Robert Lindsay, the veteran British actor known for roles in television and theatre, has opened up about his experiences in the entertainment industry, including a notable confrontation with former Miramax executive Harvey Weinstein that he says derailed his film career. Lindsay, 76, is currently starring as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the new play Springwood, written by Tony-winning playwright Richard Nelson. The production, staged at Hampstead Theatre in north London, is set in 1939 and explores a picnic hosted by Roosevelt for King George VI and his family, focusing on efforts to strengthen the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom as World War II loomed.

Lindsay described his extensive preparation for the role, immersing himself in the history and personality of Roosevelt, a figure he regards highly for his leadership through the Great Depression and wartime. Lindsay contrasted this with his view of the contemporary state of Anglo-American relations, expressing disappointment at recent political interactions, including King Charles's meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Reflecting on his long career, Lindsay recounted his early rise to fame with the 1977 sitcom Citizen Smith, a role that brought him widespread recognition but also an unwelcome level of public attention, leading him to step away after three series. He later found success in drama series such as GBH and Jake’s Progress, before returning to a lighter role in the BBC sitcom My Family from 2000, which ran for 11 series and garnered high viewership despite critical disapproval. Lindsay acknowledged taking the role primarily for financial reasons during a personal break-up and appreciated that by then he could leverage his television profile to pursue theatre work.

Despite his television prominence, Lindsay said his ambitions in film were hindered by difficulties with Weinstein during the 1990 production of Loser Takes All (later renamed Strike It Rich). He described Weinstein’s arrival on set as initially charming but soon unsettling, with the producer firing staff and altering the script. Lindsay said he confronted Weinstein in a heated exchange at Pinewood Studios and afterward received warnings from unnamed Hollywood figures advising him to leave Weinstein alone. Lindsay also claimed he was later removed from the cast of Shakespeare in Love after learning Weinstein was involved, signaling a professional blacklist. He returned to Weinstein-associated projects with reluctance in 2014, appearing as Aristotle Onassis in Grace of Monaco, a film that was poorly received at Cannes amid growing criticism of Weinstein.

Throughout his career, Lindsay spoke candidly about the realities of acting, including the need to accept failure, citing a conversation with Dustin Hoffman as pivotal in maintaining perspective. On a more personal note, Lindsay shared memories of his Derbyshire upbringing, highlighting his parents’ resilience during difficult times and their support for his eventual path to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Now, with Springwood, Lindsay said he is drawn to Roosevelt’s political acumen and moral leadership, finding renewed inspiration in portraying such a consequential figure as global tensions rise once again.