Veteran actor to star as disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein in screenplay

Heather Greenaway He’s made a career out of playing the bad guy but veteran actor Steven Berkoff has revealed he’s now taking on Hollywood’s biggest villain – Harvey Weinstein.

The influential actor and playwright has written, directed and will star in screenplay Harvey about the disgraced film mogul, who has been accused of rape and sexual assault by a host of actresses.

Steven, 80, best known for his villainous roles such as General Orlov in the Bond movie Octopussy and Lt Col Podovsky in Rambo, can’t wait to get his teeth into his meatiest and most controversial role to date.

He said: “We did the reading of it last week and it was phenomenal. I’ll be playing Harvey, of course.

“I’ve played a lot of bad guys in my time, especially in movies. It’s delightful playing the villain. It’s almost the most interesting and most complicated role in a film.

“Who wants to be a goodie when you can be evil? It’s play acting, after all. Everyone remembers the bad guy long after they’ve seen the movie.

“From A Clockwork Orange and The Tourist to Octopussy and even Beverly Hi l ls Cop, I’ve played the villain in every type of f ilm imaginable. I’ve had the privilege of working with some great directors.”

But he says that Weinstein doesn’t even compare to his worst on-screen character.

He said: “If I had to pick my favourite screen villain, it would have to be Adolf Hitler in the TV mini-series Days Of Remembrance. He’s the ultimate bad guy.”

Award-winning Steven, who also starred in hit film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Krays, said: “I enjoy being in movies but my heart will always lie with the theatre.

“I may be 80 but I intend to keep acting until the day I die. Instead of slowing down, I’ve discovered my second wind. There are still lots of characters – both bad and good – I’ve yet to play.” on the brink of social change. Steven said: “In the days I had off from acting, I would be out exploring with my camera, using that time to photograph the environment around the Citizens. “I was fascinated by the appalling decay of the Gorbals, which was waiting for the iron ball of the demolition workers.

“The area was crumbling and people had started being rehoused but there were always kids out playing in the rubble and squalor, which made for great atmospheric photos.

“I was drawn to the slums and decay because it was just like the area where I was brought up in the east end of London. It felt very familiar to me. I love that I captured the old Gorbals before it disappeared forever.”

Twice-married Steven, who lives with his classical pianist partner Clara Fisher, said: “One of my favourite photos is one I took in the Seaforth Bar in the Gorbals. It’s a classic pub picture.

“There are three men sitt ing at separate tables partitioned off from one another. They are in prof i le and each has a cigaret te in their hand and a pint in front of them.

“It ’s a study of society at the time – forlorn, crumbling and lonely. The out- of- work men have gone to the pub seeking company and are happy to sit in silence.

“I took roll upon roll of f ilm during those three months. I had a really good