Rupert Everett: “I am a pathetic lover”

Rupert Everett blames his single status - or at least his lack of sexual prowess - on his strict upbringing because it made him feel guilty about his lovelife.

He revealed recently: “Oh, I am a pathetic lover. Being Catholic, coming from a military background, then having that dawning, nagging feeling that I was not going to be on the right side of the fence.”

“It had a knock-on effect on so many things and I felt so guilty for ages about sex, then with AIDS happening it was almost like my worst fears were true.”

“So I don’t think I have been a great lover really, no. Not in this lifetime.”

“I am either too selfish or too extreme. Too vulnerable, or too self-centred.”

“I never took myself seriously enough.”