Sir Alec says goodbye to Smiley

Press, 26 October 1982, Page 23

Sir Alec says goodbye to Smiley

From

JUDITH REGAN

in London

First it was "Tinker. Tailor. Soldier, Spv" which intrigued and ' baffled millions of viewers. Now. "Smiley’s People" is doing it again - thanks largely to the enigmatic skills of Sir Alec Guinness, who has made the retired spymaster. George Smiley, one of his most memorable creations. , And viewers must make the most of it. because, although there is a chance that there may be a sequel. Sir Alec insists that he will not play Smiley for a third time. The new television series, which is now being screened in Britain, provides another chance for Smiley to pit his wits against Karla, the ruthless head of the MoscowCentre. amid glamorous locations in Germany. France and Switzerland. For Sir Alec, now 68, it meant a strenuous four months of travelling, filming, rehearsing, and more travelling. filming, and rehearsing, so that at one point he commented drily, "If we go on like this, the film will end up like a travelogue. "Still, the backgrounds are more interesting than I am." He was clearly delighted when the director, Simon Langton, said: “It would be an exhausting role for a man half his age. But he is a master of his trade. He knows his business better than any other actor." Ironically, when Sir Alec was first approached to play Smiley, four years ago. he was reluctant to accept the part. "I thought I was too old.” he said with a smile, "and also too thin.

"But. anyway. I let myself be talked into it. and had a marvellous time eating and drinking, and I put on a stone and a half." This time round, he said, he found himself trying to keep his weight down. "I was all right to start with." he said, “but with all the wonderful meals. I was having difficulty in getting into my clothes, so I really had to watch it." As Smiley, he is invariably seen in a sober, dark suit, white shirt and immaculately polished shoes. As Sir Alec — '’Really. I’m much happier just being called Alec." he said — he makes a far more comfortable figure sitting in an armchair in his Hampshire home, wearing khaki slacks with a jaunty striped shirt and casual loafers. He poured himself a drink, lit a cheroot — “I’m completely hooked on them" — and settled back to talk about Smiley. "I understand that John Le Carre, who created Smiley,

has left a tiny option open, so that if circumstances are right, he could bring Smiley back yet again. "But what with all the preparation for the part, plus the filming, he has taken 18 months of my life. I'm not complaining, it’s a wonderful part — a marvellous character to play. "But I feel that enough is enough, and should the situation occur. I think I should have to insist that they find another actor for the role. “Now. I feel I really am too old. because although he is essentially a very quiet man. one has to get across the feeling of the ruthlessness and vitality that lies behind this reserved Englishman's mask, and that's really quite hard work." What will he do next? “Who knows?" He smiled again, the quiet, enigmatic smile so reminiscent of Smiley. “I don’t know how to do anything, really, except act. so I shall just .look at each job as it comes along and decide whether or not I want

to do it." However, he will be seen on the big screen, in the third of the "Star Wars" epics. "The Revenge of the Jedi." The very mention of it caused a flicker of something that approached distaste to cross his face. "I only have the tiniest part in it." he said. "That’s just as well, because the dialogue is lamentable. "I do hope my billing for it is tiny, because I wouldn't want 'it to go on a list of great screen credits." At the moment he is very happy writing dialogue himself. for at last he has been persuaded to prepare ■ his autobiography, which would

not. he said, contain any spicy secrets. “Do you really think that I could possibly come out with anything that could remotely be considered to be scandalous?" he asked. But then there was a little enigmatic hint of a smile again. Sir Alec was full of praise for his fellow actors in “Smiley’s People." "They were brilliant — simply brilliant." he said. "People seem to forget that this whole thing was a team effort — a tremendous effort — and I don’t think everyone should go on about Smiley so much. I really don’t!" Features International