Good morning,
Today we have Matt Berry eyeing our Life & Times questionnaire with suspicion. Matt, 50, grew up in Bedford, moved to Nottingham’s Trent University to study contemporary art, and then to London where, for a time, he worked at the London Dungeon playing a judge in the morning and Jack The Ripper in the afternoon.
Since then, he has grown into one of Britain’s most distinctive and very best comedic actors. We watch anything he’s in. Let’s look at some of his best roles and work.
There was Steven Toast in Toast of London, the puffed-up thespian and voice over lothario who, says Berry, is the exact opposite of his true self.
What about Year of the Rabbit, in which Berry played a detective battling London’s grimmest criminals of the 1880s alongside two sidekicks. Like a Victorian Sweeney, it contained some magnificent swearing.
He’s just finished his sixth and final season playing Laszlo Cravensworth in the award-winning What We Do In The Shadows, the horror comedy series about four vampires house-sharing in New York.
We loved him in the supernatural medical TV spoof Gareth Marenghi’s Darkplace, too, we especially liked him as the playboy boss Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd and we even liked him as Paddler, the neurotic beaver, in the Wild Robot.
Matt Berry also makes lots of very groovy and original music. As a child, his parents left an organ in his room one night, without instructions, and so he taught himself to play it, followed by guitar. Since then, he has made eight studio albums, the latest of which is Heard Noises. It came out on Acid Jazz on Friday. It’s another tour de force which keeps his favoured freaky ‘60s pop as a base note, but veers off into somewhat more psychedelic and spacey sounds too. The taster single, a duet with Kitty Liv called ‘I Gotta Limit’, isn’t particularly indicative of the record as a whole as it’s very varied, but I do love it.
Before Christmas, Ted called Matt for a short and sweet Life & Times. If you like it, please feel free to share with all, and do not hesitate to sign up as a subscriber if you’re not already - plenty more where this came from. Why not listen to Heard Noises as you read?
Enjoy the edition,
Ted and Niall
The Life & Times Of…Matt Berry
What was the first record you loved?
Oh God. The first single? The first album? The first piece of music – Jesus. As a youngster? Well, it would have been whatever was on Top of the Pops. God. Um! One of my earliest memories is Flash by Queen.
And the last?
Probably the last thing I listened to. So, let’s see what we’ve got here. The last thing I listened to was Witches by Alice Phoebe Lou.
What is your daily domestic routine?
There isn’t one as such as every day is completely different, due to the job that I have. I can’t enforce any kind of routine because the length of any day is always completely different. That wouldn’t be for some, but I don’t mind it. It’s what I’m used to.
Who or what is the love of your life?
That’s no one’s business.
What's your worst habit?
I can’t do anything about it, but it’s forgetfulness. Thinking I’ve remembered something, but when it comes down to it I haven’t.
When were you most creatively satisfied?
It can be on set or in the studio. If something’s gone well, then that is creatively satisfying. It’s across platforms and probably too hard to just pinpoint one.
Has anyone you've met ever made you feel starstruck?
Not really. The only person who it felt very strange to meet was Jean Michel Jarre, because as a little kid I thought he was unworldly. Not someone I imagined I’d ever meet because he looked and sounded as if he came from a different planet. So when I eventually went to talk to him at his studio, it took a few seconds while he was talking to me to realise he was a human being.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m not particularly bothered if they learn anything at all, to be honest.
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
That’s a good one. Possibly 1888 because in that year I could go over to Arles and see Van Gogh paint his sunflowers. Then I could get a boat and train back to London and unmask the Ripper.
What do you wish the 18-year-old you knew?
That he’d have more than a quid in his pocket. That it wouldn’t always be like that!
What one book would you recommend we read?
Everyone’s different. I never suggest anything. I can’t take advice so I’m the last the person to give it. If I was speaking to an artist, then I would suggest A Picture of Dorian Gray because it does a lot of things, but one of the main things is that it says that all art is completely useless. By useless, don’t misunderstand this, it’s that it doesn’t have any worth. There’s no point to it, which is the point. You don’t have to stress about it. Nobody’s asked for it.
What was the home you grew up in like?
Very small, with two rooms upstairs and just about two rooms downstairs. Very small.
Do you mind getting older?
It doesn’t matter if I mind getting older, there’s nothing I can do about it. My opinion on it doesn’t mean shit. It’s going to happen anyway.
What's the best advice you've ever been given?
It’s really a cliché, but you need to follow your instincts.
What's the secret to a happy relationship?
Space, I think.
What's the worst thing anyone has ever said to you?
“Would you like some more?”
Can you cook - what's your signature dish?
No, I can’t.
What’s your favourite film and why?
It’s Jaws, for many reasons. One of which is that I am exactly the same age as Jaws. Jaws began shooting on the day that I was born, which is the 2nd of May 1974. So, for some weird reason, I feel I have some kind of cosmic link to Jaws because we are exactly the same age.
Which living person do you most despise?
Nobody really, because I don’t want to waste the energy.
Have you ever been arrested?
That’s nobody’s business.
On what occasion do you lie?
If I’ve genuinely forgotten the true story.
When and why did you last cry?
It was a film I was sent of a kid sending a Christmas card to a dad asking if he would adopt the kid. That was a few hours ago, actually.
Do you have a temper? How does it manifest?
Not as such, I can’t be fucked. If someone is being an idiot, I’ll just get out. I don’t mind telling them, but like I’ve said with all these other answers, I’m too busy.
Which talent would you most like to have?
The talent to drive. There are some talented drivers, I’ve worked with them. I’d like to be a talented driver.
What is your pet peeve?
People from the UK using the word “guys”.
Do you have any phobias?
I’m scared of ghosts.
What is your desert island disc?
Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield.
Are you excited about the Oasis reunion?
The thing is, I was lucky enough to see them at Knebworth, and I saw them at Earls Court in ’95. Not only have I seen them, but I saw them at their best. So, I feel that I should let others get excited about this. Because I’ve had my time.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
I suppose having a continued career. No, no. Not that. I can’t answer that. I’ll have to pass.