Investigative journalist Nick Davies – celebrated for uncovering the News International phone hacking scandal – has revealed he would like to see actor Colin Firth play him in a film about the saga set to be directed by George Clooney.
Mr Davies gave his views on the film plans during a talk about his probing work as special correspondent for The Guardian at the latest Sunday Papers Live event at Cecil Sharp House, in Regent’s Park Road, Primrose Hill, on Sunday.
The 61-year-old said he fancied Oscar-winning Mr Firth as a suitable candidate to fill the role “because he’s English and old”.
Earlier this month, Hollywood actor and film-maker Mr Clooney announced he would be directing a film adaptation of Mr Davies’ latest book Hack Attack: How the Truth Caught Up with Rupert Murdoch.
On Sunday, Mr Davies told the Cecil Sharp House audience the film plans were “really good news”.
He said: “It’s been incredibly difficult to get this story across because the other newspapers in Fleet Street don’t want these things explored.
“There’s just this silence about the whole thing so Clooney comes on and I think he’s a good guy. He’s serious, I think he wants to use his celebrity to make films that mean something.
“What he said was, ‘It’s all very well writing a book but nobody reads books,’ which is true! It’s a very, very small thing to do. But a film – millions of people will see it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here