|
Words by Ian McKellen
I agreed to play the British politician, John Profumo, after
other actors had turned it down as being too sensitive an issue. The
scandal of the Conservative cabinet minister's extra-marital affair, about
which he lied in a statement to the House of Commons, galvanised the
nation and severely damaged the government. Since his disgrace Profumo has
rescued his name with charity work in the East End of London and his
friends were sad that this film should reopen old wounds. The producers
felt that the issues of the case remained relevant 30 years on, touching
on the relationship between parliament and the press as well as on the
hypocrisy that bedevils sex and public figures. I agreed with them. Before
agreeing to play Profumo, I wrote to him asking for his opinion but I
received no reply.
Ian McKellen (John Profumo) and
Joanne Whalley-Kilmer (Christine Keeler)
Photo by Tom Collins
I had just come out as a gay man and one of my motives for then
proceeding, was to prove that I could be convincing as a character about
whom little is remembered other than that he was a raging heterosexual. On
my first day I had to simulate the missionary position under silk sheets
with Joanne Whalley-Kilmer. I enjoyed that, particularly as I was the envy
of my straight friends.
It was also good to work for the first time with John Hurt, a splendid
actor with whom I have sometimes been confused — to some people,
long-faced British actors all look the same. John played the lead role of
Stephen Ward whose suicide during his unjust trial resulting from the
scandal, made him the true victim rather than Profumo and his wife, the
actress Valerie Hobson.
John Hurt and Ian McKellen
The parliamentary scene was shot in Granada Television's scaled-down
version of the House of Commons, part of their permanent display alongside
the Coronation Street sets in Manchester UK. — Ian McKellen,
June 2000
Scandal Now available on DVD
  
|
