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Jeremy Irons

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Jeremy Irons.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actor Jeremy Irons.

He made his name playing Charles Ryder in Brideshead Revisited in 1981 and became known for his quintessentially English roles. It was an image he later sought to discard and he certainly did so in the film Lolita, where his portrayal of Humbert Humbert reopened the controversy about the desires of a middle-aged man for a 14-year old girl. In the film The Mission he played a gentle Jesuit missionary and went on to act as his own stuntman, climbing a perilous waterfall. It was his performance in Reversal of Fortune that won him an Oscar for Best Actor as the real-life character Claus Von Bulow, accused and acquitted of the attempted murder of his wife. Later this month, he returns to the West End stage after almost 20 years to star in the play Embers, a story of friendship and betrayal.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: One step at a Time by Clifton Chenier
Book: Ashley Books of Knots by Clifford Ashley
Luxury: Rizla liquorice papers

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 10 Feb 2006 09:00

Music Played

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Clifton Chenier

      One step at a Time

      • Rough Guide to Cajun and Zydeco.
      • World Music Network.
  • Dolores Keane

    Let It Be

    • Anthem: De Danann.
    • Dara.
  • Eric Clapton

    Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out

    • Eric Clapton:Unplugged.
    • Duck.
  • Madeleine Peyroux

    Careless Love

    • Careless Love.
    • Rounder.
  • Barb Jungr

    I Want You

    • Every Grain of Sand: Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan.
    • Linn.
  • Bob Dylan

    Make You Feel My Love

    • Time Out of Mind.
    • Columbia.
  • John Martyn

    May You Never

    • Couldn't Love You More.
    • Permanent.
  • Leonard Cohen

    Villanelle For Our Time

    • Dear Heather.
    • Columbia.
  • Book Choice

    • Ashley Books of Knots - Clifford Ashley

  • Luxury Choice

    • Rizla liquorice papers

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Jeremy Irons

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Feb 2006 11:15
  • Fri 10 Feb 2006 09:00

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