Stephen shocked by HIV prejudice - Oct 1 2007
Stephen Fry has revealed that making his new BBC Two series HIV And Me was both a fascinating and moving experience - but admits that he didn't expect to find such a huge stigma still attached to the issue.

"We found that other people's perceptions are one of the biggest issues," he says.

"It's shocking but there was one little girl I met who was born with Aids and she had to endure having 'Aids sl*t' daubed in paint on the front door of her house and other responses like that."

Stephen believes the only way to fight the global battle against the HIV virus is to destroy the deeply entrenched stigmas through frank and honest dialogue.

"Talking about Aids is precisely what helps to dispel the myths," he says.

"At the moment HIV is a bit like Voldemort and we all have to be Harry Potter and be brave enough to say his name, and then it will get less and less powerful the more we do!", he suggests, smiling.

"However, if we continue to privilege it with this huge power and mystique, and make out that it's best not talked about, then it will flourish even more."

HIV And Me starts on BBC Two on Tuesday October 2 at 9pm.


Fry: British actors ’over-rated in US’ - Mar 20 2007
British actors are over-rated in Hollywood because Americans are "fooled by our accent into detecting a brilliance that may not really be there", according to Stephen Fry.

The actor and writer made the suggestion after seeing a "blitz of Brits" take the prizes at this year’s Golden Globes, including Dame Helen Mirren and the comedian’s former comedy partner Hugh Laurie.

He wrote in this week’s Radio Times: "I shouldn’t be saying this, high treason really, but I sometimes wonder if Americans aren’t fooled by our accent into detecting a brilliance that may not really be there.

"I mean, would they notice if Jeremy Irons or Judi Dench gave a bad performance? Not that those two paragons ever would, but it’s worth considering."

The 49-year-old, who recently filmed a cameo in US forensic science drama Bones, also said US actors were more natural in front of the camera.

"I’ve always believed Americans have one huge, ready-made gift when it comes to acting in front of a camera: the ability to relax.

"I think of it as comparable to the difference between, say, Tony Bennett and Luciano Pavarotti. Two great voices, but one is natural, easy, the same organ we use to order up pizza and ask directions to the bathroom, while the other is technically brilliant, but essentially artificial.

"So it is with acting: the supreme relaxed authenticity of a James Stewart or a George Clooney compared with the brittle contrivances of a Laurence Olivier or a Kenneth Branagh, marvellous as they are."

Stars back carbon emissions drive - Feb 1 2007
Celebrities have joined Tony Blair in supporting the Global Cool campaign to tackle climate change by asking one billion people to each reduce their carbon emissions by one tonne a year.

At a No 10 reception attended by celebrity supporters Stephen Fry, KT Tunstall, Josh Hartnett, Brian May and Anita Dobson, the Prime Minister said it was important for individuals to take responsibility for their actions.

"This is just a wonderful initiative that I hope will inspire people the world over. It is a big ask," he said.