Brand Name Comedian Russell Brand’S Boundary-Defying Style of Humor Has Gained Him Notoriety, Fortune and Hollywood Success
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14 生活時尚 S T Y L E WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 • TAIPEI TIMES Brand name Comedian Russell Brand’s boundary-defying style of humor has gained him notoriety, fortune and Hollywood success. But a recent edition of his BBC radio show, in which Brand left obscene messages for one of Britain’s best-loved comic actors, has led to controversy that not even he was prepared for BY Miranda Sawyer THE GUARDIAN, LONDON interviewed Russell Brand ��in he says. “It was: ‘Oh, he’s not there, ludicrous hair. He knows all this. He mid-October����������������������. Afterwards I trotted let’s just leave a message’ and then: makes jokes about it. Plus, he’s been in I home thinking, “That was good fun: ‘Oh, look what we’ve done now.’ Narcotics Anonymous since December entertaining, a bit bizarre, a stimulating There was no malicious intent — it 2002 and so does that tedious 12 Steps way to spend an hour.” A few days was like an evolving, rolling thing. If thing of spending hours analyzing later, the row about Andrew Sachs blew you listen, I say sorry more than I say himself and his actions. up. Within a week, Russell had resigned anything offensive — the message “I have a propensity for self- from Radio 2, as had the station’s is mostly an apology. In fact, it’s the involvement. I can be very vain and I head, Lesley Douglas, Jonathan Ross acknowledgment of how wrong it can be selfish and I’m totally aware of had been suspended, and the BBC was was that is the source of the comedy. that,” he says, settling himself into the dissolving — yet again — into hopeless What’s difficult is that it was completely leather sofa. “And I work on it literally self-flagellation. And my cozy chat with devoid of malice, and there’s been a on a daily basis, as part of my recovery Russell about his new book and DVD retrospective application of cruelty and from drugs and alcohol. I’m like: ‘Oh no, seemed as relevant as rabies. intention to cause offense.” that was a selfish thing to say. Oh no, I Now Russell has fled to Los Russell spoke about the Paris Hilton, left, appears on stage with host Russell apologize, let me make amends.’ So that Angeles; over there for a couple of film sequence of events that led to the Brand at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards held ��in is part of my life.” roles and to record a stand-up show. prerecorded show being edited but Los Angeles on�� Sept���. 7. PHOTOS: AGENCIES All of which takes on a different He isn’t giving interviews, but he calls still being broadcast, saying it was weight after he’s spent a week saying me from his hotel to explain himself, his responsibility. “I don’t think this big stars. And if Sachs held any illusions sorry to one and all. Anyhow, this navel- sounding understandably quieter than is a situation where I’d go: ‘Oh my about his granddaughter (and most gazing means interviewing Brand is when we first talked. “I don’t want to god, why didn’t you protect me from grandparents do), then they’ve been peculiar. Every question you ask him appear in any way cavalier,” he says, myself, Nic Philps [his producer]?’” well and truly shattered. about himself, he’s already considered. which is funny coming from someone He acknowledged that big egos like Still. Now that the fuss has begun More, he’s deconstructed it, put it with his hairdo. his and Ross’s can be hard to keep to die down, perhaps we Russell Brand back together, located an appropriate So, what happened? under control and that part of the fans will be allowed to speak up. My intellectual quote and tried to solve “Well, it wasn’t that we went: ‘Let’s fuss was because Ross earns so much name is Miranda Sawyer and I think whichever trait of his personality made ring Andrew Sachs and boast about money. He expressed regret over Russell Brand is funny. I loved his him act like that in the first place. He’s having sex with his granddaughter,’” Douglas and Sachs (though he said spontaneous, anarchic radio show. I very clever and uses language with nothing about Georgina Baillie, Sachs’ enjoy his filthy, off-the-hook stand- panache, but his mind is less a steel granddaughter). What he wouldn’t take up. His autobiography, My Booky trap, more a pin-ball machine when all responsibility for was the furor. Wook, was impossible to read without the bonus balls are released at once. “I think what I do appeals to lots laughing out loud. Naturally, I don’t Exhilarating, but exhausting. of people, younger and older, and think he should spend his time leaving When I talk to him about his recent certainly what it is, is unrestrained, rude messages on people’s answer hosting of the VMAs (MTV Video Music unbridled and authentic. And on this machines, but that is not all he does. Awards), for instance, where he drew occasion it offended Andrew Sachs For a start, he enlivens the world flak for teasing the Jonas Brothers and I feel bad about that and he’s with his ludicrous dress sense. For about their virginity and describing accepted my apology. But how that has our original, pre-Sachsgate interview, US President George W. Bush as that been subsequently conveyed, which he arrived dressed entirely in black “retarded cowboy feller,” Russell is as a vindictive act, then I didn’t do — jacket, leggings, bovver boots launches into a reply which, when I the vindictive act. I did the daft thing, and, yes, skirt — accessorized with transcribe it, is more than 1,500 words and that I take responsibility for. How diamante belts, clunking chains and long. To summarize: at the actual it’s been repackaged ... I’m not at all enormous shades. Much taller, hairier awards, he went down better than he’d responsible for that.” and better-looking than I expected: expected, no matter what happened Will you change because of this? a young George Best let loose in the afterwards. He realizes the office of “I can’t let it change what I do. Addams Family dressing-up box. president is talismanic to Americans, If you’re asking me to inhibit what “Do you like my leggings?” he asks even to liberal ones; he loves America, is spontaneous and good about my archly, turning an ankle. “I think the and understands it’s going through a performance, then I can’t do that. I ruching, strangely, stops them from necessary crisis vis-a-vis race; and he don’t think anyone who loves what I being too feminine. It’s not often you thinks it’s cynical to market a teenage do, who will have listened to the actual can say that about ruching. Yes, they boy band as virgins. “There’s that thing and not complained ... I don’t are ladies’ trousers.” Michel Foucault idea of sublimating think they’ll be affected by it. And then We are in a large, tastefully sexuality, so promoting virginity is the people who don’t like me will just furnished room next to the photo another way of putting sexuality at think: ‘Well, this is what we expected.’ studio. Russell is appreciative. “Now the forefront of popular culture. Like, So despite how huge the fuss is, that I know this room is a possibility, ‘They don’t have sex.’ ‘What? They essentially it’s meaningless.” then next time I have an interview it don’t have sex?’ It’s hokey balderdash.” I wonder. Meaningless, probably, for will have to be somewhere at least as See? Clever. Russell. He has plenty of other projects good. It’ll have to be in a ballroom with However, what’s more interesting on the go: including movies (with Judd a Jacuzzi. And a hand maiden! Don’t is how he starts his answer, which is Apatow and Oliver Stone), his Guardian give me anything worse! The privilege with this funny/serious little speech. newspaper football columns, now has become the standard!” “I’m a very sensitive person,” he says, collected into a book, and his Channel 4 Though he seemed slightly shy “so I don’t like to read or hear anything Ponderland show. In February, Comedy when he first arrived, it doesn’t take negative about myself, under any Central will screen an hour of his stand- much for Russell to get boisterous. circumstances at all. To the point where up, to coincide with the US launch of his Show him the smallest twig of a joke I’m a difficult actor to direct, because if autobiography. Russell’s immediate plan and he snatches it like a mad dog, the director says anything other than, is to conquer America — and not having running away with it as far as he can. ‘That was brilliant, amazing — how do a BBC radio program won’t hinder that. It’s hard to stop him, because what do you think of these ideas? Why, you’re so But Ross’ reputation has definitely you say? Russell’s confidence comes clever and you’re handsome ...’ I’m like: suffered — he was so pathetically from knowing himself inside out. ‘Oh fine, fuck you!’ I’d feel hurt, but I’d excited about Russell’s sex life — and There’s no point in taking the mickey also think, ‘Leave me alone, I’m trying Douglas has lost her job, leaving Radio out of him for being an attention- my hardest!’” 2 to retreat back into golf-club-and- seeking sex maniac, nor in pointing cardigan-land.