Actor Malcolm McDowell shares candid thoughts on why he'd be a terrible spy, debunks the Kubrick moon landing conspiracy, details playing Rupert Murdoch, reveals a valuable antique find, and recounts an embarrassing celebrity encounter.
In a wide-ranging interview, Malcolm McDowell, promoting his new film 'The Partisan,' humorously admits he'd be a 'total disaster' as a spy due to his love for gossip, recalling a tense trip to Russia in 1990. He dismisses the Stanley Kubrick moon landing conspiracy as 'fake news' and praises Kubrick's '2001' as a masterpiece, joking he'd rather play Louis Armstrong than be cast in a fake moon landing. McDowell discusses perfecting Rupert Murdoch's accent for 'Bombshell' by meticulous listening, noting Murdoch's unique blend of Australian, London, and New York inflections. He expresses a preference for dying in space over the ocean and shares his best antique shop purchase: a gilt tin eagle bought for $3,000, now valued at $350,000, which he refuses to sell. McDowell laments the decline of passionate dinner party culture, which he misses from London. He reflects on his early career competition with Michael York, now turned into mutual respect. He also humorously mentions the state of his fridge with 'many shades of green' items. Finally, he recounts a cringeworthy moment failing to recognize Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones) at a coffee shop, feeling foolish for not realizing who she was despite her attempts to engage.
