Montreal was nice, that was where most of it took place. Then in London for a week, then in Paris for a week and that was just heaven. In the summertime, we shot in amazing locations. It was the end of the film, we were partying at night, like the French do, bottles of wine and cheese, and it was one of those lucky weeks I'll never forget. Getting paid to work in Paris, who'd have ever thought? We were shooting in Paris: Point Neuf, Sacre Coeur, Luxembourg Gardens, the Chateau for three days. We didn't have any time. We were working, and the film was winding down. In the beginning, you're just focused and want your energy for the next day. But [on the] last leg you can push yourself and don't get as much sleep. You're an exhausted heap, but it's done.
I had to learn French. That was a bit scary. They all speak French, I don't. It was fun and challenging. I did not have to a perfect accent because I learned it. It was a low maintenance acting job.
Charlize said being in a relationship with you allowed her to manipulate you on the screen.
I agree. It was nice to have your heart broken by your girlfriend and then go home by the end of the day and hang out and order room service. It's nice to explore different aspects of your relationship that way. She's great at not bringing it home. When she did "Monster," she never brought home her character.
That's a good thing.
Thank God. I was worried. To be honest, I did a film called "Resurrection Man" and I was in character and I wouldn't be able to stop it, and probably [brought] it home. Like “Monster,” I don't know if I could not have brought it home. Thank God she didn't. This wasn't an in-depth character study, but it was me and trying to stay true to the character. There's very few characters that have really overtaken me and it took like six months, it was always there. Friends would say, "That f***er is still there." And it was this character named Victor about Ulster Loyalists in the '70s in Belfast, they would go around killing people viciously and I was the leader of the gang. It was just mad. We filmed in the hardcore places of Manchester. It was a dirty film, filmed in winter, everything about it was violent and tough. I couldn't get out of it. I tried to go to Italy, and everything was still black around me. I wish I could do that, just shake it off.
Were you on the set when she did “Monster?”
No, I left her alone. Why would I want to be there? I did not want to be around her. If I was going to do that, I would need my own space. I came for a weekend in between, and it was great, but the rest of the time I knew she was working hard. I would need that space.
What about you and Charlize tying the knot?
I keep hearing that we're doing that.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell aren’t married.
We're not getting married ever then. But there's so much pressure to get married from like the media, not from my family, they're like. “Whatever, it's your life. If you're in love, you won the battle.” We get phone calls from Dublin cake companies saying, "We'd like to make your wedding cake because you're having your wedding here, right? In two weeks?" It's mad, you know? Most people get married for the wrong reasons because their relationship is a little soggy and they want to spruce it up. But we're happy. You know, why ruin a good thing?
What about the paparazzi?
Before the Oscars we could go around anywhere, now they're chasing us a bit more. Long lenses, all that. My instinct is to punch them, but I know I can't do that. I guess I can, but one thing I do is to have a camera and film them - but I always forget to bring the camera. It's not like we're Michael Jackson and living in a glass dome. 99% of the time we're living a normal life, and 1% they're following us and it's a little weird. It's worse here than abroad. When we go to London on holiday, no one knows us.
What's next for you?
I'm going to do a film in three weeks called "The Best Man" in London. I really want to get this political movie made, because politics is back in film and dissent is heavy. It's a good time for it now. "Battle of Seattle" is what it's called. I want to direct and produce it, not be in it. I wrote and conceived it. It's my baby, I don't want to let this go. [I’m] looking for money.
"Best Man" is a romantic comedy. I don't like romantic comedies. This character I play is rather fun, but it's kind of formulaic. He's a best man at weddings, a couple of them.
If there was another "League" movie would you be up for it?
Nope. I got lucky because everyone else had to sign a three picture deal, and I said, "But I die," and I couldn't be in a three picture deal, so I'm not contracted to them. I only have the one picture. Somebody could have said, "It's very easy to resurrect the character," but I don't think it will ever happen.
