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It's the voice that launched a thousand adverts. A honeyed rumble that flows over the ear like melted chocolate, causing consumers to go weak in the credit card.
It is instantly recognisable, even more than the expressive face that can slide from sneering at Mel Gibson to leering at Greta Scacchi with the lift of an eyebrow.
Joss Ackland is one of the select handful of distinguished actors that can be relied on to pop up whenever the script calls for an urbane elder statesman or superior villain.
In a 50 year career Joss has portrayed despots, dictators and dons (Oxbridge and Mafia). In his latest film Firelight he revels in the role of a free-spending old reprobate, intent on bankrupting his family in the single minded pursuit of wine, womenand song.
Set in the 19th century it is a somewhat contrived romance between a Swiss Governess (Sophie Marceau) and the upright English aristocrat (Stephen Dillane) who pays her to have the baby his crippled wife cannot give him.
Seven years later they are reunited when she is appointed to teach the unruly child and, predictably, passion flairs between master and servant. Joss plays Dillane's wastrel father.
"I loved doing it. The father's a reprobate and the son is a solid quiet worker, they just can't relate, it's sad," said Joss.
Unhindered by any sense of propriety the father shoots from the wine soaked lip.
"I wouldn't say I have the best lines. They are just delivered superbly," he said with a selocking absence of modesty.
Firelight reunites Joss with writer/director William Nicholson, who wrote the screenplay for Shadowlands, the poignant story of the author...