*** Welcome to the Arena!***

*** Distant Corners and Communities.com are proud to present Bob Hoskins!

Bob Hoskins: Hello!

*** welcome Bob and thanks for coming!

Bob Hoskins: Thank you!

*** Here is our first question...!

*** To mic from Dewey at The Arena: Will you do any more cartoon movies? Like another Roger Rabbit?

Bob Hoskins: I don't think another cartoon movie will ever be made. These days it's far too expensive to use paint instead of a computer.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Doctor Avatar at The Arena: You have been in some great movies. You have also been in SpiceWorld and Super Mario Bros. What's the deal?

Bob Hoskins: Well, there's movies you do 'cause you like them, and there's movies you do for the money.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Dalli at The Arena: Where is the rabbit, Bob?

Bob Hoskins: Tucked up in bed, I hope. :-) It's 1:00am here in London.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Da`ForCe§ at The Arena: when did you start your career

Bob Hoskins: When I was 25. It happened sort of by accident. I was drunk in a bar...The bar of a theater with a friend who was auditioning for a play. They came down and said, "You're next." I'd been in the bar long enough to have been up for anything, really.

*** To Bob Hoskins from james at The Arena: What was the first movie you were ever in, and were you nervous?

Bob Hoskins: Umm...First movie I was ever in was...A film with Frankie Howard, Up the Front. I played a recruiting officer. Stanley Halloway was my partner. Yes, I was nervous, but Stanley made me feel great.

*** To Bob Hoskins from GM at The Arena: Do you ever get annoyed or discouraged when people continue to associate you with thug or gangster roles, since you haven't really played any gangsters for almost 15 years?

Bob Hoskins: Well, sometimes if people think you're a gangster and they associate you with your film roles, it does get you out of some sticky situations sometimes.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: Did you have a hard time losing your accent for some of your movies?

Bob Hoskins: No, not really. I just play the character and the accent of the character *is* the character, really.

*** To mic from Dewey at The Arena: Do you live in London full time?

Bob Hoskins: Yes, yes. London's my home.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Mulldoone at The Arena: Do you travel the states much?

Bob Hoskins: Yes. Yes, well, I have worked quite a lot in the states.

*** To Bob Hoskins from GM at The Arena: Given the variety of roles you have played in the past, is there any type of role you haven't played that you would still like to?

Bob Hoskins: Yes. A transvestite. Cause it would be a cracker playing my mother.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Mulldoone at The Arena: Did you enjoy working with the other actors?

Bob Hoskins: One of the perks of the game is working with talented actors. If you're working with someone really talented, it can be very exciting.

*** To Bob Hoskins from My Cherona at The Arena: How did you enjoy making this new film?

Bob Hoskins: Felicia's Journey? It was great, actually. Very intense. Just the director, Elaine and myself most of the time. Atom Egoyan and Elaine are hysterical.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: What do you do fun recreation?

Bob Hoskins: I cook a lot, read a lot, listen to a lot of music, and take photographs.

*** To Bob Hoskins from GM at The Arena: I've read that you have written and plan to direct a film loosely based on your younger days what is the status of that?

Bob Hoskins: Well that's sort of very up in the air. I think it would be unwise of me to talk about that as of yet.

*** To Bob Hoskins from GM at The Arena: You seem to have remained pretty level-headed in a profession that tends to feed lunacy and egomania what's the secret?

Bob Hoskins: Well, to realize you're a lunatic and to get on with it.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Maria^^ at The Arena: Was it hard for you to act in Who Framed Roger Rabbit since most of it was animated?

Bob Hoskins: It was very hard, but it was very interesting, because most of the time I was acting into thin air.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Abydos at The Arena: what do you consider is your best work?

Bob Hoskins: I don't really know...My experience is making the film. There are several films I consider the most enjoyable, but they certainly wouldn't be regarded as my best. But they were still my favourites.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Chummy at The Arena: Are you a Net fan, and what do you use it for most if so?

Bob Hoskins: I've never used the Internet in my life. My kids use it, but I've never actually found the need.

*** To Bob Hoskins from moll at The Arena: bob do you ever come to manchester? and what do you think of it

Bob Hoskins: I've been to Manchester several times. I've worked there about four times. Twice with the Royal Exchange theater. And Twice with the King Campbell Road Show. There used to be a great Chinese restaurant called the Cork Mahn. English ordered from the menu, the Chinese from the mirror. One night, a friend and I ordered everything from the mirror--it was brilliant.

*** To Bob Hoskins from !Dee! at The Arena: if you werent an actor what profession do you think you would choose?

Bob Hoskins: Probably robbin' banks.

*** To Bob Hoskins from Dennis at SJ at The Arena: :Any plans to do any stage acting coming up?

Bob Hoskins: Um, no, I haven't got any objections to stage acting, but I haven't gotten any offers lately.

*** To Bob Hoskins from chunkie PuNkIe at The Arena: what was the most difficult role?

Bob Hoskins: Most difficult...I suppose Felicia's Journey, and obviously Roger Rabbit was quite difficult.

*** To Bob Hoskins from chunkie PuNkIe at The Arena: Has there been anyone you have had trouble working with?

Bob Hoskins: Mmm, no. People are usually very polite to me.

*** To Bob Hoskins from k-t at The Arena: so tell us about Felicia's Journey

Bob Hoskins: It's about a young Irish girl who comes to England pregnant looking for the father of her child. Who is Irish as well, who should be working in a lawnmower factory, but has actually joined the English army. Then she meets the most boring man in the world. Who's only redeeming feature is that he murders young girls. And they carry on from there.

*** To Bob Hoskins from chunkie PuNkIe at The Arena: who would you like to work with most in the future?

Bob Hoskins: Everybody! I haven't got any favourites.

***To Bob Hoskins from kipcat© at The Arena: Is this your first experience with palace, what do you think of it, and would you ever come back incognito just to chat? ;)

Bob Hoskins: I'm having quite a good time. It's 1:00 am here, and I'm just sitting back. Reading a magazine, too. :-)

*** To Bob Hoskins from moll at The Arena: bob i want to get into acting any hints?

Bob Hoskins: Mmm... Don't have plastic surgery.

***To Bob Hoskins from Maria^^ at The Arena: Have you ever watched any Anime with your kids? Like Pokemon or Sailor Moon?

Bob Hoskins: No, no our kids are a little bit old for that now.

***To Bob Hoskins from New Friend 2 at The Arena: How did you prepare to play the role of a serial killer?

Bob Hoskins: I didn't prepare at all. I just followed the script, really, with the director.

***To Bob Hoskins from Maria^^ at The Arena: How did it feel working with that mushroom slime in Super Mario Brothers?

Bob Hoskins: Super Mario Bros. is not really a film I enjoy talking about.

***To mic from Chummy at The Arena: Is there a sort of film you would never act in?

Bob Hoskins: A porno.

***To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: You said that you like to cook. What is your favorite dish?

Bob Hoskins: I cook of all kinds of food. I go through phases. At the moment, my specialty is Moroccan. Couscous.

***To Bob Hoskins from chunkie PuNkIe at The Arena: what is your favorite book?

Bob Hoskins: My favourite book... My very favourite is Creation, by Gore Vidal

***To Bob Hoskins from .«Sifl». at The Arena: do you prefer doing scifi or horror?

Bob Hoskins: Um, I've never really done a horror film...I suppose Felicia's Journey could be. It's a bit horrific.

***To Bob Hoskins from !Dee! at The Arena: have you ever done any classical acting like Shakespeare?

Bob Hoskins: Yes, I played Richard III, Iago, King Lear...I can't remember any more. I've done quite a few.

***To mic from Si£ent-One©at The Arena: Do you know what your next project is going to be?

Bob Hoskins: No, I've purposefully stopped working for a while. I've done two years, back to back, film after film. I'm going to spend some time with my wife.

***To Bob Hoskins from jess at The Arena: Was Atom Egoyan a good director to work with?

Bob Hoskins: Brilliant.

***To Bob Hoskins from AndruMagyk|SiS?| at The Arena: What kind of music/artists do you enjoy listening to?

Bob Hoskins: Well, my taste in music goes from Beethoven to the Beatles. I like all kinds of music. My favourite artist is Talouse Latrec

***To Bob Hoskins from Lirazel at The Arena: how long have you been married

***To mic from Eibhleann at The Arena: Considering the length of your career thus far, is there anything you have no yet accomplished which you had hoped to by this point; additionally, do you have any immediate goals

Bob Hoskins: No. No. Sorry.

***To Bob Hoskins from Doctor Avatar at The Arena: who is your favorite spice girl?

Bob Hoskins: I like 'em all!

***To Bob Hoskins from sam at The Arena: What was the best film that you saw this year?

Bob Hoskins: The best film I saw this year was on video. It was The Apostle. It's brilliant. A very moving film.

***To Bob Hoskins from .«Sifl». at The Arena: how did it feel being hit on by jessica rabbit?

Bob Hoskins: I didn't know what she looked like until the film came out!

***To Bob Hoskins from Da`ForCe§ at The Arena: you are the best!!!

Bob Hoskins: And you ain't so bad yourself.

***To Bob Hoskins from Keltie at The Arena: I have to ask, how do you type so fast and with no typos? *LOL*

Bob Hoskins: I've got a very good pair of hands. A friend lent them to me. :-)

***To Bob Hoskins from Laura at The Arena:...what about vacation spot. what's your fav?

Bob Hoskins: Well I spend most of my time abroad, working. So my great vacation spot is my kitchen.

***To mic from Si£ent-One© at The Arena: Do you find it very difficult to answer questions on the sly like this?

Bob Hoskins: Well, I'm not doing too bad so far!

***To Bob Hoskins from GM at The Arena: How do you deal with being separated for extended periods of time from your family so frequently?

Bob Hoskins: Not very well. I get very homesick.

***To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: How does your family deal with the separation?

Bob Hoskins: I don't know. I'm never around when I'm not here.

***To Bob Hoskins from Abydos at The Arena: Any plans to visit the States anytime soon? Public appearances?

Bob Hoskins: I've only just come back! I was in New York over the weekend.

***To Bob Hoskins from Laura at The Arena: Bob, What was your very first job...how old were you?

Bob Hoskins: My very first job...I was 15, I was filing clerk.

***To mic from GM at The Arena: I've seen a picture with you standing nude behind bars - I'm just curious as to who came up with that idea?

Bob Hoskins: That was Lord Armstrong Jones, the only photographer who talked me out of my clothes and promised me faithfully he would not show my cock.

***To Bob Hoskins from batty at The Arena: If your children decided to go into acting would you be happy about it?

Bob Hoskins: Why not?

***To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: Have you done "Late Night with David Letterman"?

Bob Hoskins: About four times. I just did one the other week.

***To Bob Hoskins from Huntress at The Arena: How did your wife feel about that revealing photo?

Bob Hoskins: How did I feel about it? Well, he didn't show my cock!

***To Bob Hoskins from daisy411 at The Arena: is that your real picture

Bob Hoskins: Yes.

*** Are any of your films shown in a different language?

Bob Hoskins: Yes, I saw myself once dubbed into Turkish. I've forgotten what the film was...

*** Do you have a Web site?

Bob Hoskins: No. Not that I know of.

***To Bob Hoskins from james at The Arena: Do you have any pets?

Bob Hoskins: I used to have a dog called Dixie, but he died.

*** we'll take just a couple more questions!

*** What processes should we go through to become good actors?

Bob Hoskins: Get as much life as you can--good, bad or terrible. Take it all.

***To Bob Hoskins from AndruMagyk|SiS?| at The Arena: have you had any stalkers? Or obsessive fans?

Bob Hoskins: No, not really. I might have, but I didn't know I was being stalked.

***To Bob Hoskins from batty at The Arena: Tell him he has fan sites.

Bob Hoskins: Terrific!

***To mic from GM at The Arena: I have a web page about your career - http://pages.hotbot.com/fan/clerkky - check it out sometime [note: I guess the gig is up...]

Bob Hoskins: Oh, great!

*** Thank you all for coming! This concludes our chat with Bob Hoskins!

Bob Hoskins: Thank you for coming everyone!

*** )applause *** )applause *** )applause