Jason Isaacs blasts huge A-List co-star and brands them 'worst bully ever'

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

Harry Potter actor Jason Isaacs has claimed he was terrorised by a 'global icon' on a movie set who was 'the worst bully ever' - but says he will never reveal their identity
British actor Jason Issacs, best known for his work in the Harry Potter films and HBO series The White Lotus, has been revealing all about some disappointing on-set secrets. In a recent interview, the 62-year-old recalled an unpleasant encounter with a renowned actor on one of his projects.
The Lucius Malfoy actor, who has appeared in huge movies like Armageddon, Black Hawk Down and Peter Pan, described the Hollywood A-lister as "the worst bully ever and a global icon."
"Did all the old tricks of doing a completely different performance off-camera than on. Yeah, it sucked," Isaacs said when looking back on his time working with the unnamed star. "I'd never seen anything like it. Before, I would've licked the ground that this person walked on."
Isaacs also admitted to Vulture that he has had to work with several actors on set whom he didn't particularly enjoy working with. However, he made it clear that he would never disclose the identities of these actors - stating "acting is all about secrets."
In the same interview, Issacs insisted controversial actor Mel Gibson is not his friend, but they do "text each other once in a blue moon". Isaacs, who stared alongside Gibson in the 2000 movie The Patriot, feels his former co-star has "said and done some things that are unconscionable and unforgivable"
He recalled to the publication how he didn't want to see Gibson following his infamous 2006 arrest for drunk driving, during which he launched into a vile anti-Semitic tirade.
Isaacs explained: "I was invited by my friend to some charity cricket event for Australians in film. And he said, 'If you come, Mel will.' And I said, 'I don't want to see Mel.' I hadn't seen him since that terrible anti-Semitic outburst when he got stopped by the police."
The Jewish actor eventually agreed to go to the event, and feels "eternal shame" that when he crossed paths with 69-year-old Mel, he "forgave him instantly" after they had a heartfelt conversation.
He said: "Mel was there, and he called 'Jace' across the room, very friendly. I went, 'Rabbi Gibson, how are we?' He came up and he said, 'I was really drunk, man. I was trying to get him to hit me or shoot me or something. I'm having a terrible time.'
"And he proceeded to unload some very personal things. He's not my friend but — maybe to my eternal shame — I forgave him instantly because he was there making himself vulnerable."
But Isaacs admitted he hasn't "forgiven" Mel completely and though they are in occasional contact, he still has "no idea" what he really feels about his former co-star. He declared "I'm not saying I forgive Mel" but went on to admit they do exchange text messages now and again.
"I have no idea what to do about him," Issacs mused. "But if he knocked on my door tonight and said, 'Look, my hotel's cancelled. Can I stay?' I'd say, 'Yes', probably."
Following Mel's 2006 arrest, the 69-year-old star shared a lengthy apology. He said at the time: 'There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of Anti-Semitic remark. I want to apologise specifically to everyone in the Jewish community for the vitriolic and harmful words that I said to a law enforcement officer the night I was arrested on a DUI charge.
'I am a public person, and when I say something, either articulated and thought out, or blurted out in a moment of insanity, my words carry weight in the public arena. As a result, I must assume personal responsibility for my words and apologise directly to those who have been hurt and offended by those words."