Leader
Dead funny
For someone who got into acting by accident,
Mackenzie Crook has been remarkably successful.
The would-be writer who found a job in The Office talks
to Steve Pratt about his latest, starring, role
ITS rude, sexist even, to ask an actress about
her body and looks, but actor and comedian
Mackenzie Crook, who found fame with a job
in The Office where David Brent was his boss,
has to put up with it all the time.
Youre always referred to as cadavorous, suggests
a female member of our group. Corpse-like,
says Crook, seated nervously on a sofa facing half
a dozen journalists. I guess its the bags under the
eyes, the dark eyes maybe. It seems a little unfair.
Thats the look thats got me most of the parts Ive
played. If I looked like Russell Crowe, Id probably
be unemployed.
The Kent-born actor, who worked for a decade in
stand-up before Ricky Gervais and The Office offered
him his big break, doesnt see himself becoming
the incredible bulk. It probably wouldnt
work for me, he says.
Id kind of like it if the opportunity did come
along to play a part where I had to put on some
weight or be in physical shape. Thats the only thing
that would inspire me to try and do something like
that. But my body shape seems to have done me
quite well.
It hasnt stopped him bedding Bond girl Gemma
Arterton on-screen. In new British film, Three And
Out, Crook enjoys a sex scene with the actress chosen
to appear in the new 007 movie, Quantum Of
Solice.
She didnt know she was a Bond girl at the time,
says Crook of their on-screen encounter. That was
an interesting thing to be offered a script where
there was a romantic storyline in there. Often those
sort of parts I dont seem to receive.
Filming the sex scene, wearing nothing but a
modesty patch, was nerve-racking. I wasnt looking
forward to it. Its such an intimate thing, such
an awkward thing to do with someone youre not
in a relationship with, he says.
In hindsight, it wasnt as terrifying as I thought
it might be. It was done sensitively. The director had
worked out very specifically the shots he wanted
and let us get on with it.
The film itself has been accused of being insensitive,
with train drivers union ASLEF condemning
the story in which Crook plays a London Underground
Tube driver who, after two people have
died under his train, discovers that a third hit will
earn him the sack and a huge payout. He tries to
find someone contemplating suicide to throw themselves
under his train, so he can fulfill his dream of
going off and being a writer.
Crook finds the protestors reaction a little disappointing.
The film was made with the co-operation
of London Underground, with the actor being
taught how to drive a train.
He thinks it unfair the film has been attacked
without the people seeing the movie. I dont know
whether its our fault for advertising
it wrongly, he says. The poster
does mention the word comedy
so he might have a point there.
The premise of the movie does
involve those sensitive issues, but
thats not what we dwell on at all.
Thats not what the movies about.
When the people objecting have
seen the movie C if they go and see
it C theyll be surprised.
I mean, a movie that dwells on
people falling under trains is not
something I would want to go and
see, or something I would want to
be involved in.
Crooks made a number of
movies, most notably all three Pirates
Of The Caribbean films, but Three And Out
marks his first starring role. He could relate to the
character of aspiring novelist Paul because he, too,
has been writing, with fellow actor Greg Ellis, and
is hopeful their screenplay about stand and deliver
highwayman Dick Turpin will be filmed.
Its about the historical figure of Dick Turpin
as opposed to the dandy highwayman legend that
was pretty much invented in Victorian times. I did
18 months research on him. He was a vicious, nasty
piece of work, he was a murderer and ran with a
gang of equally vicious criminals.
He began writing while doing stand-up comedy.
As resident compere of a club in Deptford, he had
to perform to many of the same audience each week
C so I had to write at least a percentage of my material
every week or look like a fool on stage.
He finds himself a film star by a series of happy
accidents. Its a dream come true to find myself
making movies. I cant quite believe Im in that position.
Im surprised every time I get a new job. It
was always my plan to make movies, but thats not
to say I necessarily expected it to happen. Turning
out that way is just fantastic, he says.
He wanted to be an illustrator or artist but had
to revise his plans when he realised that wasnt
going to happen after failing to get into art school.
Unlike many actors whove always wanted to act,
he came to the idea relatively late. It was never
suggested to me as an option. I didnt go to a particularly
creative school. If Id had a drama department
at my school, perhaps Id have realised
earlier on.
When I did realise, it was a revelation and I
thought of course, this is what I want to do. By that
point I didnt want to go to drama
school, go back into education, so
I looked for another way to get
into the world of acting, which is
why I did stand-up. I did characters
in stand-up so I was always
playing a part and that was really
my education.
He thought hed spend two or
three years doing stand-up before
moving on, but it took a decade
before he began getting acting
roles. Geeky Gareth in the BBC
hit, The Office finally made his
name. The moment I got the
script for the pilot episode, I knew
this was the one I had to get. This
was at a time I was auditioning for
a lot of stuff, so I was blase about auditions.
So I wasnt nervous about auditions any more C
until this script came along for The Office. I thought
theres something important about this, this is the
one I have to get.
Id met Ricky on a couple of occasions before and
knew how funny he was. I could never have predicted
what it would become, the success it would
have. But I knew there was something special about
this one.
As well as movies and TV, hes proved himself as
a dramatic actor on stage last year in a production
of Chekhovs The Seagull as the tragic Konstantine.
Theres not much comic about Konstantine. That
was wonderful, that was a profound experience.
Hopefully, were taking The Seagull to Broadway
later in the year. If it got the reception it got in London
that would be lovely. Im hoping that comes off.
ö Three And Out (15) opens in cinemas
tomorrow
12:16pm Thursday 24th April 2008
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