second novel, so my immediate ambition is finishing that. But I think writing and acting is enough for me. I'll stick with the writing as well as acting, though. Writing a novel is a long old commitment.
