I think I must be the only British actor who's played both Stalin and Trotsky. I need to play Lenin so I can make it a triptych.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Stalin is the most popular figure in all of Russia.
It's a bit of a history lesson, being an actor. I was in 'Burnt By The Sun' at the National, which was set in Stalinist Russia, so I discovered all about that. You learn so much as you go along.
I made three films with Boris Karloff. He was absolutely wonderful.
I went to drama school in the U.K., where we did endless Chekov plays.
I always wanted to play characters, and that was definitely one - a Russian spy.
My father was convinced, I think rightly, that if he stayed in Russia, he would have trouble with Lenin.
I had to choose between American and British actors, and it didn't take me more than a second to decide: Russians are Europeans and should be played by other Europeans.
I love the comradery of doing theatre that you don't get in film.
Kazan was an old friend, I met him in 1938. He picked up radio jobs for eating money, so I met him on a couple of radio shows. Later on I was in a play he directed.
There was a Russian director named Elem Klimov, who did his films during the communist days. They were constantly struggling with the authorities and to be allowed to express themselves. But he did one of the best war movies I've ever seen - it's called 'Come and See.'
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