GEORGE WAYNE Q & A

Michael York swings again

VANITIES

Michael York's appearances in Cabaret and Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet and his Oxford University Dramatic Society and National Theatre roles made him the dashing standard-bearer of a new generation of British actors and an icon of Swinging London. Generation Y has discovered his talents in the Austin Powers films, where he plays the films' takeoff of Ian Fleming's character M, from the James Bond series. As York prepares for the release of the latest installment, Austin Powers in Goldmember, he muses to our correspondent on eunuchs, hip replacements, and turning down Love Story.

George Wayne:Tell me about Goldmember.

Michael York: Well, it's the third Austin Powers film, which I'm in. I'm Basil Exposition; someone's got to tell them what's going on.

G.W.You must know how to massage Mike Myers's humongous ego. He's asked you to be in all three of his Austin Powers movies.

M.Y. I won't hear a word said against him. I think he's the most modest of all the comedians I know. We usually talk about history on the set. I really admire him.

G.W.What are the new exploits of Basil Exposition?

M.Y. I'm actually sworn to secrecy. I signed some document.

G.W.Oh come on, you poof!

M.Y. Many of the usual suspects are back, including MiniMe.

G.W.Mini-Me is back? I'd heard that he wasn't asked to come back.

M.Y. Oh no, he's back.

G.W.Your acting career spans some 30 years.

M.Y. That's the apprentice years. The great thing about this job is if you have your wits about you, and your health, you are allowed to go on.

G.W.You're 60. Let's be real here —what's there for the geriatric in Hollywood?

M.Y. A pension. I'm going to create a new senility.

G.W.What would you say has been the definitive role for you to date?

M.Y. I guess it was the first one that made a splash, The Taming of the Shrew.

G.W.Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew is the one? I thought you would have said your role as Brian in Cabaret.

M.Y. Well, it certainly was a huge, worldwide success, and what pleases me is that it's still being shown.

G.W.And you turned down Love Story—what were you thinking? M.Y. I didn't think it was for me, and if I had done it, I might have ruined the whole thing.

G.W.Zeffirelli discovered you, didn't he?

M.Y. Well, yes. I was a member of the National Theatre Company, and he came to do Much Ado About Nothing, and he asked one day if I made movies. I said I'd love to, and he asked me to go on audition for The Taming of the Shrew, and fortunately I got the role. So I am very grateful to him. And he gave me a wonderful piece of advice which I have always kept. And that is: in this business, where you are going to meet a lot of rejection, you have to believe in yourself, fundamentally and unequivocally, to learn to navigate in this rather icy sea—to succeed.

G.W.Fact or fiction? Michael York has to wear a bite plate at night because he grinds his teeth in his sleep.

M.Y. False. I did have a hip replacement two years ago due to all that swashbuckling.

G.W.You and Liza have that in common.

M.Y. Yes, that's true.

G.W.You're such an erudite thespian. What country has the most eunuchs? M.Y. Is this a trick question?

G.W.It's a test of your general knowledge. M.Y. I would say Turkey.

G.W.Wrong. India.

Since you're such a Kipling fanatic, I thought you'd know that. I read your autobiography, Accidentally on Purpose, and one thing is perfectly clear—Michael York is certainly proud of his career.

M.Y. Is that what comes over? How vulgar. I did this, then I did that. Oh, how awful. I called the book Accidentally on Purpose. On one hand it was supposed to be attentiongrabbing, but on the other it was a deeply philosophical research into this actor's life. I was looking for the threads of destiny, but I'm not sure if I found the answer.

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