'Hollywood Be Damned': Aidan Gillen
June 2001, Issue No. 210, pp. 110
From his first wry, small-screen smile in the original Queer as Folk, it
was clear that Aidan Gillen sparkled with star quality and smouldered with
potential. He's an obsessional online pin-up and his appearance in Jamie
Thraves' The Low Down showed versatility and a certain nous about future
projects. On the face of it his next one's only a game show, but with no
weak links. The Final Curtain, with its John Hodge screenplay, promises a
handbags-at-dawn showdown between young upstart Gillen and imperious
host-with-the-most Peter O'Toole in this timely satire on game show
culture. Lovers of scenery-chewing may find this the best ham sandwich
they've tasted in some time.
i-D: What do you do?
AG: Actor/at home mom.
i-D: What are you working on now?
AG: I'm soon to begin rehearsals for a performance of Platonov by Chekhov.
i-D: What inspires you?
AG: Risk taking, rule bending, subversion, honesty, John Cazale, Donal
McCann, Christopher Walken, Brendan Behan, Charles Bukowski, Terrence
Malick, The Red Shoes, Abel Ferrara, Cathal Cooughlan and Nick Cave.
i-D: Career high so far?
AG: Appearing in Mojo and The Low Down.
i-D: Favorite film?
AG: Days of Heaven by Terrence Malick.
i-D: Who would you like to work with next?
AG: Neil Jordan.
