Cultural Life: James Dreyfus, actor

Theatre

It was quite a while ago, but I went to see the stage adaptation of The King's Speech, which was absolutely fantastic, with Charles Edwards giving a superb performance. It was difficult for them because the film was so huge – but I thought it was as good as, if not better than, the film.

Television

I was obsessed with Derren Brown: The Experiments. They are some of the most extraordinary things I've ever seen. I know some people have suggested that it's fraudulent, but I don't believe that. I recently watched the Storyville episode Jonestown: The World's Biggest Mass Suicide. I also enjoyed Inside Claridge's and The Aristocrats.

Film

I recently watched the 1970s cult film God Told Me To by Larry Cohen. It's basically about people going mad and killing people in New York – and then, when they get caught, they say, “God told me to.”

Books

I'm reading a trashy horror called Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Mendal W. Johnson. It's a 1970s pulp horror. I'm also reading The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski which is a story about the Holocaust told through the eyes of a little boy. And House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.

James Dreyfus appears in The Vortex at the Rose Theatre, Kingston (www.rosetheatrekingston.org) until 2 March.