Simon Callow has revealed that he ‘nearly died’ from Scottish country dancing when filming a scene in Four Weddings and a Funeral.
The Olivier-winning actor who starred as the bon viveur Gareth said the movie is a ‘government health warning’ about the dangers of country dancing.
Although Callow, thankfully, did not die at the wedding ceilidh, his character did and the actor added that it was ‘wonderful’ he had died that way and not of AIDS.
Speaking on the How to Fail podcast, the 75-year-old said: ‘That was the remarkable daring and originality of Richard Curtis’ screenplay, this was a time when AIDS was still rampant at the time of making the film.
‘There had been the film, Philadelphia, which is a very mournful, sentimental film about AIDS. I understand why people felt they needed to make a film like that but it was only endorsing the association of homosexuality and illness.
‘What was absolutely wonderful about the character of Gareth was a) he was in a beautiful relationship with Matthew [played by Scottish actor John Hannah], his wonderful boyfriend, and b) that he didn’t die of AIDS, he died of Scottish dancing.
‘I have always said the film is a government health warning about the perils of Scottish dancing, I nearly died doing it.’
Mr Callow had prominent roles in A Room With A View, Maurice and Shakespeare in Love, but he is best known for his part in Four Weddings and a Funeral, the 1994 film that made Hugh Grant, who was considering giving up acting before being cast in the lead role, into an instant sex symbol in the UK and the US.
The movie also led to renewed interest in WH Auden’s poem ‘Funeral Blues’ emotionally recited by John Hannah’s character in the heartbreaking funeral scene.
It has since been cited as one of the most popular poems of all time and is a popular choice at funerals.
The soundtrack featured Wet Wet Wet’s cover version of The Troggs’ Love is All Around, which remained at Number 1 in the UK singles chart for 15 weeks.
Made in under six weeks and on a budget of £3 million, the film was a surprise hit and went on to gross £193 million, becoming one of the best-loved romantic comedies, and the highest grossing British film of its time.
It won BAFTA awards for Best Picture, Best Direction (under Mike Newell), Best Actress in a Supporting role for Kirstin Scott Thomas, and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Hugh Grant, who also won a Golden Globe.
The plot followed hapless London bachelor Charles, played by Hugh Grant, as he attended the weddings of his friends and the funeral of Gareth while secretly pining for American Carrie played by Andie MacDowell.
Mr Callow described the screenplay as ‘brilliant, a masterpiece’ and ‘positively Shakespearean’. Comparing his character’s sudden death to the plot twist in Much Ado About Nothing in which one of the characters appears to die but is revealed to be alive, he added: ‘Richard Curtis had stolen a march on Shakespeare, although in this case Gareth was definitely dead, killed by a Highland fling too far.’