Jeremy Irons Met the Real Claus von Bülow at (Where Else?) a Cricket Match

Saucy Borgias star Jeremy Irons revisited his Oscar-winning role in Reversal of Fortune with the L.A. Times Magazine recently, talking about meeting the real-life man behind the harrowing story, Claus von Bülow. Irons spoke with the British socialite -- who was accused (and acquitted) of administering an insulin overdose to his wife Sunny, who lived in a vegetative state for 28 years -- at the quaintest possible locale: a cricket match.

According to the interview, Irons has firm beliefs about whether von Bülow tried to kill his wife. He also believes Mr. von Bülow is "funny."

In Reversal of Fortune, we see your Claus von Bülow character on a boat. Do you ever run into him in London?

Sometimes, but I didn't meet him until about four years after the movie. I knew he wouldn't tell me anything I didn't already instinctively know. I couldn't ask whether he tried to kill his wife. I think I know the answer, and that's how I played it in the film. He's funny. We met at a cricket match at Paul Getty's, who was a mutual friend.

Did you know ahead of time that he'd be there?

No, I arrived, and Paul said, "Claus is in the house looking around the library. I know you've never wanted to meet him, and so I won't mind if you skedaddle off." And I said, "Well, I'd quite like to meet him now." I was sitting watching the cricket, and I heard this voice behind me saying, "You see--I'm not fat!" I turned round and said, "I never said you were fat. I used to do interviews, and I said you were bigger than me. Well, you're a bigger man than me." He said, "Do you hear from Alan Dershowitz?" and I said, "No, actually. Since the movie I haven't heard from him." And so [von Bülow said], "I understand he's representing Michael Tyson and Leona Helmsley." I said, "Yeah, I read about it." [He replied,] "You haven't been asked to play either of them, have you?" And I said, "I thought Mike Tyson might be beyond my range, but I'd have a crack at Leona.".

Oh, Jeremy. We all know the only man who could play Leona Helmsley is Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out. However, I believe the role of Lord Licorice in the Candy Land movie is still up for grabs, and you're just the spindly sorcerer for the job.

· Q+LA Jeremy Irons [LAT Mag]