Russell Brand, 51, was jailed for 10 years and 6 months on Thursday after being found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others. Jurors unanimously convicted Brand of offences against four women between 2004 and 2009.
In a 2006 interview with the Guardian, Brand spoke about his fears for the future at the height of his fame. He admitted he was afraid of dying and of being remembered only for his television work.
Brand's 2006 Fears About Legacy
Speaking to the Guardian in 2006, Brand said he was "afraid of not getting enough done" and not being known for doing something meaningful before he dies.
"I suppose the reason I go on about death is because I'm afraid of it, afraid of not getting everything done," he said. "I don't want to die as That Mad Bloke From Big Brother. I didn't want to die as That Mad Bloke From MTV. I want to do something that has value, worth, poetry and momentum."
In the same interview, Brand was asked whether he was a sex addict, which he denied. He also spoke about how he disliked the way sex is "so controlled and constrained."
Denial of Sex Addiction in Interview
"The definition of addiction as I understand it is compulsive behaviour - you're unable to stop, despite the consequences on your life," he said. "By that criterion I don't think I have a problem with sexual addiction.
"With sex, it's just a hedonism thing. I don't like the way everything's so controlled and constrained. If anything is unusual everyone's freaked out. But it doesn't matter, nothing matters, I'm nihilistic like that. I think, let's just f***, let's do something that feels good."
He added: "I'm certainly not a pervert. I've just got a lot of energy... I think it's libido. It's life-force."
Sentence and Further Allegations
Brand was told he will be on the sex offenders register for life and must serve at least seven years of his sentence before being considered for release on licence. His wife, Laura Gallacher, watched on in court.
Judge Mr Justice Joel Bennathan sentenced Brand for the rape of a fan and sex assaults on three women, including a woman in a Soho bar, as well as a radio worker and a Channel 4 staffer, both abused by him while at work.
Brand could face further charges after being jailed. A former inmate at the jail where Brand has been sent warned he is a "marked man" who is "in real trouble." His ex-partner Jemima Goldsmith has also accused him of "violence, coercive control and abuse," claiming she had to call police to have him removed from her home during a violent incident in 2014.
