Rupert Everett says film ‘The Next Big Thing’ with co-star Madonna was a ‘car accident’ – The Irish News

British actor Rupert Everett said “The Next Best Thing,” a film he starred in alongside Madonna, was a “car accident” that “completely finished things off” for him in Hollywood.

The 65-year-old television and film star, known for films such as “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “St. Trinian’s,” Robert Whittaker starred in the noughties film about two best friends, a straight woman and a gay man, who decide to raise a child together.

Speaking to Elizabeth Day on her podcast How To Fail, Everett said: “It was a car accident because the sad thing about The Next Best Thing was that it was really my movie.”

“It came to me after my best friend’s wedding.

“I was very popular in Hollywood that year, it was produced by Paramount.

“The film was greenlit because I wanted to act in it. I managed to convince Sherry Lansing, the head of Paramount and the producers, to allow me to rewrite the film, which I did with my writing partner at the time.

“I also hired John Schlesinger to direct, which in retrospect I think was a mistake because then he wanted me to stay with him and help him prepare the film.

“And I went off and did another job. So that was an example of me not really following the ball because I could have potentially stayed with him during pre-production and structured the film the way I wanted it, but it quickly spiraled out of control.

“I remember at one point I was fired as a writer and as a producer and the producer said to me: If you want to stay as an actor you can, but not if you don’t want to.

“I probably should have walked away from it at that point, but I didn’t.

“It wasn’t actually a box office failure because back then Madonna sold a lot of videos but the film itself didn’t work.”

He continued: “Everything really went wrong in the making, and for me it settled everything in Hollywood.”

Everett also talked about the years he spent using drugs and reflected on what that might mean for him as he gets older.

“I can’t lie and say I didn’t enjoy a lot of drugs,” he said.

“I don’t regret my drugged days.

“What I’m afraid of is my own brain. And as I get older, I want to keep it as long as possible.

“And I can feel it starting to blur a little at the edges.

“And I think some of that might have to do with flashing so much, you know, taking ten ecstasies in clubs at night and stuff like that, which is really not good for you. And looking back, I actually don’t enjoy this drug.

“I think it’s difficult now because the only drugs I like to take are gummies and marijuana oil, but mainly to sleep.

“And marijuana oil is pretty good for glaucoma, an eye condition I have.

“And I think it’s a very nice drug. You don’t have problems with your lungs and smoking… but at the same time, I really want to be clear right now.”

Everett is also known for his voice work as Prince Charming in “Shrek 2” and “Shrek The Third,” and recently starred in the TV series “Everybody Loves Diamonds” and “The Serpent Queen.”

How To Fail with Elizabeth Day is available wherever you get your podcasts.