Hollywood actor Paul Rudd has confessed to a long-held career secret, revealing that an early manager significantly embellished his CV with a fabricated claim about working with Sir Ben Kingsley.
The Embellished CV That Caused Years of Anxiety
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show, the 56-year-old Ant-Man star explained the origins of the awkward situation. In his youth, with "no credits to put" on his professional resume, Rudd had included a brief afternoon masterclass he attended with the Oscar-winning actor while still at school.
However, his manager took this minor detail and transformed it into a significant falsehood. "My manager put this down as, 'Paul played Hamlet in a production directed by Sir Ben Kingsley'," Rudd recounted to the host and studio audience. The actor admitted this fabrication led to prolonged worry: "I lived in fear that he would one day see my CV!"
An Ironic Marvel Cinematic Universe Reunion
The situation now carries a layer of Hollywood irony. Both actors are now part of the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sir Ben Kingsley, 81, is known for his role as the eccentric Trevor Slattery in Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Rudd, celebrated for classic roles in Clueless and This Is 40, leads the Ant-Man film series. Their shared franchise membership means their paths are far more likely to cross now than in Rudd's early career days.
Promoting a New Meta-Comedy Project
Rudd was on the popular BBC talk show primarily to promote his upcoming film, a meta-comedy where he stars alongside Jack Black. The project involves a group of friends attempting to film an amateur remake of the 1997 cult creature feature, Anaconda.
Speaking about the film's appeal, Rudd said, "Jack and I are both huge fans of Tom Gormican's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and when this script showed up, it seemed to have similar DNA in that it was a clever meta comedy take on a reboot." He expressed particular excitement about collaborating with Black.
Black, also 56, mirrored his co-star's enthusiasm. "It is really very funny and crazy. I had never read anything like it," he stated. The comedian emphasised his desire to work with Rudd, adding, "I made sure he was definitely attached to the film before I signed anything."
The episode of The Graham Norton Show, which aired on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday at 10:40pm, also featured actress Jessie Buckley and comedian Michelle de Swarte. Buckley shared emotional insights into her new film Hamnet, while musical guest Tom Odell performed live in the studio.
