CountryAndTownhouse.co.uk – 8th March, 2015

The actor has a nose for the fragrance industry.

Richard E Grant revels in his on-screen conquests

Dream role?
One that is written specifically for me, preferably by Bruce Robinson.

Who would you cast to play you?
Boris Karloff as he has the requisite Frankenstein monster forehead.

Favourite role to date?
Writing and directing my autobiographical film WAH-WAH.

Weirdest thing you’ve had to do in your career?
Get drunk for the final rehearsal on WITHNAIL and I am a tee-totaller, allergic to alcohol, so was violently ill and passed out.

Favourite Withnail & I quote?
Uncle Monty’s, ‘I’m preparing myself to forgive you.’

Why did you do the Spice Girls movie?
My daughter was eight at the time and a complete Spice Girls fanatic, so she was ecstatic when I accepted the movie which I loved making as thy were all such a good laugh.

Where do you go to write?
Aways have my iPad to hand and write anywhere.

Which do you prefer, acting or writing?
Directing the screenplay I had written was the most rewarding, all encompassing creative experience I’ve ever had.

… and now you’re expanding into the fragrance market. Why?
Lifelong obsession with smelling everything in sight and tried to make perfume in jam jars with rose and gardenia petals boiled in sugar water when I was growing up in Swaziland. Fast-forward four decades and Anya Hindmarch encouraged me to try and make a perfume, which took two years to develop and self finance.

Gardenias, lime, marijuana… how did you select the scents?
They’re my favourite ingredients along with mandarin, nutmeg, pepper, clove, vetiver and musk. Worked with a celebrated ‘nose’ called Alienor Massenet who combined them into my ‘signature’ in scent.

Why is it called Jack?
The bottle is ‘sleeved’ in a vintage style Union Jack bag with luggage label attached so that it can be personalised once open. Have collected Union flags and bunting all my life and wanted to create a quintessentially British product with a British name.

Why is scent so powerful?
Our sense of smell is the shortest synaptic leap in the brain to our memory, so smelling something triggers our memory more potently than anything else. It’s the surest way to ‘travel’ back and forth in time.

What makes your stomach turn?
Religious fundamentalism and cheese.

TV/film guilty pleasure?
The Godfather trilogy and Gogglebox. No guilt whatsoever.

What would surprise us about you?
Despite having the long face of an undertaker, am hugely optimistic and curious about everything and everyone. I am most surprised that I’m the numerical age I’ve reached, as I feel about 16.

Sorry, it’s all over… What’s on your headstone?
‘Go well, Swaziboy’

COUNTRY

Your bolthole? Petersham.
Country style? Birthday suit.
What’s on your feet? See above.
Can’t leave the house without…? iPhone
Driving music? Classic FM and or Mozart.
Sunday lunch? Roast everything.
Present for the host? JACK scented candle.
Transport? Tube, 65 bus or my old Jag.
Country culture? Herefordshire.
Historic house? Ham House.
Pub? White Cross in Richmond.
Favourite restaurant? Petersham Nurseries café.
Favourite shop? Kempton racecourse antiques market.
View From my bedroom window of? Richmond Park.
Flower? Gardenia.
App? Satnav.
Extravagance? Architectural salvage.
Gadget? Good Food Guide.
Sunday paper? The Times.
Secret address? Ballyfin hotel in Ireland.
Saturday night? DVD House of Cards.
Exercise? Swimming and tennis.
Best thing about the countryside…? The smells.
And the worst…? No Entry signs.
Perfect day? Walking with the reward of delicious food at the other end.
Relaxation? Talking and laughing.
Sunday morning means…? Cooking a full English.

TOWN

Your village? Petersham.
Style? Long scarves for a long neck.
What’s on your feet? Brogues with rubber soles.
Wake up music? Classic FM.
City supper? Spaghetti with fresh crab, coriander and chili.
Transport? 65 bus and the tube.
Museum? V&A.
Favourite Restaurant? Skye Gyngell’s Spring in Somerset House.
Hotel? Covent Garden.
Hairdresser? SUGAR in Sheen.
London app? NextBusFree.
Gadget? iPhone 6 plus
Magazine? Interiors and National Geographic.
Favourite shop? New Covent Garden flower market.
Extravagance? Dinner at Spring and the opera.
Night out? Saturday night ‘in’ with a box set.
Exercise? Chase my own tail.
Best thing about London…? It’s the epicentre of the world.
And the worst…? Road works with no workers in sight.
Perfect day? Walk in Richmond Park.
Thursday night means means…? Seeing a play.