DOUGLAS HENSHALL
In Psychos you play a psychiatrist in a mental hospital. Is that as disturbing as it sounds?
Hectic and harrowing at times, yeah, but when the scripts good I enjoy the work. The most worrying thing for me was making sure that it was believable, out of respect for the people who do suffer from mental illness. That’s not the sort of thing you can mess around with.
And before that you did a romantic comedy – This Year’s Love a contrast!
This Year’s Love was a great laugh. It did wonders for my profile too. I was getting some money out of a cash machine the other day and some lassie asked me for my autograph. All that kind of stuff’s a bit weird for me, but I get a real kick out of it.
So what else do you get a kick out of these days?
Being an actor. I know that sounds a wee bit poncey, but I don’t care. I guess it’s also nice to be at the stage in my career when I can say “no” if I don’t like a script. I don’t have to work if I don’t want to.
Does that mean you’re loaded?
I only worked 16 weeks last year. That money had to last me for 52 weeks. Thankfully, there’s enough left to pay the bills and enjoy myself. I went to the Maldives a while ago and had a real blast. That was one of those times when I said ‘I’ve earned this. I’ve worked hard for this.” It was a little present to myself.
Is that a particular vice then expensive holidays?
Not really, I guess clothes are my thing. I like going to somewhere like Paul Smith and being able to buy myself a new suit. When I first came to London, I spent so much time window shopping, thinking “God, I’ll never be able to afford that.” It’s the same with restaurants – I like going to somewhere a bit pricey and not having to worry about it.
As a working-class lad from Glasgow, don’t you find it hard to fork out 75 quid in a restaurant?
There’s a bit about me that says. “They shouldn’t be letting me in here. I’m not posh enough,” But my mum always made me understand that life was there to be enjoyed by everyone – regardless of where you came from.
Did your parent encourage you to go to drama school?
Both my mum and dad were huge film fans, so they were definitely up for the whole acting thing. My mum died two years ago – it would be nice for her to be around now that things are beginning to take off. She’d enjoy that.
Do you go home much?
I enjoy visiting my family. I like being able to take them out and treat them to a good night out. That’s probably the biggest thrill I get out of having cash to spend.
You don’t often talk about your family life do you?
No! My private life is my business. You wouldn’t dream of going up to a bus driver and saying “Hey mate tell me about your family.” Why should it be any different for me just because I’m an actor?
by:Danny Scott, Sunday Express magazine May 2nd 1999