Sir Jonathan Pryce: ‘Dementia is the UK's biggest killer – we need to do more to remove the prejudice'

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This June sees the return of Alzheimer's Society's Forget Me Not Appeal, which funds life-changing support and groundbreaking research for the UK's biggest killer – dementia. We will be talking to people who have been affected by it – from a carer, to a widower, to a scientific researcher. Meet the first in our series, Sir Jonathan Pryce CBE, who played a character with dementia in the hit Apple TV+ show Slow Horses, and whose beloved Aunt Mair lived with dementia.
Some of my best roles have come in my later years, such as playing Pope Francis in The Two Popes, or Prince Philip in The Crown. Recently, I attended the Baftas, where I was nominated for best supporting actor for my role playing former agent with dementia David Cartwright in Slow Horses.
Known as 'The old b-----d' in the books the series were based on, David had a history of not being a nice man, who just happened to have dementia as part of the story. I didn't want that to define him. I know there are actors who can reel off all the research they've done to get in character, but for me it's more just trying to absorb who the person is, the way they behave and react to people. The way others react to them.
When playing someone who is a bit lost and forgetful, searching for words as well as things, I found myself actually 'going in on myself', withdrawing into my own world as someone with dementia does. Sometimes, truthfully, I found myself going in too deep with that. I had to be careful, it could be quite punishing.
Paranoia is a common symptom of the disease but, as a former MI6 agent, Cartwright thinking people were following him and trying to kill him wasn't just paranoia. There were many secrets locked in his brain. Slow Horses wasn't the first time I'd played a character with dementia. I was in a play before that, The Height of the Storm, and one of the most moving experiences was being greeted by a man in his 50s at the stage door after the show.
He told me he'd recently lost his father, after giving up his job to care for him through Alzheimer's. All that time he'd managed alone as the carer, never getting emotional. He told me that watching the play was the first time he'd allowed himself to cry about it. That's deeply humbling as an actor.
While I didn't base my portrayal in Slow Horses on anyone in particular, I too have lived through a loved one losing their memory. My beloved Aunt Mair was in her 90s when she went into a care home in North Wales. Mair said to me: 'I don't care if I die'. And I replied, 'I don't mind you dying, but I don't want you dying in pain after falling down the stairs.'
She only really had dementia at the end. One of the last times I saw her she didn't recognise me. I said, 'it's Jon'. And she replied: 'Oh, I have a nephew called Jon, he's a famous actor.' While I found her forgetting me upsetting, when I relayed this to my son, he said, 'no Dad, she remembers you – she just doesn't recognise you.' I found that notion comforting.
Dementia can be hugely isolating, which is why Alzheimer's Society is so invaluable, showing people they're not alone. I fell into being a charity ambassador really, after I was asked to take part in a service at St Paul's Cathedral several years ago. Doing a reading at St Paul's had always been on my bucket list – so I had to say yes. Watching Alzheimer's Society's Singing for the Brain Choir moved me to tears, and afterwards I agreed to help the charity any way I could.
Around a million people in the UK are living with dementia today – it's the UK's biggest killer and, with our ageing population, its prevalence is rising. The charity does great work in trying to remove some of the prejudices around the condition (which is caused by diseases of the brain), but really I wish the Government would provide more funding for the NHS to do this work, instead of letting the charity fill in the gaps.
At the age of 78, I can honestly say that there's nothing at all about getting older that frightens me. When I was a younger man, I was afraid of ageing, mostly because I'd lived through my father getting ill and having a terrible old age himself. But now I realise there's nothing to fear – getting old is inevitable. Neither do I ever consider which is worse, losing one's mental faculties or one's physical abilities. I hope I don't have to make that choice. I am the age I am, and I'm embracing it.
Keeping working has been key for me. When I was a young actor, I'd stupidly say that I planned to retire at 60. I'd seen older actors being patronised on film sets (don't ask me who, I'll say I can't remember). I'd grown up watching these big stars on television be reduced to smaller and smaller roles. I didn't want to be that guy. I'd want to go and speak to one of the directors and say, 'you do realise who this person is? They need to be treated with respect'.
But I've kept working and, as far as I know, I haven't seen anyone being taken into a corner saying, 'you do realise this is Jonathan Pryce – he used to be famous!' Of course, I'm nearly always the oldest person on any set now, and happily there are younger people in the industry who appreciate people like me bringing decades of life experience with them. While I don't fear old age, or what might come next, I do everything I can to stay well – physically and mentally. Every morning, I do all the puzzles in The New York Times, competing online with a friend to keep us both on our toes. I do word searches, crosswords and Wordle, always proudly texting him if I can get it in two. When I was a young man, I could memorise a page of dialogue after just a few readings. I still can, more or less. I've had to get more organised over the years, though; if I haven't put something in my diary, it won't happen. I'm less impulsive than I was, and I like to get everywhere early.
As a family [Jonathan has three adult children with his wife Kate Fahy], we've always eaten well. We generally eat a Mediterranean diet. I eat meat and everything else – moderation is the secret. Same with alcohol. I do enjoy a nice red wine with dinner.
I exercise too. There was a wonderful period when I had a set schedule filming The Crown and I saw a personal trainer twice a week. These days, I try to walk everywhere I can, and if I'm outside of London, I cycle. Admittedly, it's on an electronically assisted bike these days, but that still helps mobility.Apart from my eldest son, who's in New York, I'm lucky enough to live close to my family in London, and I find my children inspirational, and my wife of course. My main ambition now is to keep working. I may not be in line to play the next James Bond, but there are still interesting parts coming my way. My cab driver this morning told me he was 66 and couldn't wait to retire. I said, 'don't do that! I've seen friends retire early, and it doesn't turn out well. Don't stop!'
As an actor, I'm lucky I don't need to retire, although it could retire me of course. All l really want is to be creative, enjoy life and campaign for the causes I care about.
As told to Susanna Galton
Sir Jonathan is an Ambassador for Alzheimer's Society and is supporting the charity's appeal. Donate at alzheimers.org.uk/telegraph
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