Hollywood tends to disregard tradition, history and anything factual, twisting it and turning it 
Since his near mute performance as Adso of Melk in The Name Of The Rose, Christian Slater has defied easy definition in a varied career. Cult films like Heathers, Pump Up The Volume and True Romance have contrasted with more thoughtful movies like Untamed Heart, Bed Of Roses and Jimmy Hollywood. The 35-year-old clearly has a healthy sense of humour about himself and his career if his latest pic is anything to go by. In spoof wartime tale Churchill: The Hollywood Years, Slater rather improbably plays the title role.
Did it take you long to tune into the sense of humour of your colleagues in Churchill: The Hollywood Years?
I remember in the early 80s someone had a bootleg tape of the Monty Python guys doing that Spam song, and I've been a changed man ever since. It affected me deeply. So the timing of this arriving was perfect.
How did you prepare for the role of Winston Churchill?
Well, obviously, as soon as I'd finished the script I read a lot of books on Winston Churchill, and started to gain weight and really prepare emotionally, mentally and physically for the role. Then I came over here for the wardrobe fitting and they handed me my little vest and I realised we were going in a different direction. So I shifted gears and started to watch a bunch of Bruce Willis movies - that was really the key for me.
Is it very competitive working with a cast of top comedians?
It was a nightmare! And you can quote me on that.
The gag that underpins the movie is that this is a Hollywood-style take on British history, isn't it?
This is what Hollywood tends to do. It tends to disregard tradition, history and anything factual, twisting it and turning it and making it all okay regardless of what the English may think of it. That was the point of the film, to take it to such an incredible extreme.
Was it daunting to reprise Jack Nicholson's role in the stage version of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest [currently playing in London]?
Doing the play, initially I did have some trepidation about it, but I always wanted to come to the West End. It was a terrific opportunity to go to Edinburgh and be a part of the theatre festival there. It is a wonderful play at the end of the day, and a great role. What I ended up doing, at the suggestion of the director, was not watching the movie at all. I focussed mainly on the book and got a treasure trove of information from that. That made it possible to play RP McMurphy as opposed to playing Jack Nicholson.
What are the differences between acting on the stage here and back home in the US?
There's something about doing theatre in London - it sinks a little bit deeper into your soul as an actor. It's something about the tradition of theatre, about performing on the West End stage. Broadway is wonderful and exciting, and I love that as well, but this was the first time I'd been in the West End. It was a great honour.
Churchill: The Hollywood Years is released in UK cinemas on Friday 3rd December 2004.
