Not as nice in person as you would think
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ian642002-1 — 16 years ago(January 05, 2010 12:42 AM)
Palin does have his off days and he's not going to be all things to all men. Read his diaries (with the recent
Halfway to Hollywood
just out) to get a better picture of the man - courteous and polite, but prone to flaws and moods just like the rest of us. I have read of certain times when Palin's affable exterior has fallen to reveal a bit of a curmudgeon - I remember a story some years ago of two young college types going to Palin's residence and hoping to interview the man himself, but, instead of an amiable chat, they found Palin irritable and annoyed to a high degree.
He's human, simply put. And he's probably hugely busy, with many strings to his bow apart from performing, so the stresses and strains of juggling all that has the possibility of taking its toll. The current diaries I'm reading (covering 1980-88) has him travelling up and down the country (and around the world) nearly every week to attend meetings, talks, family matters both trivial and important, publicity tours, book promotions, work commitments, you name it. It's probably grown in number since then, so we can't possibly know if everything is placid and calm in the Life of Michael. He's probably as busy and as harried as the rest of us.
Sadly, you can even catch the most easy-going at their most irritable. We're not all saints, and you could say the same about Palin. -
bixtonb — 12 years ago(June 22, 2013 05:29 AM)
Michael Palin is the only man I've ever met who has stormed out of his own house during an interview. He was talking to the journalist Edward Whitley, then an undergraduate, who had not enjoyed Palin's 1982 film The Missionary. (The story of a clergyman who takes his mission to comfort and bring joy to London's prostitutes a little too literally, it stars Palin, Maggie Smith and Trevor Howard.)
"Whitley has described how you flounced out, after confronting him. As I recall, the veins were 'pumping in your forehead'. Your face was pressed against his"
"There was a bit of poetic licence at work there. I don't think my veins pumped. I suppose he was trying to portray me as mad. But he was a little beep I have to say." Palin, characteristically, is instantly visited by an awareness of the need for balance. "I mean that he was like that at the time.
Two of them came, from the Oxford University newspaper.
You have to accept that not everybody will like something you have done. But there are ways and ways of saying you don't like something.
They were so incredibly patronising and condescending
."
"Just possibly with a view to winding you up?"
"I suppose so, but why? I can see the weaknesses in everything I've ever done, sometimes to an almost alarming degree."
"What happened after you'd locked yourself out? Did they ransack your underwear drawer?"
"No. Helen showed them out. Someone told me later that Whitley was actually a lovely man, at which point, of course, I began to feel guilty."
Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-dark-knight-rises-perhaps-michael-palin-isnt-the-nicest-chap-in-britain-after-all-7976634.html -
HoloDonkeh — 20 years ago(January 27, 2006 02:34 AM)
I met Michael a few years back in Sydney and he was a bit grumpy. But I just presumed that he was because it was the middle of summer and it was an absolute scorcher. I did get a picture with him though (where he was smiling) and he signed my lovely little book.
Squeal I spoke to Chris Barrie on the phone on 25/11/2005: Gazpacho Soup Day! -
fffftttthhh — 20 years ago(March 11, 2006 04:59 PM)
I met him at a book signing in belfast last year and while he was quite businesslike about the whole thing he wholly charming - i'm so glad to have caught him on a good day - i would have died if he had've dashed my expectations of him! he was lovely!
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owl-elevating-time — 20 years ago(March 15, 2006 07:31 AM)
I went to a book signing of "Harry Potter" when I was about 9 (am now 15- you do the maths) and even though harry wasn't that popular in munich (where it was) she was really nice and made little chit chat about me being a twin. So they don't only have to be rude at book signing!
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beesting_12_dot — 20 years ago(March 24, 2006 06:41 PM)
I hate it when people write things like this on posts! GARSH! Now I feel really bum. Blooaaa
But i think I'm just gonna try and remember him as he was in the Monty Python days, because he was young and fresh back then.
Now I'm sad. Thanks.
"I know I'm the worst actress
that was ever in pictures."
Jean Harlow
NO, JEAN! NO! -
rubydreamer — 20 years ago(March 29, 2006 05:35 PM)
omg I hate it when people say stuff like that. "ohh he was mean and grumpy to me! He didn't seem like he wanted to sign my paper!" sometimes someone could be the nicest person in the world and suddenly says the most insulting thing that you ever heard. Just like people think John Cleese is mean and controling. Do you really think he's like that 24/7? People say stuff blah blah blah. You can't demand him to be grateful and nice to you. Sure it's his job, but your being rather silly saying 'oh he owes me. I buy his material. He has to be nice to me. He should be licking my feet clean!"
And all that crap about being the 'nice one' do you think that's a lie? Do you actually believe a bunch of interviewers, the pythons and countless other all got into a room and said 'alright. From now on Michael shall always be the nice one. Eric your the charmer and Graham you be the quiet one. Now I don't any of you saying they are anything but!" I've heard many many people talk about how 'nice' Mike is and you just have to believe that because so many people say the same thing. But in no way does Michael Palin have to be nice all the time just like you can't expect him to owe you a smile and a whole little chit-chat. Your just being silly. I'm being silly. It's a silly world. -
caringforcrazies — 19 years ago(April 24, 2006 03:15 PM)
Okay I know this is a stupid question that might get made fun of but whatever. Michael Palin was the only cute one and I was hoping that someone might soothe my soul and say he had kids!!! Did he? Obviously he's an uncle but does he have a son and if so does anyone have pictures of him? (I'm no stalker!)
Thanks! -
nickle98 — 19 years ago(May 01, 2006 06:59 PM)
I spoke to him at a book signing in Guildford last year. There's a 'season' for it. He seemed ok, but doing that must be a real drag. He must get asked the same questions a thousand times. I once worked on cruise ships as a photographer and whenever I was shooting the captains party, all these plebs thought it was the funniest thing since Python to ask him 'Who's driving the boat?' The captains just smiled, but I'D heard it so many times I wanted to stuff my camera down their throats! I met David Attenborough too and he was very nice. A charming man.