Hurt 'reluctant' over Brighton Rock

John Hurt was reluctant to join the cast of Brighton Rock

February 04 2011 08:39 AM

John Hurt has admitted he had doubts about taking a role in new film Brighton Rock.

The award-winning actor - who plays bookie Phil Corkery in the gangster movie - said it was director Rowan Joffe's enthusiasm which eventually persuaded him to join the cast.

"I was a bit reluctant to start with, I thought it wasn't a very big part but [Rowan] was absolutely passionate for it and it's a British film and I want to support British film anyway. I've always wanted to support British film," he added.

"So we did it and I was really very pleased we did too, it because I think it turned out to be a really terrific film."

John said it was a pleasure to work alongside Dame Helen Mirren, who plays a tea shop manager who becomes tangled up in 1960s Brighton's murky underworld.

"We've never been on screen before, we've been in a stage play. It's always a joy to work with Helen and it was a joy again. We enjoyed every second of it," he added.

"[My character] is there as an image in a sense to show what the various different competing crooks are trying to extort from people, and as a voice of reason - I never thought I'd find myself as a voice of reason, but there you go."