Russell Brand
In the Greek Theater of Los Angeles we had the opportunity to talk with the comedian of the moment Russell Brand.
His sense of humor and his sex appeal are the best attraction for this brit that in our interview confesses to be in love with Spain and the Spanish language. Brad is not very shy at the time to talk about this past and he even tried to talk in Spanish during the interview. As an avid lover of the Spanish culture he confesses he is reading the classics of the Spanish literature. Married with the singer Katy Perry, Russell is already shooting a new movie in New York.
Q. Is true that you are in love with Spain?
A.. Yes. I lived for a littler while in Madrid. When I was young I had a madrileña girlfriend. I lived a few months there. I love Spain and their culture; right now I’m trying to learn Spanish
Q. Why? (Answer in Spanish)
A. Is very important to talk in Spanish because is the language of the workers. Is the language of the revolution. Is the language of love. I like to read the writings of Pablo Neruda, Lorca, Cervantes. The Spanish is a beautiful language. And I like the Spanish people, their passion, they are very funny
Q. Do you speak Spanish?
A. Yes. A Little bit. I’m learning Spanish in this moment
Q. Do you read those authors in Spanish or in English?
A. In both languages, that way I learn and understand what they are saying. I jump from English to Spanish
Q. When did you live in Spain?
A. I was 19 and I fell in love of a young girl in El Escorial. After that I had another girlfriend in Barcelona. The Spanish women are wonderful
Q. So do you feel an obligation to use your celebrity status for good?
A. It’s a tentative toe in the water of altruism and humanity. I feel hugely compromised and hypocritical because I’ve had a life where I’ve been exposed to things I can’t forget—poverty, suffering—and I know those things continue to exist, and the further you indulge yourself in success, the more you feel this is stupid. I get a twinkling awareness of spiritual utopia through meditation; there could be some better way—and I don’t think it’s through the acquisition of stuff.
Q. What type of characters are you looking for?
A. Up until now I only wanted to do comedy. But as any other artist I go through up and downs. I’m starting as an actor and I enjoy the process
Q. You are the new comedian in Hollywood
A.. I worked very hard to get where I am right now. I realize that everything is irrelevant. The fact that I’m famous in USA doesn’t mean a lot, maybe my next job is to become a dancer for the talibans. I love to make people laugh, even in war zones. I want that everybody comes to the movies to watch my movies
Q. You said when we did you for Get Him to the Greek that you wanted to achieve world domination that you wanted to be recognized in the most remote places in the world. How is that going for you?
A. It’s going all right. (Laughter) I’ve been recognized in some quite remote places. I always laugh at how bold my objectives were and such a short time ago, and I think that speaks to the huge capacity of love, to change a person. Since falling in love and getting married, I have very different priorities. And I think as well, that is a prevalent theme in Arthur. And I think this speaks to a very poetic, romantic, traditional idea.
Q. What’s the book in Spanish that you liked the most?
A. I loved El Quixote. The character of Sancho Panza is universal. The friend who helps is an archetype that is very utilize in the movies today. The central character usually fantasize as The Quixote and is the friend who guide him
Q. Are you a hedonist?
A. Not at all. I love visiting the hedonism without terrible consequences. My strength comes from adversity and suffering. For long time I didn’t have anything in my life and I felt useless. I left my home when I was sixteen years old. I worked for the MTV from the 24 years old to the 26 years old. Then after came the drugs, the chaos and craziness. I lost everything until I turned 30 years old and I could twist my life around leaving the drugs.
Q. Are you the quintessential of a rocker with a live full of excess
A. It represents anti-establishment. I think the origin of rock'n'roll was implicit in that it was about revolution and rebellion before the counter-culture became submerged into the dominant culture. At that time you had a lot of civil rights. A lot was happening in Cuba, you also had feminism, and I think it was an exciting time. Somehow it got aligned to these broader, more powerful ideas, and [there] was something shamanistic and ritualistic about these attractive Christ-like figures. They're standing on stage, writhing, gesticulating, promising other worlds
Q. Would you come back son to Spain?
A. Yes. I love Spain
Q. Do you believe in positive thinking?
A. I respond to the positive thinking. Many people believe that all that is bullshit and maybe they are right but if you fill your head with positive thinking you will be fine and in no need of any other staff
Q. You said that it was impossible for you to be monogamous and when you meet Katy Perry you became on?
A. My path was to be ready to meet Katy. We change over the years, is very significant meet someone that is worth it to change
Q. And your life how much it changed?
A. Now I’m working all the time. Before I was always in a party, but now that world doesn’t have sense to me. I prefer staying at home with my wife
Q. Is true that you are taking your autobiography to the big screen?
A. Michael Winterbottom wants to do it, but that was when I was thinking on playing myself. Now I don’t want that character
