I had to look tan and fit to play the ex-leper in Life of Brian, so I ran up and down the beaches in Tunisia where we were shooting. I got back to London and I thought, I must try and make running a regular thing, and I have ever since.
I’ve been running for 32 years. The idea of stopping at any point is just inconceivable.
The idea for my movie “The Missionary” [1982] came to me while running, and it was completely different from what I’d set out with. I finished and let the concept unscramble from my mind.
There was a time when I used to run wherever I was in the world, but I’ve gotten a little bit lazier now, and I tend to go for the hotel treadmill.
That said, I once ran around an entire island [Bird Island in the Seychelles Archipelago] before breakfast, though it was just a few kilometres.
I only do two runs a week – around eight to 10 kilometres. I go after a morning’s writing work and before I eat anything.
I come back from my runs with more energy. I’ve gone out with hangovers and when I’ve had a cold coming on. Always, I finish feeling better.
I don’t know if being a runner makes you funnier. My wife certainly laughs when she sees me running!
I don’t track my runs at all. I know if I’ve had a good one or not. If it’s a beautiful sunny day, I run a little bit longer.
My most important piece of running gear? Probably my front-door keys.
The last five minutes of my usual run, I go up Parliament Hill and get a great view across London. That’s always a great bit, just to see the city spread out before me.
I wouldn’t mind dying while I was running. I think it would be quite a good way to go – if it was sudden.
