Jeremy Irons Trivia Quiz

Answer: Isle of Wight

Jeremy Irons was born to Barbara and Paul, an accountant, in Cowes, Isle of Wight, on 19 September 1948. He had an older brother and sister and was educated at the independent Sherborne School, in Dorset. He was trained in acting at the Bristol Old Vic, and returned there to work on several occasions, as well as aiding its fundraising efforts.

Answer: Godspell

"Godspell", with words and music by Stephen Schwartz and book by John-Michael Tebelak, was a hit musical, whose songs included "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord" and "Day by Day". The 1971 London production featured David Essex as Jesus, with Jeremy Irons in the dual roles of Judas and John the Baptist.

Jeremy Irons's adaptability and singing ability made him a natural on the children's show "Play Away" alongside the legendary Brian Cant, where he performed in the 1970s. Others who found exposure on the programme included Tony Robinson and Judy Covington.

In 1987 Irons appeared alongside Kiri Te Kanawa in a concert performance of "My Fair Lady" at the Royal Albert Hall.

Answer: Sinead Cusack

Jeremy Irons's first marriage, to Julie Hallam, was a short lived affair in 1969. He married the actor Sinead Cusack in 1978. They had two sons and were "outed" as high value donors to the Labour Party in the 1990s. Irons said he would never accept an honour from the British establishment, as an actor and "vagabond". The couple were in the headlines for allegedly painting an Irish castle of theirs pink, although they claimed it was the traditional ochre.

The couple celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary in 2018.

Answer: Brideshead Revisited

"Brideshead Revisited" was a 1981 TV adaptation that was made with high production values and a remarkable cast. Laurence Oliver, John Gielgud, Claire Bloom and Jeremy Sinden were all exceptional, but at the heart was the relationship between Anthony Andrews as Lord Sebastian Flyte and Jeremy Irons as the middle-class narrator, Charles Ryder. Probably one of the best productions ever on British television, it brought Jeremy Irons to wider attention and acclaim, although he missed out on the awards to his co-star, Andrews.

Answer: Dead Ringers

In "Dead Ringers", Jeremy Irons played the roles of twin gynecologists. They sleep with women without letting them know which brother they are with. One brother is more outgoing and confident, the other more reserved and caring. Their descent into drugs and violence is brilliantly portrayed by Irons, conveying much just through subtle facial expressions. How he didn't win an Oscar is a matter for the conscience of the Academy!

Answer: AIDS

Charities in the film and theatre industries developed the red ribbon as a means of highlighting the effect AIDS was having on their communities. As the host of the 45th Tony Awards, Irons was the first celebrity to wear the ribbon. It led to a rush of media interest, and became a potent symbol of the fight against AIDS.

Answer: Die Hard

Jeremy Irons went blond to star as Simon in the 1995 movie "Die Hard with a Vengeance". This was the third in the series of Bruce Willis vehicles. Simon sends John McClane (Willis) on a wild goose chase through New York along with unsympathetic Zeus Carver (Samuel L. Jackson). An elaborate series of tasks and clues is needed to prevent mayhem and save lives. Simon turns out to be the brother of Hans Gruber, who had been killed by McClane in "Die Hard" (1988).

Hans Gruber had been played by Alan Rickman. In another link to Rickman, Jeremy Irons played a version of Rickman's character, Severus Snape, from the Harry Potter Series, in a very funny Comic Relief TV spoof: "Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan" in 2003.

Amusingly, some research published in 2008 suggested that a cross between Irons and Rickman would provide the perfect male speaking voice.

Answer: Alfred Pennyworth

Jeremy Irons picked up the role of Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred, in 2016's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice". He played opposite Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent in the Zack Snyder movie. Irons reprised the role in "Justice League" (2017).

Answer: Meditation and Yoga

Jeremy Irons has been very active in using his fame to promote charities. In addition to the Emergency Response Team Search and Rescue, which carries out search and rescue or medical missions at disaster sites, and the Prison Phoenix Trust, he has supported the 1billionhungry project, and the No Cold Homes campaign. In 2011 he was named a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

In 2010 he narrated a film called "The Majestic Plastic Bag" to raise awareness of the impact of single use plastics on the planet.

Answer: True

Jeremy Irons is a very keen motorcyclist. He was advised by his brother not to start too early in life, for safety reasons, so he waited until he was 30 to take up motorcycling. "By the time I was 30, I knew that I was not invincible, that I could die. It is missing from young people." Despite this, he lost his license for a few months in 1997 for speeding. His wife, Sinead Cusack does not share the fascination for motor bikes.

Irons has said that he is very fond of cigars, particularly the Cuban brand, "Romeo y Julieta". He appeared in an edition of the magazine "Cigar Aficionado" in 2013.