Coogan labels former love Courtney a ‘nuts’ stalker
ASERIOUS Oscar contender for his performance in the forthcoming Hollywood film Stan & Ollie, Steve Coogan has decided to clear out the skeletons from his closet. The actor
and comedian, 53, who is best known in this country for his politically incorrect alter ego Alan Partridge, has spoken for the first time about his tumultuous, drug-fuelled romance with Courtney Love, 54.
Coogan has made the astonishing claim that the hugely wealthy widow of Nirvana rock star Kurt Cobain paid people to follow him after their split. Speaking at a party in London’s Soho, Coogan tells me: ‘She hired a private detective to stalk me — she’s nuts.’
Courtney does not deny the allegation, but expresses disappointment that Coogan has chosen to speak about their romance, which took place back in 2005. ‘I truly believed we all had moved on from this wreckage of the past,’ she tells me.
His remarks do not, however, diminish her respect for his work. She adds of Coogan, who plays Stan Laurel in the film biopic of Laurel and Hardy: think he’s a comedic genius.’
At the time their romance ended, Courtney had raged from Los Angeles: ‘There’s just some people who are good influences and some people who aren’t good influences. Hopefully, the guy [Coogan] leaves us alone in this town and goes back to Brighton, or wherever the hell he’s from, and just maybe stays there.’
Coogan, who revealed in his 2015 memoir, Easily Distracted, that he was once rushed to hospital after taking too much cocaine, insists he’s not concerned about new revelations from his past. ‘I’ve nothing to hide,’ he tells me. ‘I’m not worried about anyone coming out against me — all my relationships have been consensual.’
You will not, however, find him on hook-up websites. ‘I don’t do dating apps,’ he says. ‘ I’m not on
Tinder.’