Connolly hints he may make acting comeback on film or TV
● Glasgow-born comic suggests he could play a character with Parkinson’s
Sir Billy Connolly has revealed he would consider making a TV or film comeback - despite declaring that his stand-up days are behind him due to the impact of his Parkinson’s disease.
The legendary Scottish comedian, who also won acclaimed for roles in The Big Man and Mrs Brown, said he would be open to offers for roles, despite withdrawing from live performances.
Speaking during a visit to his native Glasgow, the 77-yearold said he would even be interested in playing a character with Parkinson’s, which he was diagnosed with in 2013.
Connolly, who was unveiling a new collection of his own artwork, revealed that his wife Pamela was keeping him active by negotiating “secret” deals for projects, including TV documentary series.
He said he had been bemused by the continued interest in his decision to call a halt to live performances, which he announced in November 2018.
His acting career goes back nearly half a century to The Great Northern Welly Boot Show, a stage musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1972.
His last major film role saw him play a grandfather with terminal cancer, in What We Did On Our Holiday, which he made with David Tennant in the West Highlands.
Asked whether he would consider returning to acting, Connolly said: “I’d maybe act again if a nice thing came up. I’d definitely mull it over. I don’t have anything in mind, but I’d definitely mull it over if I was asked. I like doing it.
“I had a brilliant time making What We Did On Our Holiday up at Gairloch, apart from the midges. They were the worst I’ve ever experienced them.”
“I went to a thing at Downing Street for a Parkinson’s charity. I met a writer who wanted me to play a guy with Parkinson’s in a film. I said ‘sure, I’ll do that.’ “But I think the whole project has fallen through now.”
Connolly kept performing live for another three years after being told he had Parkinson’s, before his final shows.
He added: “I think people think that retiral is an explosive decide, whereas it meant nothing to me. Maybe it’s because nobody ever retired before.”
Connolly revealed he had decided to tone down the amount of swearing in a recent book of his classic routines.
He said: “I was shocked by the sheer amount of swearing. It just didn’t sit right, it was overdone.
“I got criticised at the time by absolutely everybody. even my roadies would say: ‘I thought you were over the top’.”