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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 16 June 2018

Christopher Plummer on playing a weed dealer at 88

By JAKE COYLE
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Regal
and commanding even
in his youth, Christopher
Plummer has turned into an
even mightier force in old
age.
The 88-year-old Plummer
earlier this year became
the oldest actor ever nomi-
nated for an Oscar (for
his J. Paul Getty in “All the
Money in the World”), six
years after setting the mark
for eldest acting winner (for
his coming-out 75-year-old
in “Beginners”). The King
Lear phase of Plummer’s
career has been colorfully
crowded with aged men
too roiled by appetite to
resemble any standard
portraits of the elderly.
In his latest, Shana Feste’s
“Boundaries,” Plummer
plays the estranged, weed-
dealing father of a single
mother (Vera Fermiga). In this June 11, 2018 photo, Christopher Plummer poses for a portrait to promote his film “Boundaries” in New York.
The film, which opens June Associated Press
22, is Feste’s semi-autobio- And not too shabbily. Now I banter. That also exists in scandal befalls another preme. What do you think
graphical road trip about want the same great parts, real life. performer, it’s become a digital-effects heavy block-
her own comically flawed if I can, on the screen. And AP: The experience coming regular joke that you should busters have done to act-
family. so far, yes. I’ve played mar- in to replace Kevin Spacey substitute in. ing?
“I loved playing that old velous characters. in “All the Money in the Plummer: It’s terribly funny. Plummer: This whole new
geezer,” Plummer said with AP: In your memoir “In Spite World” must have been (Chuckling.) I think it’s hi- wave of young studs who
characteristic relish for a of Myself,” you romantical- head-spinning. You were larious. The latest one was look great against the
meaty role. In a recent in- ly recounted your heavy- nominated for a Golden “Roseanne.” I thought: green screen, they’re at
terview at a Manhattan drinking days. Do you have Globe before ... What the hell? That was a the mercy of all that. It’s at
hotel, Plummer discussed any marijuana experi- Plummer: It was finished! bit far-reaching. But it tick- the mercy of phony croco-
his own connections to the ence, like your character in Just for remembering my led me pink. diles and dragons. Techni-
part, his last-minute sub- “Boundaries”? lines I get an award? I also AP: Are you encouraged cally it’s simply wonderful
stitution for the disgraced Plummer: No, I’ve tried little had fun, believe it or not. by what the #MeToo move- what goes on now. I’m in
Kevin Spacey on “All the attempts at marijuana and Ridley (Scott), I always ment has done for women love with the dragon lady
Money in the World” and a couple of others. It never wanted to work with him. in the movie business? (Emilia Clarke on “Game
his undying thirst for acting. did any good to me at all. So I thought it was a ter- Plummer: It’s going to take of Thrones”), for example.
AP: When we spoke six I just fell asleep. I just disap- rific opportunity. I said yes time because there’s still so I think she’s great. And the
years ago, you said the on- peared into myself. No, I and he made it so comfort- many, hundreds and hun- other night I replayed Pe-
set of your 80s made you prefer the gregariousness able for me. They all came dreds, of the old-school tie, ter Jackson’s “Lord of the
feeling panicked at having of booze. It’s a much more back and we had to do the old-club men that still, Rings.”
enough time to accom- generous drug. You can the whole thing over again. even now in modern times, Those are directorial tri-
plish what you wanted. Do make friends with people. If The cameras were ready at have inherited this bigotry, umphs and the actors are
you still feel that way? you’re drugged out of your 6 a.m. They flew us every- this superiority, this “my little along for the trip. On stage,
Plummer: No, I don’t. skull, you don’t know who where private, thank God. woman.” it’s a different thing but
There isn’t as much panic you’re talking to. I made AP: Did you have any It’s great, though, that the that doesn’t exist anymore.
because now I’ve been my decision. Booze was my doubt that you could work fight is on. Long before this Somebody said, “Are you
through my 80s. That kind religion. so quickly? happened, my wife and I going to the Tonys?” I said
of panic does not exist any- AP: Did you connect per- Plummer: No, I was just both thought there should no because the Tonys are a
more. I’m enjoying myself sonally to the film’s father- hopeful that at my age, be a woman president. funny thing now. It’s all mu-
very much. And in my 80s, daughter relationship? You my memory would serve And it doesn’t have any- sicals and not particularly
I had another career. I’m weren’t much a part of the me. Because I had to learn thing to do with Hillary Clin- terrific musicals. Some are,
very happy about that. It’s life of your daughter, the my lines very quickly and I ton. Because it’s time for a some not.
gone better than most oth- actress Amanda Plummer, thought, “Oh, Christ, am I woman. We’ve seen what But that’s it. What’s hap-
er decades have. from your first marriage. going to be able to hold on happens. Men go hysteri- pened to the legitimate
AP: Why is that? Plummer: I suppose uncon- to this?” But that’s because cal. Women are far stron- theater, the writing?
Plummer: The parts. I sciously. Particularly the of years in theater. You’re ger and would be able to Where’s all that now? I’m
played everything in the stuff about taking each trained to be in an emer- run a country with less tem- not interested anymore. It’s
theater. I still would like to other for granted. There’s gency like that. The whole perament. because English is not the
do something else in the a little bit of that in the film. theatrical experience is an AP: You came up at time first language. We’re now
theater, of course. But I’ve There’s a bit of I-owe-you emergency. when the actor, onstage playing to a huge foreign
played all the great parts. and you-owe-me parent AP: Since then, whenever and on- screen, was su- audience.q