“Ridley Scott seemed to think that I might play this instructor in his film Gladiator so I went to see him for a screen test. I had to imagine that I was inspecting some slaves and how likely they were to be good gladiators. So he said, ‘Just march up and down proudly, maybe grab one of them between the legs and give it a twist to see how manly he is.’ I’m thinking, I’m Stephen Fry, a helpless old queen, let me pretend to be some wildly butch gladiator trainer? Being asked to stalk up and down twisting potential gladiators was one of the weirdest things I’d ever heard a human being utter.”—Writer & actor Stephen Fry, recalling his very odd audition for the Oscar-winning film Gladiator. The role in question eventually went to Oliver Reed. In the same interview, Fry also recalls how he survived 15 years of celibacy, and that time Gore Vidal got in a fight with a rentboy.
Chrisk
I could think of worse things..
Troyfight
Oliver Reed….one of the strangest actors and definitely a better choice. ….first I’ve heard of Ridley Scott doing this, though.
BoomerMyles
Oliver Reed wrestled fully naked in the movie Women in Love.
He was also a blatant chauvinist getting doused over the head with a glass of scotch by Shelly Winters on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
Fahd
The Gore Vidal-escort story in the interview also has a smile-inducing end.
Georgeiv2
I admire Mr Fry ,He is an author along with the best His narrations are unequaled as an actor he handles both serious and comedy roles with style so what I am about to say is said with love . Please please please dont go with the Ted Cruz look its so unbecoming .