There is a man floating around who claims to have been Jude Law's body double in Alfie. Leaving aside the question of whom Sienna Miller therefore fell madly in lust with (you'll remember, of course, they got together on the set), it's interesting because Law's denying that he ever uses body doubles (or almost never).
You can read the ins and outs of it in my Observer column. But it raises the interesting matter, if we run with the idea that the supposed double might be a fantasist, of which role you'd take in a movie if could be anyone, and what part of the performance you'd like to have given.
Obviously, making out with Sienna Miller comes high up for some people. But perhaps others would like to be the body double of Helen Mirren in the Queen when she gets into bed with Prince Philip? Or Rocky during one of the boxing scenes - preferably Rocky IV, for that feeling of satisfaction at getting involved with the cold war?
All suggestions very welcome.
On almost the same topic, I also learned last week that the chance to stand in for Roy Scheider (Martin Brody in Jaws) in his latest film is up for grabs, because they'd not finished shooting when he died. They've made a mask which the lucky actor gets to wear. Delightful.
