Did you know Ian McShane is 73 years old? I did not. I also did not know that he’s married to an American woman and that he’s been living in Venice Beach for the better part of 36 years. I’m just now realizing that I don’t know the first thing about Ian McShane! But his new Telegraph interview is an excellent primer on all things McShane, and even if you only have a passing interest in him, I would definitely suggest reading the whole piece. Ian is more talkative these days because he’s got a small role in the new season of Game of Thrones, plus he’ll be hitting British TV with a new series, Doctor Thorne. Some highlights (these quotes are AMAZING).
On #OscarsSoWhite: “You’ve got Will Smith’s wife, whoever she is, saying she will boycott the Oscars and we’re thinking, ‘Yeah I’m sure we’ll miss you, darling.’ Why? Because her husband wasn’t nominated, even though he’s put on a Nigerian accent for his latest film? We’re expected to go ‘wow’ about that, are we? It’s like Leonardo DiCaprio. Not the finest performance, just him grunting and being raped by a bear. The Oscars are ridiculous.”
Why he came back to TV with Doctor Thorne: “Harvey Weinstein, who produced it, wanted a name that meant something in America. That was why they asked me, and I thought why not?”It’s a great time to be a British actor: “Especially if you’re a young British actor, because you can go over to America and get in television shows instantly.”
Whether he thinks Americans are worried about posh British actors taking their jobs: “Americans aren’t like that, they are the most generous people in the world. They only care about talent, not where you come from.”His recent comments about Game of Thrones: “You say the slightest thing and the internet goes ape. I was accused of giving the plot away, but I just think get a f—ing life. It’s only t-ts and dragons. They asked me if I wanted to do Game of Thrones and I said, ‘Sure, I’ll be able to see my old pals Charlie Dance and Stephen Dillane’ and they said, ‘No, we’ve killed them off.’ I wasn’t sure whether I could commit, but then they said it would only be for one episode, so I said, ‘So that means I must die at the end of it. Great, I’m in.’ ”
Being influenced by Richard Burton: “I became a high-functioning alcoholic and drug taker [cocaine mostly]. I would always remember my lines, and always be on time, but some of the films I was in then I have no recollection of having done them.”
His third wife, the American Gwen Humble: “I realised all I had ever felt for women up to that point was lust, but that what I was feeling for Gwen was love. It took me a few years to get sober, but my life took a good turn after that. I went to an AA meeting and that was 28 years ago and I’ve been sober ever since.”
Whether he feels American: “No, not really. My wife is American, though, and she’s been my wife for 36 years, and I do love the place. When I see all this Trump bullsh-t, all his bombast and stupidity, I think that’s not the America I know.”
I love his blunt style. I actually think I’m sort of in love with him now. Yes, the Telegraph talks a bit about how he was a son of a bitch in the 60s and 70s, when he was drinking heavily and abusing drugs, but he genuinely seems to have grown up, gotten sober and made amends. It’s weird to imagine him in Venice Beach, just hanging out and wandering around in flip-flops though. Also: “It’s only t-ts and dragons” is basically the best summary of Game of Thrones, and I’m saying that as someone who genuinely loves the show. And he’s let another spoiler go, hasn’t he? He’s amazing.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
If I get aggravated at work (which I will) I am going to tell myself “It’s only t!ts and dragons” and go on with my day.
Love him. And nice to hear a guy not mincing words or parsing Twitter sized bits, just speaking his mind. Also good to hear that he straightened out his life and became sober. Looking forward to him on GoT and the new show.
I love him so much. Deadwood is one of my favorite shows.
I LOVE Deadwood.
I’ve always thought of him as an ex-pat. He had a hit UK series, Lovejoy, in the 80s, and we’ve basically not seen him since.
Got to say though, he sounds totally British here! I never know why we have a reputation for good manners because all the blokes I know talk like him! Americans are much more polite.
I loved Lovejoy. For some reason I thought I watched it in the 70’s, but you’re right-the 80’s it was. I have a Morris Minor too, not running anymore, but, oh well.
I think he’s still a bit of a son of a bitch, but that’s why I like him. Thanks
Kaiser for covering him.
I want to watch GOT. I don’t care about anything else.
I need some Tyrion in my life.
“t’s like Leonardo DiCaprio. Not the finest performance, just him grunting and being raped by a bear.”
I haven’t seen the movie myself, but I thought everyone in the media had refuted the being raped-by-the-bear part. Did he see the movie or is he pretending he did?
The rest of the interview was fine, but the first answer sounded …idk. I wasn’t sure how any of that related to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, if that’s what he’s being asked about. I don’t think #OscarsSoWhite was solely about Will Smith.
I think he’s just joking.
He isn’t literally raped by a bear, but the way the scene is filmed is very rapey. I forget where I saw it but someone re-wrote the scene and replaced “bear” with “the attacker/assailant” and it reads like a rape scene. It’s a graphic attack.
While i was watching that scene at the cinema all I saw was how badly it was done. You can literally see where the bear was added while leo was thrown in the air for the scene
For someone who’s won twice the Oscar for Best director, Inarritu left me with a big ‘wtf’ on my forehead.
Swearengen!!! I also love that show & I can’t wait to see him on GofT, even if it is just one episode. Great article, thanks for covering it!
SWEDGEN! COCKSUCKA!
That’s one of the best episodes!!! Anytime he & Wu are together, it warms my heart.
It’s nice to hear someone say that Americans are good people. Sometimes we get a bad rap.
The trump thing is perplexing to us all. It feels like one of those surreal moments, like when W was president. You scratch your head and think, “is this for real?!”
We get a bad rap for a reason “muricans are so generous and giving” bullsh-t and I say that as someone who is unfortunately American, I honestly can’t stand this hypocritical, discriminatory, disrespectful country. This is why I hope I move soon and because I don’t want any of those who are running for president to win. However I do sense a bit of sarcasm in his comment so, hopefully he gets we’re (not all of us) sh-tty people
I’m not saying we don’t deserve criticism.
If you really want to, you should move. Contrast is a good teacher. After a decade or so abroad you might appreciate a lot of things that you took for granted right now
You should definitely move, it’s better than being so miserable : /
You should definitely move out of the country! I lived overseas for ten years and it was an amazing experience. I learned about so, so many things I would never have known about had I stayed in the U.S.
If you’re having that “itch” to move overseas (and most people don’t), then you should do it! Sorry to be so geeky and enthusiastic, but living outside of the United States for a decade was a life-changing experience for me and I’m so glad I did it.
You should definitely move, you sound like a miserable person and “murica” has enough of those already.
“It’s like Leonardo DiCaprio. Not the finest performance, just him grunting and being raped by a bear.”
HA!
Can’t wait to see him on GOT. I love that show and his description is perfect.
Ahhhh…remember him in Lovejoy? I was addicted to that series…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HVIQ0S1iSI
It’s true we are. But I’d use a different adjective. People born and raised in the USA are the most open-minded people in the world. The most egalitarian, most pro-individualistic. The most irreverent and the most forward-thinking. IMO!
P.S. I say this having lived on 4 different continents in the course of my life, including NAmerica
Having lived in several places in Europe as well as the USA, i don’t agree with that at all. I found a large portion of Americans very closed minded (not all, mind you), far more people than in western Europe at least. It’s no secret that the US has major problems when it comes to race, much more so than European countries. I live in the Netherlands now, and while its not a perfect country either, I personally find it much better when it comes to progressive thinking
Having lived both in America and Europe: I would remind you that America has more “major problems” with race because we are more racially diverse and our people don’t segregate racially to the degree that European populations typically do.
There is much to criticize in the United States. But we are different in many pleasing ways that media narratives love to totally disregard. It’s popular to hate America and Americans. But we can take it. We’re used to it.
I love Europe…but they have issues I’m glad we don’t have. People are imperfect. The cultures they create are imperfect. Everywhere you go, there will be problems.
But there are beauties also.
I’m not aware of segregation of race where I live, I found it much stronger in the US. I’m not hating on the US at all, merely pointing out that it’s not such a great place as many americans would like to believe. Like I said,: there are many good people and there is a large difference between states. the US has issues I’m glad Europe doesn’t have either.
It does get annoying that Americans are constantly yelling about being so great and free and progressive. They suggest that they are on the forefront of equal rights, when nothing is further from the truth, it gets grating.
Rolling my eyes at reductivist attitude towards OscarsSoWhite. It wasn’t about Will Smith or his wife (Whoever she is). She just happened to be willing to say something publicly. I love game of thrones but will not be watching this dude, whoever he is, this coming season.
“Whoever he is?!” You don’t deserve him! But I will have a margarita with you for breakfast!
Jamie Foxx pretty much agrees with him.
I love a crusty sound bite lolllll.
This man is one of the most talented actors ever. God, I love Deadwood. The cast and the vulgar but eloquent AF dialogue cannot be beat.
I don’t mind brutal honesty when it’s constructive and not demeaning. I don’t think Americans are especially generous and talent is a priority, seriously????
We have incredibly talented people and no one pays attention to them, money talks everywhere and nepotism is rampant.
Agree with take on trump. And rape is not a joke. He was mauled by a bear, why is that so hard for people to understand.
wow hes hot! hell yeah. i love what he had to say. he seems so smart and funny. loved deadwood
I can’t wait to see him in American Gods. I just finished reading the book and he’s pretty much exactly how I pictured the character.
I HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH HIM MY WHOLE LIFE
thank you for another snippet of my tv husband
What an idiotic statement. Is there a “most generous in the world” race somewhere that I am not aware of? I guess he’s speaking in hyperbole but the U.S is often viewed as a threat to world peace elsewhere than this image he’s speaking of.