Premiere US 4/95 Inreview with Malcolm McDowel for Tank Girl

Idol Chatter: A Conversation with Malcolm McDowell by Kitty Bowe Heaty

You'd expect the insolent Alex of A Clockwork Orange to be trashing New York's Mark Hotel. (Everyone else does.) But today Malcolm McDowell peruses his long and villainous career over afternoon tea at the trendy inn. Is that our beloved Ludwig Van playing in the background?

Your new film, Tank Girl, already has quite an underground following.

In England they go nuts when you mention that you're in it. I have a great deal of admiration for Lori [Petty] because I know she went through this absolute physical torture. She was one long bruise for all those months.

Right. Enough about Lori, let's talk about you.

Right, right. Sorry. [Laughs] She'll be fine.

What's the story about how you were cast in A Clockwork Orange?

Stanley Kubrick gave me a copy of the book. I called him and said, and I must have been absolutely nuts, but I said, "Are you offering me this?" And there was along pause and he said, "Yes." Having got that out of the way, I said, "Well, look, I'd like to meet with you further and talk about it. Would you like to come to my house?" Another long pause: "Where is it?" And he came. In sort of a convoy.

He left his house?

Yeah. I didn't realize it was such a big deal for Stanley Kubrick to leave his home. He "doesn't travel well," as they say.

You have said, "You only work with Stanley once."

Oh, look. I think I've said a lot of things about Stanley and a lot of things I've quite regretted.

Well, where I read this, it was said quite kindly.

Well, I've said it kindly and unkindly. He is everything. I loved him. I hated him. I went through every emotion with him. But the thing I really remember, and I'll always be thankful for this, is that when I would do something, he would ram his handkerchief into his mouth, he was laughing so much. And there is nothing more adrenaline giving to an actor than seeing his director stuff his mouth wit his handkerchief.

How does a person play Alex, the most irredeemable character in film?

Well, I was totally seduced by him. I thought he was a hoot. I honestly thought I was making a black comedy and played it for the humor. I learned early on in life that you must not worry about being disliked. It's great fun - suicidal parts. Caligula. I loved [that film] and I had a good time. I don't think it did my career any good, but that's another story.

Didn't Gore Vidal have his name taken off Caligula?

Yes. Lucky Gore. But those of us who had our face 60 feet by 30 feet couldn't. And I wouldn't want to. I'm proud of it. Although all the porno stuff [that Bob Guccione added] is so boring.

Everybody says that you look like Sting, but Sting looks like you.

Well, thank you for saying that. Of course, he's a lot more famous.

What was the deal with you skipping out on your Good Morning America interview in the middle of the Star Trek Generations press junket?

What happened was, I was going to Lindsay Anderson's memorial in London, which I wouldn't have missed for anything - any film or anybody. Of course, I owe him everything. I said, "Well, I'm very sorry but my priority is this." [Paramount] said, "Fine, would you come to the junket if we flew you on the Concorde round-trip?" And I said, "Well, that's very nice of you." That was it. The next thing I was told, at 11 o'clock at night, was that they had decided to renege on their offer to fly me back on the Concorde. Of course, I had done all 70 interviews that day, and I'd worked my butt off. I thought it was pretty rotten. So I said, "I'm not doing any more publicity." It wasn't the fact that it was the Concorde flight - I couldn't have cared less - It was just the fact that they broke their word. So I didn't show up for Good Morning America, and I said, "Please apologize to [the people at the show], it's nothing to do with them."

Well, you still got to knock off Captain Kirk.

Yes - and I got a death threat for that. Bill Shatner and I laugh about this, but somebody actually put a death threat out on me on the e-mail. I was assigned two detectives. It was embarrassing, because there never was anyone [out to get me]. I'd come out and I'd say, "Look, I'm really sorry to disappoint, but I don't think there's any chance of my being shot tonight." There was literally nobody, not even one autograph seeker.

Were you scared?

Should I have been?

Those Trekkies mean business.

Look, somebody had to kill him and it might as well have been me. And if you want me to pop off Picard as well, I'll be happy to do that. In the next one.