Jeremy Irons Says He'd Turn Down A Knighthood

Jeremy Irons has said that he would turn down a knighthood, if the honour ever presented itself.

The actor made the comments on Radio 4’s Today Programme, adding that he would not consider himself suitable for ‘the establishment’.

- Indiana Jones 5 confirmed for 2019
- New Keanu Reeves movie makes £88
- Hollywood’s most cursed movie roles

“I became an actor to be a rogue and a vagabond and play by my own rules so I don’t think it would be apt for the establishment to pull me in as one of their own, for I ain’t,” he said.

Irons, known for his roles in movies like 'Reversal of Fortune’, for which he won the Best Actor Oscar, 'Die Hard With A Vengeance’ and 'Lolita’, also broached the thorny subject of class in the acting business, with top UK stars like Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston being privately educated.

Himself educated at the famous public school Sherbourne in Dorset, he said: “I keep reading about it, and we do have a few top liners at the moment who appear to have gone to Eton, and that is perhaps a bit of a coincidence although I am aware what it costs students now to train.

“I worked in many other things when I was starting out. I was a builder, I was a social worker, I was a busker, I was a gardener, I was a house cleaner.

“All jobs which, I presume, are still available today if you want to have enough money to pay the rent for your bedsit while you are auditioning for things.”

A long-time Labour Party supported and donor, he went on to discuss politics too, explaining his indecision on the EU referendum debate.

“I’m dithering at the moment like many people,” he said.

“I’m a little bit disappointed by the standard of debate. It seems to have turned to a certain extent into a gameshow between Mr Cameron and Mr Johnson.

“I would like our politicians to respect us as voters and not play it as some sort of gameshow.”

Next up, we can see Irons playing Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidant Alfred in 'Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice’, out at the end of the month.

He’s also in the new Ben Wheatley movie ‘High-Rise’, with Hiddleston, and alongside Michael Fassbender in ‘Assassin’s Creed’, out in December.

Image credit: PA/Warner Bros