Everett makes a flying stop

When it comes to the Who’s Who of the VIP homosexual world there’s no doubt Rupert Everett hits the top spot. He may not be famous for his singing or getting married but, when it comes to acting, he’s definitely a star.

With family troubles back home in England, he had no choice but to cut his Australian holiday short, which meant a two-day stopover at Bondi Beach.

It’s a shame I have to fly back, but what I love about this country is Bondi, the sea, and old Australian women, Everett said.

There is a kind of Englishness in Australia that is not in England any more and I love the architecture. I would love to have one of those one-storey houses -“ a terrace.

His other big love about Australia? He reckons the gay community is super friendly and very nice.

It’s different -“ not that I have, but if you sleep with one person you’ve kind of met everybody afterwards, haven’t you? I guess it’s quite small compared to England -“ but nice.

As well as popping into Sydney to enjoy the Mardi Gras festivities, Everett was also in town to promote his new movie St Trinian’s -“ a remake of the 1950s series based on the works of cartoonist Ronald Searle.

It was a shame his visit was cut short, but he was happy to share details of the film, due out around March, with SSO.

The movie is set in an anarchical school for rebellious girls who try to save the school from impoverishment by stealing a famous painting. Everett plays Camilla Fritton, the headmistress of the institution.

The star-studded film also features the likes of Mischa Barton, Colin Firth and Lena Headey.

My character is not a drag, I’m an old battle axe, and the role came to me very naturally. Getting a look together in terms of making yourself believable was hard, Everett said.

The guy who originally played the part was amazing because I remember watching it as a child and I didn’t realise the character was played by a man.

Preparation time was long because I’m quite big and you had to get everything perfect and realistic. I hope the gay community likes it because it has a camp side to it.

In the interim, he is finishing off another part to his autobiography, writing screenplays and continuing to pursue his acting and directing career.

So all we can do now is hope everything in the Everett family turns out okay and the English actor returns to our shores again for Mardi Gras 2009.

For more information on the film visit www.sttriniansmovie.co.uk.