Joss Ackland admits 'awful' films

Joss Ackland: Famed as a character actor

Veteran actor Joss Ackland has launched a scathing attack on the movie and television industry, calling some of his own work "awful".

The actor, who was appointed a CBE in 2000, has also accused television of dumbing down, particularly programmes such as Big Brother.

The star of films such as Lethal Weapon 2 and The Mighty Ducks says he finds shows such as Coronation Street "intensely boring".

Joss Ackland called Demi Moore "not very bright"

Speaking to the Radio Times, the 72-year-old called Demi Moore, a recent co-star, as "not very bright or talented".

Bemoaning the parts offered to him, he said: "I'm so tired of not being able to make a movie without a car chase, or the villain dying twice. It's all exactly the same."

Workaholic

He confessed that many of the roles he has undertaken in his 50 year career were just for the money or to settle bets.

"I do an awful lot of crap, but if it's not immoral, I don't mind. I'm a workaholic."

He said he "regretted" appearing in Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, starring Keanu Reeves, and his cameo in a Pet Shop Boys video.

"I can't tell you how embarrassing that was," he said.

He revealed some of his worst movies were starring opposite some of Hollywood biggest leading ladies.

Torn to shreds

He added: "I was in Mad Dogs And Englishmen, with Liz Hurley, which was God-awful and quite rightly torn to shreds.

"Then there was Passion Of Mind last year with Demi Moore. Terrible script. Awful, actually, but I needed the money.

"She's alright, not very bright or talented. I imagine she and Bruce Willis together were a joy to behold."

Ackland appears on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs on Sunday.