Time to return home, says ‘Avengers’ star

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 16

Time to return home, says ‘Avengers’ star

From

HELEN HOWARD

in London

Strolling happily, and virtually unnoticed, through London streets, 62-year-old Patrick Macnee declared: “'I think it’s about time I set up home in England again. “I’m coming back here on visits all the time,” said Macnee, “and I adore the place. “I miss England, and each time I return, it becomes harder and harder to shake off the homesickness.” It is more than 30 years since the star of “The Avengers” — now being screened again on Britain’s Channel 4 — and a new hit series, “Empire,” decided to make his home abroad. In “Empire,” Macnee plays Calvin Cromwell, a would-be ruthless boss of a multi-national corporation, which makes microwave ovens that have the mysterious knack of making women glow in the dark. It has quickly gained a cult following in Britain. “I’m rather proud of ‘Empire,’ because I think it’s one of the most important roles that I’ve tackled for a long time,” Macnee said. “I’ve been pretty lucky for most of my career, but the problem recently has been that I’ve taken almost every role that’s been offered to me. “Some,” he said, “haven’t exactly been the most exciting.” Macnee was probably the first actor to achieve inter-

national success from a television series, as John Steed in “The Avengers.”

"I didn't realise until afterwards just how successful and unusual that series was,” he said. “On the other hand, I've never been out of work for more than three weeks in about 40 years.” Sadly, for one of the world’s most instantly recognisable actors, Macnee leads a rather lonely life.

“It’s difficult for me to have intimate relationships,” he said. “Now, I rather think that was probably the problem with my two” marriages. “I’m a distant person, which isn’t easy for anybody who has to share my life. I blame that on spending my boyhood in an institution like Eton, which was followed by a spell as a commander of a torpedo boat during the Second World War. “Both are ways of life which require lonely existences.” He has found some consolation in his relationship with his son, Rupert — a television producer — and his daughter, Jennifer, both of whom live close to his luxurious Palm Beach home. “Jennifer suffers from asthma, and she really needs that dry, desert climate to keep her alive,” Macnee said. Recently, too, Macnee’s first wife, Barbara — mother of both his children — also moved close to Palm Springs from England after she became widowed. “She wanted to settle close to the children,” said Macnee, “and we’ve become good friends again.” “After all those years, it’s almost as if we have all come back together again as a family.” Macnee’s dry, impish humour recently gained a lot of unexpected publicity, when he remarked on an American chat show that “at my age, I’ve given up the pursuit of sex.” Smiling rather ruefully, he said, “It was just a throwaway remark but, for some obscure reason, many people found it of enormous interest.

“I made the remark, not because I’ve given up the ‘pursuit’ for religious

reasons, or for lack of opportunity ... “It’s quite simply that I just felt I didn’t need it any more. “After all, I’ve been married and divorced twice. Once you are past your 50s, the fire in your loins doesn’t burn as brightly as it once did. “There’s such a lot of song-and-dance,” he added cheerfully, “about the importance of sex. I honestly

believe that friendship is far more important.” He was perhaps more embarrassed by a recent incident that happened because of his life-long love of travel and good clothing. “I’ve always loved travel and meeting people, and during a recent visit to Singapore, I learned that I had been awarded the accolade of being one of America’s top 10 bestdressed men.

“Ironically, the news coincided with my arrival at the Tang Ling Club, which is probably the most exclusive establishment in all South-east Asia. “I was very quietly and discreetly requested to leave, because the management had noticed that my jacket and trousers didn’t quite match. “It’s a funny old world, isn’t it?” Features International