Amadeus star Paul Bettany reveals how a fan’s selfie intruded on a tragic family moment

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Paul Bettany is a big fan of Christmas. He says, “I absolutely love it!” His family celebrates with a traditional English Christmas on Christmas Day, complete with crackers and turkey. The festivities continue after Boxing Day, with friends and family joining in – they hosted 40 people last year!

Jeremy Bettany, who stars in Sky Atlantic’s new adaptation of the play Amadeus, lives in a wooden house in rural Vermont with his wife, actress Jennifer Connelly. He says it snows there every winter, so he’s looking forward to a beautiful Christmas – and a lively one! Bettany has a music room filled with instruments – drums, piano, guitars, and a sound system – and often hosts jam sessions with friends, culminating in a New Year’s Eve performance.

You might be relieved it’s happening to someone else, but Bettany throws himself completely into everything he does. Whether he’s hosting a Christmas party or playing the envious Salieri in Amadeus – a character obsessed with ruining Mozart’s life – he gives it his all.

Bettany, who has lived in the US since 2003, returns to the UK in this role to showcase his acting talent, much like he did in 2021 with his performance as the Duke of Argyll in ‘A Very British Scandal’. This time, he’s acting alongside Will Sharpe, playing a character set in 18th-century Vienna, a pairing Bettany clearly enjoys.

I really admire Will. He’s a rare combination of funny, kind, and gentle – a truly appealing personality. It’s unusual because most actors focus on competing with each other, rather than helping each other succeed.

Paul Bettany is a truly captivating actor. Even while playing the android superhero The Vision in the Marvel films – a role he’s had since 2015 that involves a full-body suit and shooting lasers from his forehead – he’s incredibly convincing. I was so drawn in, I actually asked him what it felt like. He kindly pointed out that, because of special effects, it’s not actually happening, and he has no real experience with lasers shooting from his head!

Though Paul Bettany has been a familiar face in American movies for years – with roles in films like A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander, and The Da Vinci Code – he’s uncomfortable discussing his own fame.

Overall, I think the benefits definitely make up for any downsides. I often think about what it must be like for someone like Brad Pitt dealing with all the attention. For me, though, I’ve noticed things like getting better tables at restaurants or being treated a little nicer at airports. It means I mostly meet people when they’re trying to make a good impression, which is nice. But when I do encounter someone having a bad day, it can feel a bit strange and isolating.

It’s so strange to hear about the things actors deal with, even when they’re going through something incredibly personal. He told a story about finding out his father, Thane – who was also an actor – was dying back in 2015. He was on the phone, completely heartbroken, trying to book a flight to be with him, and someone just walked up and asked for a selfie! It’s wild that they didn’t even realize what was going on, that they didn’t see he was hurting right then. He said despite moments like that, he’s so grateful for the life his career has given him and his family – it’s been extraordinary for his wife and kids.

Jeremy Bettany and his wife, Connolly, have a lively family including their 12-year-old daughter, Agnes, and Connolly’s two sons from a previous relationship – Stellan, 22, and Kai, 27. They’re all getting together in Vermont, and Bettany expects it to be a chaotic but fun time. He describes it as a big gathering with lots of kids and plenty of drinking, including some potentially risky sledding.

He admitted they were in a very remote location, but added that the house itself was fortunate – nothing bad ever seemed to happen there.

Amadeus will be available to watch on Sky and NOW in December.

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2025-12-08 20:35