Actor James Dreyfus has just finished a 5 year run in the series “Mount Pleasant”. Gearoid visited him at his home in London to chat about his career which has included some iconic british comedies. He recalls his first professional job in Panto with Graham Norton. A star turn in in Jennifer Saunders’ hit series “Absolutely Fabulous” led to his casting opposite Rowan Atkinson in Ben Elton’s “The Thin Blue Line”.
Following that he starred opposite Kathy Burke in the series “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”. While the series was a massive ratings hit, it was panned by critics. The gay press attacked James viciously. When accepting a British Comedy Award Kathy Burke defended her friend and co-star and called out the gay press for their treatment of him.
After the second season of “Gimme Gimme Gimme” the show transferred to BBC1 and James was approached to star opposite Bette Midler in her US sitcom as the Divine Ms. M was a big fan.
He talks about the influence the roles he has played have had on his career and recalls the night someone in a theatre audience got the wrong end of the stick.
James is an extraordinarily talented lovely and a very lovely man.