Andy Serkis reveals how David Bowie felt like 'an imposter' while working on The Prestige

Virgin Radio

4 Jul 2023, 06:32

Acting legend Andy Serkis has opened up about what it was like to work with the iconic David Bowie on the movie set of The Prestige. 

Serkis and Bowie starred alongside the likes of Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine in Christopher Nolan’s 2006 movie. The film sees two friends and fellow magicians, Robert Angier and Alfred Borden (played by Jackman and Bale) become bitter enemies after a sudden tragedy. 

Bowie features as Nikola Tesla, the real-life inventor who creates a teleportation device for Angier, while Serkis is Mr. Alley, Tesla's assistant.

Serkis was speaking to virginradio.co.uk and other press at the Global Premiere of the digitally restored Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London last night (3rd July). On working with Bowie in The Prestige, he said: “He was obviously very concerned with the craft of acting, but actually, more than that, he wanted to have a good time. He really was someone who enjoyed other people's company, enjoyed other artists’ company.”

The Lord of the Rings and Planet of the Apes star continued: “As an actor, he always felt like he was slightly an imposter, which was quite interesting that he was kind of like, was this really his thing? But he'll give it a damn good shot, you know? So he laughed at himself a lot.

“When we were doing The Prestige, he said, ‘I think my Nikola Tesla, who was from Belgrade, sounds a little bit like Inspector Clouseau!'"

Andy added: "I've always been a huge fan of his work and everything that he's done, and the variety of choices that he's made as an incredible artist over the years.”

He was so normal… he was very modest, incredibly modest.”

Yesterday marked 50 years to the day since David Bowie’s last performance as his famous alter-ego, Ziggy Stardust. On 10th January 2016, Bowie died in New York City, having been diagnosed with liver cancer 18 months earlier.

Eddy Temple-Morris has a Virgin Radio Movie Special to celebrate the night Ziggy Stardust was retired in front of 5,000 disbelieving fans. Eddy sits down with Spider keyboardist Mike Garson to find out what it was like on a night that will never be forgotten. Plus you can hear live music from that very gig. Listen here.

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture’ is digitally restored (now in 4K and with 5.1 sound) with never-before-seen footage. There is another nationwide screening day on Thursday 6th July at local cinemas across the country. Check out davidbowie.com for listings.