Q&A: Stephen Mangan

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/may/17/stephen-mangan-interview

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Stephen Mangan, 41, was born in London. He studied law at Cambridge, then went to Rada. In 2001, he played Adrian Mole in a BBC adaptation of The Cappuccino Years, and went on to appear in Green Wing, I'm Alan Partridge, Dirk Gently and Episodes, a new series of which has just started on BBC2. In 2009, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in The Norman Conquests on Broadway, and he recently starred as Bertie Wooster in the West End production Perfect Nonsense. His films include Billy Elliot, Confetti and Rush, and he voices the title role in Postman Pat: The Movie, which opens on 23 May. He lives in London with his wife, the actor Louise Delamere, and their two sons.

When were you happiest? Walking down a sunny street yesterday hand-in-hand with my two sons was pretty good.

What is your greatest fear? Something happening to my children. Or being trapped in a lift with Donald Trump.

What is your earliest memory? Wearing a flowery shirt and a pink crochet tie to my Auntie Mary's wedding.

What was your most embarrassing moment? Meeting Robert De Niro and saying, "Hi, I'm Robert De Niro."

Where would you like to live? On the wings of love. Or Manhattan.

What would your super power be? Oh, come on – time travel! With invisibility and invulnerability. And flying. That super power.

What makes you unhappy? The way this government is quietly dismantling the NHS and strangling the BBC.

What does love feel like? Like riding on the back of a giant, gilded owl while dressed as Cher in the If I Could Turn Back Time video.

Who would play you in the film of your life? I'd certainly audition, though I would probably get that call from my agent: "Sorry, Stephen, they've gone in a different direction."

What is your guiltiest pleasure? The idea of "guilty pleasure" is ludicrous, unless you're getting your kicks by burning down orphanages.

What do you owe your parents? Everything and nothing.

What was the best kiss of your life? On a train: me playing Tony Blair kissing Ross Noble playing an alcoholic socialist tramp. All my fantasies fulfilled right there.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "No, I don't have a Nectar card/Boots card/Clubcard/Reward Card."

If you could go back in time, where would you go? Elizabethan London, but I'd take a packed lunch.

How often do you have sex? Every 11 minutes.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Elevating the status of comedy acting to that of dramatic acting. Oh wait, that hasn't happened yet.

What song would you like played at your funeral? Pulse Of The Maggots, by Slipknot.

How would you like to be remembered? As the godfather of groove.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Everyone's just making it up as they go along.

Where would you most like to be right now? In the studio with John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Tell us a joke What cheese should you use to lure a bear out of a cave? Camembert.