One of my favourite portrayals was as Humbert Humbert in Adrian Lynne's controversial adaptation of ‘Lolita’ (1997). Following in the footsteps of James Mason he delivered a subtle, heartbreaking performance as a tormented man seduced by his own wrongful desires and a nymphet played beautifully by Dominique Swain. Irons brings you to a point where you actually feel sorry for him until he asks her for forgiveness and, as she turns to the dog and says,

 ‘say goodbye to my dad’

This realisation leads you back to the fact that, despite Swains obvious seduction of Irons, he still was still he father and abused her in a dreadful way - tearing her innocence away.

He then played the leading role in 'Fallen Angels', which featured the actor as a magazine editor-cum-freedom fighter after his wife and three children were killed when their airplane was hijacked by terrorists. Though his performance was generally viewed as good, few Americans would enjoy it -- the original (and uncanny) plans for a United States theatrical release in fall of 2001 was cancelled after the 9/11 attacks. Luckily for Irons and his loyal fan base, the 2002 releases of 'Time Machine' and the musical drama 'Callas Forever' were not similarly hindered. In the same year, Irons would play the role of F. Scott Fitzgerald in director Henry Bromell's biographical feature 'Last Call' with great success. 2003 was a busy year for Irons' vocal chords, as he provided one of the starring voices in the lavish, multi-episode television documentary Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites.

An Englishman to the last, Irons has resisted the temptation to settle in Hollywood. He continues to reside in England with his wife and two sons. He starred with one of his sons, Samuel, in the 1989 television adaptation of Ronald Dahl's Danny, the Champion of the World.

Despite his many and varied performances his peers seem unwilling to mark his work. He has won only a single Oscar and has been nominated for two BAFTAs, this despite some stunning performances and a plethora of variety in terms of roles.

Quotes
Paris Hilton, that's very interesting what she did. I've never done that. I haven't really sort of ever got into that. As time passes, maybe I should record it and put it in a vault so that when I get a little old don't have the energy I can remember how life used to be.

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.

Autobiographies:

Suggested films to see:

Reversal of Fortune (1990)
The Mission (1986)
Lolita (1997)
Damage (1992)