Barrie Says Third Tomb Raider Is On The Slate

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CHRIS BARRIE is the British comedy star who has made a name for himself in Hollywood playing Lara Croft's butler Hillary in the blockbuster Tomb Raider films.
 
And his next movie project is another that has everyone excited – as he'll be donning the hologram suit of his most famous character Arnold J Rimmer and boarding the Red Dwarf, in the first big screen outing for the cult TV series.
 
In our exclusive webchat Chris revealed that loser-in-love Rimmer could well find himself with a girlfriend in the movie, and he'd like stunning Lara babe Angelina Jolie to play the lucky lady.
 
He also told us more about the secretive project, which should start shooting this year, letting us know why the producers plumped for the original Dwarf crew over Hollywood stars like George Clooney or Brad Pitt.
 
So read on to find out all about Chris, including why he loved playing leisure centre boss from hello Gordon Brittas, how he met his wife during a bomb scare and why his children don't like Red Dwarf.
 
You can catch more of the star alongside the lovely Angelina in Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life, which is out on DVD now and packed full of extras.
 

What was it like working with Angelina Jolie – twice – you lucky man! Is she as good looking in real life? Did you get a big kiss at the end of things? 
Daniel, Leicester
 
Yes, she is even more gorgeous in real life. Working with Angelina was great, you'd expect someone who has achieved what she has to be slightly arrogant in an "I'm the queen of Hollywood" way, but she was nothing like that.
 
Angelina was a straight, nice, decent girl, and it's incredible how she's kept her feet on the ground.
 
I did get a little peck! But there wasn't a high key end to the shooting, because a lot of people left at different stages.
 

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Did Angelina know your work from Red Dwarf or Brittas? 
Michael, Surrey
 
To be honest I don't think she did, because she hasn't spent that much time in England.
 
I was speechless when I first met her, she's the biggest name I've ever worked with. So I certainly didn't run up to her screaming, "Angelina, have you seen Red Dwarf?"
 
What were your favourite scenes to film in the Tomb Raider movies? 
Celia, Leeds
 
I enjoyed the Kendo stick fight in the second film and the gun toting in the first movie. They were the best scenes because I was doing some action and I'd trained up in both areas.
 
I didn't do any big stunts, but I had to be pushed out of a helicopter which was on the ground. It was still quite a height, especially when the guy behind you is pushing you with a rifle. It sounds silly but there is a proper way to fall when your hands are tied together.
 

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Hi Chris, you always seem to play a similar sort of irritating egocentric character - Brittas, Rimmer and Gary Prince in A Prince Among Men. Why do you think you play these characters so well? 
Sinead, London
 
Hi Sinead, I'd disagree that Brittas and Rimmer are egocentric.
 
Rimmer is slightly self-centred, in that he wants to do well in the Space Corps, but he's really just an utterly sad loser. Also I think all the characters in Red Dwarf are out for themselves. Brittas wants to do well for the world, and just doesn't know how to achieve that.
 
Gary Price is an out and out egocentric – he's an ex-footballer and you know what they're like – and Tomb Raider butler Hillary is there to protect and look after Lara.
 
But I would agree with you that, apart from Hillary, they are all definitely irritating!
 
Why would I play characters like that? After I did Rimmer those were the jobs that came up. If they were looking for someone irritating they'd say: "I know the man who's cornered the market in annoying characters – Mr Barrie, let's give him a call."
 
Hey there Chris. I'm intrigued to know how you landed a part in a Hollywood blockbuster? 
Dan, Los Angeles
 
The director of the first Tomb Raider movie, Simon West, was over in the UK looking for people with a comedy background to play the roles of Lara's sidekicks Hillary and Bryce.
 
He was a Red Dwarf fan so he got me along for an audition but, if truth will out, they found people from more recent shows – for example the Fast Show – and I heard they offered them the role. Then eventually one day my agent called up and said they wanted me in the film and I had to be "delivered" by the end of the day.
 
It was very easy to say yes and the next day I was at Pinewood to get fitted up for some outfits and meet Angelina, who was doing bungee ballet.
 

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Do you have any plans to do more Lara Croft stuff or star in other Hollywood films? 
Steve Harris
 
Now I've done a big feature film – even though it was only a cameo role – I'm hungry to do more movies.
 
My name is being talked about for various things and I am going for more auditions now. It's quite competitive when you see who you're up against – people like Rik Mayall and Neil Pearson. We're all going up for the roles of 'eccentric British comedy person'.
 
At least I'm now going for these things and without Tomb Raider I don't think I'd even be doing that.
 
It's been good to be part of such a successful franchise. There is a third Tomb Raider film on the slate and I'm hoping Hillary will be back.
 
The perfect storyline would be that Hillary turns out to be both the arch-baddie and Lara's love interest! Although I'm not sure how Angelina would feel about that.
 
What was filming in Kenya for Tomb Raider 2 like? Where's the most exotic place you've ever shot a TV show or film? 
Natasha, London
 
Unfortunately with Red Dwarf and Brittas the best place you get sent to is the quarry by Shepperton Studios. So they'll never compare to the glory and the glamour of Kenya, where you'll see seven giraffes elegantly lolloping in front of you. The wildlife, the sunset and Mount Kilimanjaro are all so beautiful.
 
Kenya sends your emotions in all directions as there we were making a multi-million dollar movie and all around us people were starving. The juxtaposition of wealth and poverty really hit me. But the Kenyans we met were all really positive about us being there and we generated revenue for the country.
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