Rhys Ifans Goes On Nice Binge

03 June 2009

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Rhys Ifans went on a "really heavy" drug binge to prepare for his new movie.

The actor insisted infamous cannabis smuggler Howard Marks - who he is playing in a film based on his autobiography 'Mr. Nice' - took him on a wild night out so he could study him in readiness for the role.

Howard revealed: "Rhys is great - he's one of those method actors and really lives the part. So he wanted to go on some real big benders with me to see how I am when I'm really off my head.

"I tried to tell him he doesn't need to study me much. We've known each other ages and go out at least once a year.

"But he told me he wanted to get inside my mind and my speech patterns. Who am I to refuse?

"We went on a really heavy cocaine and weed session on one of his days off and I think it took his toll. But it'll probably look great in the film!"

Landing the role has been a long-held dream for Rhys, who begged to be allowed to play the Welsh drug lord in a movie the first time they met.

Rhys recalled recently: "I met him at a Super Furry Animals concert in Pontypridd and that was about 13 years ago.

"I remember asking him, 'If you write the book, will you please let me play you when I grow up?'

"It's amazing that his cousin took footage of that first meeting between him, the band and me backstage and there's a dubious scene where you see Howard and I agreeing to do the film."

At the height of his smuggling days in the 80s, Howard had over 43 different aliases - including 'Mr. Nice' from which the book and film derive their name - and 25 companies trading throughout the world.

At one time, he was estimated to be in control of 10 per cent of the entire world's marihuana supply.

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