Richard E Grant

It was a complete pleasure to meet and dress the eminent actor, author and director Mr Richard E. Grant. Daring to be different and breaking away from the black tie, he cut a dash across the red carpet in our stone prince of wales check three piece in the light summer weight tweed. At the Edinburgh International Film Festival opening party. And of course, we asked him a few quick questions and cordially invited him to our prestigious Stewart Christie & Co Gentleman's Club.

Video by EIFF TV
Director/Producer - Andy Maas
Editor - Robbie Dickson
Cinematographer - Steve Cardno
2nd Camera - Leon Brehony
Assistant Editors - Olivia Middleton & Martin Allison

Q&A

Having been constantly listed in GQ's best dressed men of the year,
what style advice could you give to those lacking sartorial confidence?

Invest in one great jacket that fits you like a glove, likewise a pair of jeans/trousers that you can wear every day or night and shoes that don't need any torturous wearing-in time. If you're over forty, stick to Bermuda length shorts to avoid 'cauliflower' knees. Haha! And avoid trainers other than for sport as they literally stink.

Over the course of your career you have played both hero and villain,
but which do you enjoy the most?

Whichever has the best dialogue to deliver. Which usually means a combination of both good and bad character traits.

With each new project there are usually new challenges and opportunities,
which role has taught you the most?

Unquestionably, being a first time movie writer-director which I was on WAH-WAH (2004)The development process required multitasking on a whole new scale and the actual shooting of the movie demanded that you have answers for everything, every minute of the day. The perfect job for a detail obsessed control freak like I am!

You are a man of many talents: acting, writing, directing, singing, even cooking and going undercover,
are there any other new skills you intend to conquer in the future?

Please send a S.A.E for my long list. Life is relatively short and you only get one go at it, so my mantra has always been 'never give up' which has stood me in good stead.

You've recently created you own bespoke fragrance,
what suit would you image to be best worn with your creation?

Anything that makes you feel comfortable, sexy and ready for anything - in other words being kitted out by Stewart Christie!

The retrospective of Withnail and I as the film is now 30 years old, as it has achieved cult status were you aware of the potential of this when it was released? And did you get to keep the amazing tweed coat?

None of us had the slightest clue that the film would go on to become such a quotable phenomenon. We were frankly amazed it even got released as it had no car chases, plot, women, or anyone famous in it, nor an easily pronounceable title. It was released in a handful of cinemas, git mediocre reviews then disappeared until it accrued a cult following via video, DVD and Uni-screenings.

The original coachman's coat was hired from a costume company and returned at the end of the shoot. However they had a couple of copies made so they could be re-lined with different fabric and I got one of those. Auctioned it off to raise bursary funds for the school I attended in Swaziland and bought by Chris Evans. Subsequently shredded when it got caught in his tractor-mower.

''Tried on a suit, wisely picked out for me by Victoria Rae in store, when I got to Edinburgh for the opening night of the film festival. Perfect fit and the small alterations to the jacket sleeve and trouser lengths were done in house by unseen elves and goblins in record time.
My father described me as 'an overwound clock' when I was nine, so patience is not one of my virtues,
so hugely appreciated the speed with which everything happened in store.
Count myself a very lucky man to have been so immaculately kitted out in such bespoke finery at Stewart Christie!''

- Richard E Grant

Photography by Kristie De Garis