Timothy Spall's battle with leukaemia stops him from being a "t**t"

Asked how his illness had affected him, he told The Observer: "The great thing now about life is that I really know I’m living it. I do still get caught up in the petty things, but I’ve got a benchmark against which I can say to myself, 'For Christ’s sake, wind your neck in, you t***.' "

The Harry Potter actor went to college with Sex Pistols rockers John Lydon and the late Sid Vicious and he "loved" seeing their punk personas up close.

He said: "I was in a few A-level English classes with John. He had a Rod Stewart haircut, which was bizarre, but what he was saying was so astute and original.

"I only saw Sid in the refectory, in his leather jacket and sunglasses, with that hair, just looking down at everybody with such disdain. I loved it!

"They were adopting personas, of course, but it was extraordinary to live in a time when glam rock had become over-bloated, and these characters suddenly came along, going, 'We’re c***, but we’re brilliant c***.”

The Sixth Commandment star can currently be seen in Goodbye June, which marks Kate Winslet's directorial debut and Timothy praised the Oscar-winning actress as a "natural" behind the camera.

He said: "I’m so pleased to report, honestly, that this film was one of the most satisfying jobs of my career. She’s a natural. The atmosphere she created on set was so enjoyable.

"The last time I worked with her she was 20, on [Kenneth Branagh’s 1996] Hamlet, when she was already very open, truthful, funny and intelligent. I remember seeing her next to Julie Christie [as Gertrude], and thinking, wow, these are our heavyweights!"
Timothy credits acting for continuing his education throughout the years.

Asked what he likes most about acting, he said: "Being educated by my profession. It’s given me an understanding of so much history and society in a deep intellectual and emotional way.

"I also love being involved in a world trying to make sense of things in ways that are entertaining and accessible. Film and television are relatively new art forms, only 100 years old. We’re still discovering their power."