‘He gave me a therapeutic massage. I’ve by no means been in additional ache in my life’: Terence Stamp remembered by Paul Andrew Williams | Terence Stamp

We despatched Terence the script for Music for Marion, and he simply turned up on the workplace. He buzzed the door and mentioned: “Is Paul there?” There was a brand new particular person working in our workplace on the time, and he or she mentioned: “No, nobody’s in on the minute. Who’s calling?” He mentioned: “It’s Terence Stamp.” After which she was like: “Nicely, he’s not right here, shall I go away a message?” She didn’t invite him up or something. She left him standing there. And he didn’t give a shit about that, to be sincere.

Me, Terence and Gemma Arterton, who performed the music trainer in Music for Marion, went to lunch at a vegan cafe in Shoreditch. His character, Arthur, was somebody who cherished his spouse (performed by Vanessa Redgrave), and would do something for her, however all the time moaned, was all the time cantankerous, and located it very troublesome to point out any type of like to his son.

He was somebody who I primarily based on my grandad, and bits of my dad. When his spouse dies, it’s Gemma’s character who brings him out of his shell a bit, and encourages him to sing.

We have been speaking about this character and he checked out me like I used to be speaking in French. I finished and mentioned: “Nicely, you’ll be able to all the time simply wing it.” He went, “Yeah, let’s wing it.”

Working with him, I discovered that veteran actors do prefer to be talked to, when it comes to being directed. I additionally discovered, with out him telling me, that he had insecurities as properly. After I met him, the very first thing he mentioned was: “I’m solely going to do one take. That’s it.” However then while you acquired to know him, he was like, “Oh, don’t be foolish.” He had his bravado.

However he was a really underrated, very understated actor. When he sang Lullabye by Billy Joel within the movie, he broke everybody. It was clearly superb, however it was so unhappy.

As a child, I cherished him because the baddie within the superb Superman and Superman II. He’s good at frustration. He punches his palms in rage at one level. Once we have been capturing Music for Marion, I bear in mind him coming over to offer me a therapeutic massage, as a result of I’d mentioned my again was sore. I’ve by no means been in additional ache in my life. He was not essentially the most tender of males.

Terence was tremendous, tremendous match. Throughout filming, I went to the residence the place he was staying. He had this set of rotating press-up handles. They’re on the bottom, and you place your palms on them, and as you go, you’ll be able to flip them. He mentioned: “Go on, do one.” I used to be like, “Fucking hell, I don’t know if I can.” He did masses, and I did one. I used to be within the peak of well being, about 39 years previous. He was 74 when he did Music for Marion.

He was so wholesome. He didn’t drink. He didn’t do any dangerous stuff in any respect. He was imagined to eat a chocolate bar within the movie, and we needed to swap it for a carob date bar, in any other case he wouldn’t contact it.

We all the time used to go to a spot on Berwick Road for tea – a natural tea, as a result of I assumed he’d actually like that. He had this blue service bag with him. In it, he had his script and a load of uncooked beetroot and carrots. He mentioned: “I’m going to make a depraved salad: beetroot, carrot, that’s it. A little bit of vinegar – beautiful.” That’s what I bear in mind.

Once we made Music for Marion, he was clearly nonetheless recognized. He had simply accomplished The Adjustment Bureau, and he had accomplished Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey, which wasn’t a large hit, however it was a very revered movie. I didn’t count on him to love this type of script, as a result of it was extra industrial when it comes to the story itself. However we talked about the truth that it reminded him very a lot of the connection he had together with his father. The troubles he had together with his dad weren’t dissimilar to his relationship with Christopher Eccleston within the movie. There was a jealousy of the mum’s consideration.

We have been the closing night time movie on the Toronto movie competition. Terence was there, and behind him was his youthful brother, Chris, who had managed the Who. Chris was crying his eyes out, and Terence was very comforting in the direction of him, as a result of they recognised their previous man.

He did like to speak about himself. I’ll give him that. He would all the time go on about how large guys in gyms would beg him to say: “Kneel earlier than Zod.” He advised me, clearly, about going off to India, about how he was completely broke and he needed to borrow cash to name his agent to search out out about Superman. He’d inform tales about him and Jim Morrison. The factor is, he did have an amazingly attention-grabbing life.

He was low-key, however when he put a go well with on, he seemed good. He’s probably one of the best trying man I’ve labored with. My previous drama trainer got here to our screening on the London movie competition, and the very first thing he mentioned to her was that she had great footwear. She’s nonetheless eating out on that.

He was essentially the most charming grump I’ve ever met. He was nice to work with, however he was such a moaner. Then he would smile, and also you’d suppose, he knew what he was doing.