{alltv} McShane revels in villain roles

Ian McShane still looks like he needs a bath. But at least this time his mouth doesn't have to be washed out with soap.

Disney, as if you needed to be told, is a long way from Deadwood.

That said, it's doubtful the 68-year-old British actor would've been cast as glowering, grotty Blackbeard in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides had it not been for the impression he made as foul-mouthed pimp and saloon owner Al Swearengen in that now-defunct HBO western.

"It's kind of nice that it happened later in life," says McShane -- who we should stress has much better hygiene in person -- of being discovered by North America following decades of success in the U.K. "The last 10 years have been extraordinary. America always opens its arms. Hollywood's always aware of talent. What it does with it sometimes is mysterious, but they're very aware of it."

Besides, he reasons, "Hollywood likes English actors to play their villains. I'm not sure why. Maybe they haven't forgiven us for 250 years ago or whatever."

In On Stranger Tides, opening late Thursday night, McShane's high-seas marauder is in a race to locate the Fountain of Youth. Penelope Cruz plays his first mate, Angelica, who also happens to be the saucy former flame of Capt. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp).

"I'd seen (Pirates 1) because I have three grandchildren. Pirates of the Caribbean, they loved it. When I was filming last year at Pinewood (Studios in London) they came on set to see me for the first time as Blackbeard. And they rushed straight past me to say hi to Johnny. That's how much their granddad impresses them."

While plans for further Pirates episodes are being drafted, it's unknown whether Blackbeard will sail again -- although, as Geoffrey Rush learned, anything is possible. And McShane sounds more than willing to reprise his role.

"Penelope's delightful. This whole experience it's very easy in terms of when you're doing it. You're all pros and you do it. We had a ball. We're not doing a deep psychological interpretation of Jack Sparrow's imagination. It's not the Blackbeard biographical movie."

Less certain is the fate of the hoped-for Deadwood reunion that has been discussed for years.

"Deadwood will never die off. It was the best," he says. "I've seen other TV shows and some are good, but I don't think there's been anything like Deadwood ... (Creator) David Milch is a bit of a genius. I thought it was extraordinary. The reasons that it went off the air have to do with money; they always are, aren't they? But that was particularly so. But it was great because it made it on the air in the first place."

In the meantime, McShane is currently shooting another special-effects-laden fantasy, Jack the Giant Killer.

As the title suggests, it's about the mythical conflict being humans and giants. Co-starring Ewan McGregor and Nicholas Hoult, it's being directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men) for a summer 2012 release.

Again, a Brit is the villain; however McShane reveals that -- for once -- it's not him. "I play a king whose lovely daughter has been taken up the beanstalk. Bill Nighy's the baddie in this one, so he can be bad."