Category: TV
Ent
Date: 03.09.2004
Printable version
Friday
3 September 2004, 10.35 pm, 91Èȱ¬ ONE
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Fresh from clowning around at the circus, legendary
actor turned philanthropist Paul Newman swaps sawdust for sofa
and knocks up a mean salad dressing when he meets Jonathan Ross
exclusively in the first show of the new series tonight (Friday 3 September).
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He blames his casual attire on his big top antics earlier
in the day - "I apologise for my appearance. The monkeys were throwing
stuff and they messed up my blazer."
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In town to meet the many UK charities he supports, Newman
talks about his journey from film icon to foodie and - even at the age
of 79 - says his movie career is far from over.
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Newman reveals his views on Hollywood now: "It's
lost its camaraderie, it's just business now."
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He gives his views on his contemporaries from the Sixties:
"Steve [McQueen] and I were friends, he was a great loss. We used
to motorcycle together"; "[Robert Redford], we hung out together,
we bounced off each other and we're still friends."
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And on US politics today: "It doesn't seem to be
for the people any more. The concentration of
wealth is in the hands of fewer and fewer people. It's not good for
the country."
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He says he was once tempted to become a politician
himself: "Yes, but people talked me out of it, thank God."
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Famously married for 45 years to Joanne Woodward, Newman
says the secret of a happy marriage is "affection... and you can
hit each other all the time!"
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He says his early forays into business - "I sold
encyclopaedias at Yale, I ran a laundry when I graduated" - stood
him in good stead for the success of his food products.
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The sales of his range of dressings and sauces, Newman's
Own, now outgross his films, although "it started off as a joke,
we thought it wouldn't gross more than $20."
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Newman demonstrates to Jonathan his skill at knocking
up his own salad dressing.
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But his heart is still in movie-making, and he reveals
that he and Robert Redford are talking about reprising one of the most
famous screen partnerships: "We may still yet work together, we're
in the talking stages."
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Jonathan also welcomes to the show Christian Slater,
about to star in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest in the West End; comedian
turned actor Jack Dee whose new 91Èȱ¬ show Live at the Apollo begins
on Monday; and there's music from cult Japanese band The 5.6.7.8.s
and Paul Weller.
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