Video:Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Russell Brand Interview
with Rebecca MurrayRussell Brand may be a newcomer to American movies, but he's sure to have a long career in feature films. As a rock star in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall', Brand steals scene after scene. And he's one of the most interesting celebs to interview.See Transcript
Transcript:Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Russell Brand Interview
Russell Brand ('Aldous Snow' in Forgetting Sarah Marshall)
We spoke in San Francisco about this experience filming here in Hawaii. You had said most of the time you spent in a hospital because your co-star spit venom on you. What really happened in Hawaii?
Russell Brand: "Well, you know, a lot of the time I was able to work in spite of Kristen Bell's acrimonious and venomous attacks. But you know if you're working with someone like Kristen, it's very difficult to relax at any time. So if any of the scenes my acting is not convincing it's because maybe she was just off camera lurking, eyes rolling, tongue lashing. So I was obviously trying my hardest to enjoy acting, enjoying the experience of working on this wonderful production, but feeling very much under duress and menace."
The whole entire time? Could you ever settle down?
Russell Brand: "No. And even now, today I've just met Bill Hader. He's another man, incredible store of eroticism within him. We just went on a golf cart ride, just the two of us, just to get to know each other. We played a couple of holes of golf. Well, that was the intention but instead it became very much about two men bonding through the medium of dance."
This part was written for you basically because they reshaped it to fit your persona. How's that feel?
Russell Brand: "It feels very flattering but in a way insulting. You sort of think, 'Well that's nice. They've rewritten that part for me.' But then you sort of think, 'They obviously think I'm not capable of any actual acting.' So do you see it's a double-edged sword? Very flattering, insulting – that's the other edge of this sword."
Could you have done it another way?
Russell Brand: "Yeah. I could have played that character a whole number of ways. Like, perhaps I could be a Bavarian gentleman. Or I could have done him as Rasputin, a mad monk. I mean, you might say that was a bit like von Bismarck."
So how easy was it to tap into your inner rock star?
Russell Brand: "Easy because, all right now then, in England I've got chums who are rock stars, notably the Gallagher Brothers – Liam and Noel. Noel, with whom I'm very friendly, comes on my radio show quite a lot and larks around. From him I took his sense of humor, his effortless wit and charm. And from Liam I took an abstract sense of Liam Gallagher, always distracted. And he's got very potent sexuality. Even if, say for example me, I'm a heterosexual gentleman. You may find that difficult to believe because look at this gesture – it's rather camp. But don't judge that. That's just because I'm lunging at your bosom. That's not gay, is it?"