Jacobi and Clifford: 47 Years of Art, Alcohol, and the ‘Old Man’

Derek Jacobi, aged 87, has opened up about his life and career in a wide-ranging interview with The Guardian Culture, reflecting on his 47-year partnership with husband Richard Clifford. The veteran actor, renowned for his work in theatre and television, discussed his retirement from live performance in 2022 due to difficulties with remembering lines, his enduring insecurities regarding his appearance, and his determination to reach the age of 100.

Jacobi, who has been with Clifford since 1978, described the 1980s as a "terrible plague time," noting that the couple lost many friends to the AIDS crisis. Despite the trauma, Jacobi stated he was not personally frightened of infection because he and Clifford "didn’t play around." The conversation also touched on his physical decline, with Jacobi admitting he has "let the old man in" over the last two years, though he denied having osteoporosis, attributing his shrinking height to alcohol consumption—a claim Clifford disputed with good humour.

The interview highlighted the domestic reality of their long-term relationship, revealing that Jacobi cannot boil an egg, a fact he illustrated with a story from when Clifford was undergoing chemotherapy for leukaemia. Clifford, who is 17 years younger, described himself as the "grownup" in the relationship, handling social duties and cooking while Jacobi focuses on his artistic pursuits. Their dynamic is characterised by sharp wit and mutual ridicule, which Jacobi credits as the foundation of their stability.

Reflecting on his career, Jacobi spoke about his role as Francis Bacon in the 1998 film Love is the Devil, where he worked alongside Daniel Craig. He noted that he and co-star Anne Reid compete to recount how many times they have slept with the actor, with Jacobi claiming he slept with Craig twice. He also mentioned his latest film, Moss and Freud, in which he plays the painter Lucian Freud, contrasting the two artists' approaches to work and self-absorption.

Despite retiring from the stage, Jacobi continues to perform in a two-man show with Clifford, who quizzes him on his life and fills in the gaps when his memory fails. The couple plans to mark their 50th anniversary with a party and the sale of their home, though their views on longevity differ; while Jacobi aims for a century, Clifford joked about driving off Beachy Head when Jacobi turns 90. Jacobi remains focused on experiencing what it will be like to reach 100, viewing his craft as a vital means of navigating the world.