‘I’M STILL LAUGHING AT 80’
The comedian opens up about coming to terms with his painful past and how he deals with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
He’s a literal living comedy legend – and one with a résumé that puts other entertainers well and truly in the shade.
Whether it’s through his work as a sell-out stand-up comedian, or through an impressive back catalogue of big ticket movie credits – from Mrs Brown and Indecent Proposal to The Last Samurai and The Hobbit – Sir Billy Connolly has an enviable career spanning almost 50 years.
However, the star of stage and screen was forced to retire four years ago, following a surprise diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Yet, despite enduring the day-today impact of the illness, he hasn’t let it dampen his high spirits.
“I just got a walking stick. It makes me think that people are looking at me differently... but I just got [sick of] falling on my arse all the time!” he tells Woman’s Day, chuckling.
This ability to laugh in the face of terrible adversity has been present throughout the comic’s life.
Born into poverty in a rough area of Glasgow, Scotland, Billy was abandoned at the age of four by his mum, beaten and verbally abused by his two aunts, who took him and his sister in, and sexually molested by his alcoholic father for five years. He documented these events in his tell-all memoir Windswept & Interesting, which was published last year.
“There are plenty of not nice things that happened to me when I was young,” he admits. “As I got older, I began to realise that they were impacting me, and the way I thought about things, so I went and saw someone about it. It was probably one of the best things I ever did... to confront what happened, to deal with it, and get on with it.
“You realise that the past is past. It doesn’t exist and it can’t harm you, unless you allow it to. At some point, you have to leave it behind and just get on with it, be yourself and have some fun.”
Another avenue Billy has explored to help heal his past wounds is putting pen to paper in a different way – through art.
“It helps immeasurably,” he says. “It’s the most interesting thing about art and painting...
‘There were plenty of not nice things that happened’
how your brain and emotional system are working all the while, it’s uncanny. It’s definitely been, for me, a healing process.”
His passion for art has even become a surprising new career. Since first dabbling in drawing back in 2007 he has gone on to become a fully fledged artist – one who has exhibitions that tour the globe. Indeed, his collection of limited-edition prints and stainless-steel sculptures, Born On A Rainy Day, is on tour in Sydney until the end of December.
“It started as a pastime,” he recalls. “I just bought a sketchbook and felt tip pens – which is still my mode of working – and just sat down and drew. It has given me a new lease of life, it has replaced the nothing I used to do in that space. I find that, when I have nothing else to do, I can draw, rather than just watching the television. “I love the tranquillity of it. Sitting and not knowing what’s going to come out of my brain. Plus, it’s a nice surprise to find something else that I’m good at, at my age!”
Speaking of his age, Billy, who turned the big 8-0 last week, says he feels completely indifferent about the huge milestone.
“It’s just a number and that’s the way I’ll treat it,” he says. “It’s as important as your street number.
“Getting older has never fazed me. Even when
I was a little boy, my favourite people were old – they were always such interesting people.”
Despite his acceptance of the ageing process, Billy can’t escape the advancing symptoms of Parkinson’s
– a disease he was first diagnosed with in 2013. Since it’s progressed, he says he sometimes feels frustrated, but tries to remain positive.
“There are a lot of things that come along with both Parkinson’s and ageing,” he muses.
“Symptoms that are bothersome. I tend to complain. For example, I can’t yodel any more as my throat has changed as I’ve gotten older. When I tell people, they look at me as if I’m crazy. But I’ll be the judge of that! However, generally, I’m in a good mood about things.”