From the Archives: Gene Wilder on why he enjoys writing more than acting now (2007)
Ms. magazine founding editor Letty Cottin Pogrebin interviews comic legend Gene Wilder, whose debut novel My French Whore was released at the time.
Highlights include the interesting story that he agreed to play the part of Willy Wonka only on the condition that he get to introduce the character in a certain way: appearing before the townspeople for the first time, Wonka hobbles out with a cane, pretends to stumble, and goes into an acrobatic forward somersault. He explained that the change was critical in setting up the character, because “from that point on, you don’t know whether I’m lying or telling the truth.”
Recorded Marc 25, 2007 at 92nd Street Y, New York.
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