Interview: Robert Vaughn

Currently starring in the new series of Hustle, parts of which were filmed in the Wharf, the 76-year-old American publishes his autobiography in the UK next week.

It details his rise to fame and starring roles alongside the likes of Hollywood legends Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner.

He spoke to The Wharf about his work, his love of England, and why he has was publishing his life story now.

"Well, mortality is involved," he said. "I'm not so young now and I wanted to write everything down to let my family know what I did.

"I was born a week after Roosevelt was elected in 1932 and the book covers the period from then until Nixon's election in 1968, so it includes things like The Magnificent Seven and The Man From Uncle."

It seemed Vaughn was always destined for a life on stage and screen, as he explained.

He said: "My mother was an actress, my biological father was an actor and my step-father was an actor. Even my mother's parents were actors. You could say it was the family business."

He clearly inherited some talent. He was Oscar nominated for The Young Philadelphians in 1959, something that led to arguably his most famous film role, as Lee in classic western The Magnificent Seven alongside Brynner and McQueen.

"I have no doubt the nomination got me that role," he said. "It became a legendary western, although at the time we didn't know how popular it would become. It was just another picture.

"Steve McQueen was very like his character in the film. He used to be given the script and he'd look at it and say 'he wouldn't say that' and it ended up with him saying very little and the camera just concentrating on his face. It was his first major role and you could see he had real star quality.

"We called Yul Brynner 'The King' because he was like the role he played in The King And I. He was very regal, all the time."The 1960s saw Vaughn's fame hit new heights with TV series The Man From Uncle.

The show, co-created by James Bond author Ian Fleming, captured the Sixties zeitgeist for stylish spy-themed tales.

"Doing the Man From Uncle was a fantastic experience. It was a fast ride up and a fast ride back down," he said.

"We knew it would be successful because it was screened after the first three James Bond movies came out and spy films were hugely popular.

"In fact we released the first ones as two hour movies and they outgrossed Bond, which was quite something."

When that show ended in 1968 Vaughn spent the next three decades appearing in films like The Towering Inferno and Superman III as well as numerous TV roles, including a stint on The A-Team.

But he has enjoyed a new lease of professional life since Hustle first screened in 2004. Vaughn plays American grifter Albert Stroller in the series and he is revelling in the role.

"We're going to shoot a sixth season of it and I'm pleased because I really enjoy doing it," he said.

"I love living in England while we're filming. It's a country I've visited many times since the 1950s and always enjoyed.

"Mind you, it's a heavy schedule. We shoot six days a week so you don't get much time off to explore but I love working with the cast, who are all hugely talented."

But according to Vaughn there is one downside to portraying a career conman in such a successful series.

He said: "Whenever I give a cabbie a £5 note they look at it and say 'you sure this is genuine, mate?'"

Robert Vaughn: A Fortunate Life is published on January 26.