McDowell: Clockwork Orange made me smoke

Malcolm McDowell started smoking again immediately after watching A Clockwork Orange.

The British actor played the lead role in Stanley Kubrick's 1970's shocker, which told the tale of a violent gang of delinquents. The film shocked and outraged cinemagoers when it was released and was even banned from showing in the US and subsequently withdrawn from British cinema screens. This just added more mystery to the graphic film, which quickly became a cult classic.

"I don't think I was shocked when I first saw - or made - A Clockwork Orange or if... I'm certainly not now. When we showed Orange to audiences, they just sat there stunned. I thought: 'Oh God, they hate it.' I was so blown away watching it I instantly started smoking again," Malcolm recalled to British newspaper Metro.

Malcolm has enjoyed more than 45 years in the movie industry, but is often cast as the baddie.

The 71-year-old sometimes feels frustrated when he's typecast, but generally enjoys playing the nemesis.

"You could ask the same thing of pretty much any English actor working in America," he mused about why he's always the villain. "And don't forget I played one of the greatest villains in cinema history in Alex in A Clockwork Orange - although I don't think he's a villain. A role like that leaves such an incredible image, people don't want you to play anything else.

"Well it can be [frustrating]. It used to be. Now I don't give a damn. But having said that, the best parts are nearly always villains. A movie is only as good as the villain."