This interview together with the accompanying pic, appeared in the "Mail On Sunday's" supplement magazine "You." It is dated August 31, 2003.
You were recently fitted with a pace-maker. Did it have a wonky moment when you got the knighthood news?
No. I made sure I had second-hand batteries in so I didn't overexcite myself. I'd heard about three weeks before they announced it anyway.
Didn't you get a heart flutter while you were on stage?
Yes, I was doing the guest spot on "The Play What I Wrote" on Broadway. The show was delayed for only about 5 minutes while I was carted off to hospital, in finest showbusiness trouper tradition. I should have listened to Noel Coward: he once said 'Darling why must the show go on?'
Is the UNICEF work your proudest achievement?
Yes, because it's a proper job. Often people say 'Your role as ambassador .....' and I say 'No, "role" implies that you're acting, and this is real life, and real death.'
Do you feel you've made a difference in people's lives?
It would be conceit to say that I, personally, have made a difference. But UNICEF is certainly making a difference, and every little pebble we throw in the water sends out ripples, and the ripples eventually touch the banks - hopefully the high street banks. And you find this amazing generosity in people. I get sent ten euro notes in the post, and London cab drivers waive my fare, and tell me to give it straight to the kids, which is wonderful.
What's your abiding memory of the James Bond years?
An awful lot of hanging around, interspersed with bouts of being thrown around. And just a little romping around of course. No, it was a wonderful time. Hard to believe it was work.
Is it true that you had your eyebrows insured?
Lord no. These stories are ludicrous. If you look at a Bond film you won't see me move my eyebrows at all. It came from a joke I made once about having three expressions: left eyebrow up, right eyebrow up, and straight a head. Isn't Jennifer Lopez supposed to have had her bottom insured? What against, theft and flood?
And you really did 'improve' on some of those double entendres?
I'm afraid so. My favourite was in "The Man With The Golden Gun." I'm pointing a rifle at someone who's holding a gun at me, and I say 'Speak now, or forever hold your piece.' I came up with that one all by myself. I didn't need to walk around with a Bumper Book of Puns.
After four marriages, do you know what women want from men?
They want respect, equality, someone who's not afraid to wash up, someone who comes home at night. More than anything, I'd say they want attentiveness.
Are you a hopelessly indulgent grandfather?
Oh, I adore my granddaughters. But I can't get them to play with my train set. Do I play with their Barbies? No, I'm not that far gone yet.
You were diagnosed with prostrate cancer 10 years ago. Has it made you renounce a lot of pleasures?
I gave up cigars, but not chocolate. I'm afraid I love plain chocolate. Years ago a magazine did a questionnaire: if you could meet one person and ask one question, what would it be? People like Claire Bloom banged on about asking God how long their mortal coil might be. I said I'd like to meet Mr Walls, and ask him why they no longer did plain chocolate ices. I don't know if Claire Bloom got a call from God, but I got one from Mr Walls, who sent me a plain chocolate ice-cream cake.
You were once describes as 'the prettiest man in Britain.' Are you terribly vain?
Oh, that was 60 years ago. Time is cruel. Life's too short for excessive grooming. What are you going to do, improve on nature?
What would you like your epitaph to be?
I'm not going mate. I'm holding out for the telegram at 100.
