• Skip to content
  • Skip to footer
Men's Journal
  • Gear
    • Gear Box
    • Autos
    • Tech
    • Home & Lifestyle
    • Fitness
    • Outdoor
    • Reviews
  • Health & Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Workouts
    • Celebrity workouts
    • Ab workouts
    • Leg workouts
    • Total-body workouts
    • arms workouts
    • Chest workouts
    • Weight Loss
  • Adventure
    • Features
    • Trips
    • Guides
    • Lands Uncompromised
    • Outdoors
  • Food & Drink
    • Whiskey
    • Beer
    • Recipes
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Healthy Food
  • Style
    • Grooming
    • fashion
    • Watches
    • shoes
  • Travel
    • travel guides
    • 4-Day Weekends
    • National Parks
    • travel tips
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Give a Gift
    • Subscriber Service
    • Shop Special Issues
    • Newsletter
    • Accessibility Statement
The Last Word: Eric Idle on Wearing Dresses, What George Harrison Taught Him, and More
  • This link opens in a new window
  • This link opens in a new window
  • This link opens in a new window
  • This link opens in a new window
  • Open Comments
Eric Idle interview
Photograph by Robyn Von Swank

Features

The Last Word: Eric Idle on Wearing Dresses, What George Harrison Taught Him, and More

by Larry Kanter
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

The Monty Python stalwart and author of a new memoir, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, talks the virtues of being alone and more.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I received it from my first agent, and it was very simple: Be available.

What motivated you as a kid?

To grow up and stop being a kid. I went to a very restrictive military boarding school, so what motivated me was how to sneak off and find girls and beer and cigarettes.

How should a man handle criticism?

It depends on what you mean by criticism. I mean, sometimes people say things that are critical, but you think, “That’s kind of wise.” A long time ago, I was having a row with a publisher and he said to me, “I’m not sure you have the character for success.” I thought, “That’s a very interesting question.”

What should every man know about money?

I think money is rather bad for people. Enough of it is of course essential, but too much money seems to ruin character. And it doesn’t really matter, because you’re going to lose it all anyway.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner on Her New HBO Show ‘Camping’ and the One Thing She’ll Never Do ...

Read article

What was the highlight of your career?

The most satisfying thing for me was closing night of the [2012] Olympic Games in London. I sang “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” for the city I lived in for 35 years and a couple of billion people. It was scary and amazing.

What adventure most changed your life?

Most of my travels around the world have been on film sets, where you’re in a privileged position and you see the country without seeing any of the hardship. Quite often, you’re dressed as a lady, so that becomes rather problematic.

What is the best survival tip you know?

At school, I learned to shoot a .303 rifle and strip a handgun and reassemble it blindfolded. They would set us off in Wales with a pack and a map and a compass and a bit of cheese and say, “See you.” These were called Junior Leadership courses, and what I discovered was that I never wanted to do anything like that ever again in my life. Not being in the army is a good survival tip.

What is the secret to a happy relationship?

You have to learn how to live alone if you’re going to live with someone else. Being alone is very good for you.

Milo Ventimiglia skateboarding

How to Get Milo Ventimiglia’s Hair (and Mustache) From ‘This Is Us’

Read article

How should a man handle getting older?

With care, I think. And preferably with a woman, or a partner, to help.

What should every man understand about women?

I think it’s important to be sympathetic. A great advantage for me is that I got to dress up, like, fancy. I know what it’s like to wear high heels, long lashes, fingernails, and try to walk.

What role should vanity play in a man’s life?

None whatsoever. Narcissism and vanity are two of the most potently disastrous things for human beings.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be patient. Things will work out.

Matthew-McConaughey-October-2018

You Won’t Find Matthew McConaughey in the Gym. Here Are His Favorite Ways to Tra...

Read article

What’s the best cure for heartache?

I think not falling in love, probably.

Who has been the main influence in your life?

I got a lot of life coaching from George Harrison. I met him in about 1975 at a screening of The Holy Grail. He said, “Want to come and have a reefer in the projection booth?” That started a kind of wild ride. We just talked and talked, and it was very interesting and rather fabulous.

What did you learn from him?

He was good for shrugging off the prism of the personality. We seem to think we ought to have an opinion on everything when, in fact, we don’t. You can observe what’s going on with a wry wrinkle.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Topics: entertainment Interviews

Want more?

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest adventures, workouts, destinations, and more.

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Men's Journal and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy

How we use your email address

You have successfully signed up.

More from Features
  • Tony Horton Power Life Tony Horton's New Supplement Line Might Be the Secret to Building Muscle Over 60
  • New York City in April 1980 Life in the Mafia: John Pennisi Details the World of Organized Crime Families
  • The latest, greatest off-road machines storm onto West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails—and beyond. A New Breed of UTVs Attacks Hair-Raising Terrain With Ease
  • “In my opinion, we are right in the middle of the civil war.” Sheriff Bob Songer, out standing in his field. This Outspoken Sheriff Is Waging War on Cougars in Rural Washington
  • (Left) Bottle of Blackened American Whiskey, a collaboration between metal masters Metallica and late master distiller Dave Pickerell. (Right) Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich signals for a Blackened encore. Meet the Rebel Distillers Breaking All the Rules on Whiskey
  • Hunter Jones Body Glove Black Pro Surfer Hunter Jones' Fight For Diversity in the Water
  • Black and white portrait of Matthew McConaughey next to Marshall speaker Matthew McConaughey Is on a Mission to Just Keep Livin'
  • Matthew McConaughey Best Wisdom From Matthew McConaughey's Book 'Greenlights'
  • Net10 Looking For A Partner This Cuffing Season? A Dating Expert Shares Her Tips

Men’s Journal has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Your Ad Choices
  • Data Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Customer Service
  • Media Kit
  • Sitemap
  • Our Team
Manage Cookies

A360 Media Active Lifestyle Group

© A360 Media LLC 2021

Powered by WordPress VIP

TAG Trustworthy Accountability Group TAG Trustworthy Accountability Group