Rupert Everett, now 67, reflects candidly on a life marked by excess, self-sabotage and eventual personal growth.In conversation during a London heatwave, he contrasts his current self with his younger years, which he describes as “brash, pushy, disingenuous” and even “lethal”.

Everett recounts how his early career, including success in Another Country and a brief Hollywood peak following My Best Friend’s Wedding, was undermined by disruptive behaviour, drug use and a lack of respect for his craft and audiences.His memoirs previously exposed a life of recklessness, including substance abuse, sexual compulsivity and betrayal of friends and partners.

Everett now struggles to understand that earlier version of himself, admitting he was driven more by desire and insecurity than discipline or artistic commitment.He describes sex as a central force in his life, tied to both liberation and a deeper attempt to escape his past and privileged upbringing.

Everett also reflects on the cultural context of his youth, including the sexual liberation of the 1970s and the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis, which affected many around him.Despite his chaotic lifestyle, he avoided addiction and serious illness, something he attributes partly to an underlying sense of responsibility.

Career-wise, he acknowledges that his openness about being gay, along with his physical presence and background, limited his opportunities in Hollywood.

Periods of failure, however, pushed him towards writing and filmmaking, culminating in The Happy Prince, a project he considers his finest achievement.Now older, Everett has adopted a more measured and disciplined approach to life and work, though he regrets not finding this balance sooner.He lives with his husband and values stability, while expressing a reduced interest in the pursuits that once dominated him.Ultimately, he presents himself as someone who has evolved significantly, learning to prioritise quieter contentment over chaos and excess.