22 May 2026
Sir Derek Jacobi believes he would have been much more successful if he’d “had the looks” to match his talent.
Sir Derek Jacobi has opened up about his career
The 87-year-old actor has been a regular on stage and screen since the 1960s – appearing in blockbusters such as 2000 film Gladiator and its 2024 sequel – but Derek is adamant he wanted to be a fully-fledged “movie star” and he is convinced he never landed typical leading man roles because of his appearance.
In an interview with the Guardian, he’s asked if he sees himself as “ugly” and the actor replied: “Oh yes. Oh, as a kid, yes. A ginger-haired, freckled-faced …Acne-ridden, east London kid. Yes, absolutely. I can’t look in the mirror.”
Jacobi went on to add: “If I were honest, I’d have liked to have been a movie star. I think I can act. But I didn’t have the looks to go with my acting.
“If I had had the looks as well as my acting ability I think my world would have turned out differently. But I didn’t. And I never wanted to look at myself because I didn’t like what I saw.”
When asked who he would like to look like, Jacobi said: “Rock Hudson … When I was growing up he was the film star.”
He added: “Probably [I would have been bored as a movie star], but I would have been rich. And, for an East End kid, that matters.”
Jacobi previously confessed he’s always felt insecure about his career because he has constantly felt a need to prove himself since his childhood.
Asked if the lack of work for actors has made him worry about his work, the actor told The Telegraph newspaper:”Always! Insecurity is the story of my life.
“It goes back to my youth as an only child. If I’d had brothers and sisters I might not be so timid. In the big world of making your way I’ve always felt I’ve just got to keep at it otherwise I’ll slip off the ladder.”
Jacobi added that being “in awe of achievement” has contributed to him feeling a sense of underachievement. He explained: “I think I’ve always been in awe of achievement. When you are surrounded by a host of high achievers, I think that has an effect on you if, like me, you feel you’ve underachieved.”
Jacobi – who has been honoured with two Olivier Awards among other accolades – admitted looking in his cupboards helps to reassure him of his success.
He quipped: “These days I can always look in the cupboard and see an award or two if I need to.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.femalefirst.co.uk ’
