Richard Eyre Shares Intimate Details in Candid Life Interview
Renowned theatre and film director Richard Eyre, the 82-year-old former artistic director of the National Theatre, has offered a remarkably frank glimpse into his personal life, fears, and reflections in a recent interview. The Devon-born director, currently shooting The Housekeeper and directing Strindberg's Dance of Death at Richmond's Orange Tree theatre until 7 March, revealed everything from his guiltiest pleasure to his most profound disappointments.
Personal Struggles and Family Life
Eyre spoke openly about the emotional toll of his wife Sue Birtwistle's Alzheimer's diagnosis, describing it as what makes him most unhappy and what recently brought him to tears in despair. "My wife has Alzheimer's," Eyre stated, adding that she remains "the greatest love of my life" despite being "in a very diminished form." He described love as feeling like "warmth and confidence" and expressed regret about not being more gracious when his father apologized on his deathbed for being "aggressively indifferent" to Eyre's career.
Career Reflections and Creative Insights
The director, who counts Iris, Notes on a Scandal, and The Dresser among his notable films, identified his happiest period as being in the 1980s. His greatest fear remains failure, while he most deplores his own impatience and others' intolerance. When asked to describe himself in three words, Eyre chose "curious, energetic, droll."
Eyre revealed that playwright Edward Bond once delivered the worst insult he's ever received, comparing him to "a turd flowing on the effluent of British culture." In a lighter moment, he noted that actor Johnny Flynn is portraying him in a film about Ian Charleson, though Eyre considers Flynn "too young and good-looking" for the role.
Surprising Revelations and Personal Habits
Among the interview's most surprising revelations was Eyre's admission that his "guiltiest pleasure" is reading thrillers. He also confessed to an embarrassing moment during a theatre masterclass when he had to leave the stage because he was "about to shit my pants."
The director acknowledged swearing as his "most unappealing habit" and admitted to overusing words and phrases that "you can't print." When asked about his appearance, Eyre revealed he imagines himself to be in his mid-40s but sees "this old man who looks dangerously like my father."
Philosophical Reflections and Social Commentary
Eyre expressed significant disappointment with the progress of social justice since his university days in the 1960s, stating: "At university in the 60s, I thought social justice was going to improve exponentially. How wrong I was." This represents what he considers his "biggest disappointment."
The director shared that anxiety keeps him awake at night and revealed a harrowing brush with the law during the Brixton riots when he lived in Stockwell and spent "a lot of time giving evidence at the Old Bailey" after a gang raped his neighbor.
Life Lessons and Final Thoughts
When asked about the most important lesson life has taught him, Eyre simply said "endurance." On the subject of death, he offered a Shakespearean reference: "The rest is silence." As for how he'd like to be remembered, he responded with characteristic wit: "Isn't it enough just to be remembered?"
Eyre, who was educated at the University of Cambridge and began his career as an actor before rising to lead the National Theatre from 1987 to 1999, currently lives in London with his wife and daughter. The interview provides a comprehensive portrait of an artist grappling with personal challenges while maintaining his creative output and philosophical perspective on life's complexities.
