A man groping a woman arse he is just being friendly, says Actor Jeremy Irons

The Academy Award winning British actor, Jeremy Irons, says too many people in power have too little to do. “I hope it’s a rash that will wear itself out.If a man puts his hand on a woman’s bottom, any woman worth her salt can deal with it. It’s communication. Can’t we be friendly?” In this week’s interview he is more circumspect, saying: ‘I float ideas, which I shouldn’t. But why not stir the pot? Lack of privacy is faintly aggravating, particularly if you have a salacious private life, which I hope most people have. We only live once.

The British actor, who has been married to 63-year-old Cusack for 33 years, also spoke about his own private life in the interview. ‘We all like dirty secrets, don’t we? [But] I’ve never needed a super-injunction. They’re terribly expensive you know.’ Irons, who stars in historical TV series The Borgias playing 15th-century Pope Alexander VI, admits that his blunt nature can often land him in hot water.

The Oscar winner (Reversal of Fortune) said that there was too much legislation governing such matters. “It’s gone too far,” said the 62-year-old. “There are too many people in power with too little to do, so they churn out laws to justify their jobs. I hope it’s a rash that will wear itself out.”

Irons, who is married to the Irish actress, Sinéad Cusack for over 33 years, also spoke of his private life. “Lack of privacy is faintly aggravating, particularly if you have a salacious private life, which I hope most people have. We only live once.