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Danny Boyle once fired actor over diva behavior

Written by . Published: March 31 2013

Director Danny Boyle refuses to put up with egotistical behavior from his cast and once fired an actor for screaming at an assistant bringing him breakfast.


The Trainspotting filmmaker insisted on letting the self-absorbed star go immediately, even though it would delay production on the project, because he has zero tolerance for such outbursts on set.


Without naming names, he tells Details magazine, "I don't tolerate ego bulls**t... We had shot quite a lot of material with him already, and firing him was going to hurt the film. But I rang the producer and said, 'We're getting rid of this guy.'"


Boyle, who confesses to having an anger problem, didn't want to lose his temper with the actor so he did what was best for both of them - and instead channelled his fiery feelings into his filmmaking.


He says, "I have a terrible temper, which I am very frightened of... I can turn chilly - like when I got rid of that actor - and cut off from enthusiasm and affability. I've never been violent, but there's another place, a darker place. I feel violent. And I am aware that films are full of violence, and I find that cathartic and expressive and valuable - so it's clearly a part of me."

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