QUESTION: How was the sci-fi robot costume you wear in Bedtime Stories?
RUSSELL BRAND: Being a golden robot as I was in this film was difficult because
they are very diligent and assiduous with the make-up job, even painting the
inside of my mouth golden! In spite of what we learned from Goldfinger that
covering a persons body in gold paint can lead to death. There was one area of
skin that had not been covered in gold paint. I went for a wee at one point and
saw a golden robot alone doing a wee in a trailer and my genitals looked
ridiculous! Also you are forced into quadriplegic acceptance by the intensity of
the make-up job, imprisoned as it were in a shell of immobility. You also have
to have your meals through a straw and I just sat and watched Mike Leigh films
in my trailer. Then I would forget what I was doing because I would be getting
into Secrets And Lies or something and then Id see myself in the mirror and gowooohhh!
Im a golden robot!
QUESTION: For Bedtime Stories did you have to rein in your more adult comic
leanings? And is there an R-rated version of the film?
RUSSELL BRAND: That would be inappropriate to have an R-rated version of a
Disney film, it may damage the marketing procedures for this, the main one. For
me the parameters were quite helpful in that it stops you from going to your
typical comedic go-to places. Generally I find when doing comedy that it helps
to dismiss the first 10 thoughts that I have in case they lead to a quagmire.
But it is not mentally hard because in my life I have friends who have kids.
Mainly what was good was that working with Adam Sandler and the others was
educational. I loved it really. It is really nice to see myself doing something
in a film and it is not all rude.
QUESTION: How would you describe the Adam Sandler factor?
RUSSELL BRAND: I have a very intelligent and risky answerI think that Adam
Sandler is how America likes to see itself. It is a powerful country,
charismatic, attractive, occasionally makes mistakes but eventually puts them
right.
QUESTION: What do you think of the power of comedy and why did you start doing
stand-up?
RUSSELL BRAND: I was training to be a normal actor out of drama school where
they taught the likes of Paul Bettany and Colin Firth how to do the acting that
they now do so well. I was trying my hardest to do serious acting but always
people would laugh at that acting. That hurt my feelings. So I thought if I can
rework this as something that is supposed to elicit laughter it will be good for
my ego. It turns out it was!
QUESTION: While you were making Bedtime Stories what lengths did you have to go
to watch West Hams soccer games? And did the others understand your passion?
RUSSELL BRAND: Yeah they did because Adam Sandler is obsessed with sport. In
fact it seemed to be prioritised over making the film! There were screens
everywhere showing basketball and football games and stuff like that next to
the monitor that I was trying my hardest to do my acting on. I would ask if my
acting was all right and they say that theyd just scored a hoop or they have
done a touch down. So they did understand the significance of West Ham United in
my life. Seeing the matches was difficult, you have to watch them a lot on the
internet. But in the USA some of the sports TV channels show games on a Saturday
so you can get some. Plus on Sky Plus Match of the Day and Sunday Supplement are
available, so I can see a lot of comment. But the understanding of sport was one
of the things that made me very comfortable in that environment and enhanced my
masculinity! (jokes) Sport? I like sport too, we are not so different! (jokes)
Give us a cuddle! Give us a movie! And he did because it turns out that one of
my next movies will be produced by Adam Sandler. In that movie I play a con man
who is trying to get away from some gangsters and is posing as a priest in a
small American town. Its bloody deep! (jokes)
QUESTION: When are you going to make a drama in the USA?
RUSSELL BRAND: Probably the next time I make a phone call over there. (jokes) I
m doing The Tempest thats dramatic, Shakespeare wrote that! As soon as
someone in the USA gives me a chance Ill be all over it, I would love to do a
drama.
