Julian Sands, Tired of Twit Bits, Likes ‘Warlock’ Role

Julian Sands is one of those blond, fair-skinned, blue-eyed English blokes who plays a twit as well or better than the next classically trained British actor.

But he’s sick and tired of those roles.

On a visit to Hollywood to publicize his newest movie, “Warlock,� the handsome 32-year-old performer said, “Upper- class twits are not what I like to do. I had an opportunity to prove I can do other things in ‘A Room With a View.’ �

Indeed, Sands demonstrated he could play a romantic macho figure as Helena Bonham Carter’s lover in that hit film. It was Daniel Day-Lewis, alas, who was stuck playing the upper-class fop.

Sands is pleased that in “Warlock� he portrays the quintessence of evil, a male witch.

“As the warlock, I am the prince of malevolence,� he said happily. “He’s so totally bad there is something attractive and pure about his evil. He is dedicated in his desire to create horror.�

Beginning his acting career at age 6 in passion plays, his first big break was in the British TV series, “A Married Man,� starring Anthony Hopkins. Later, he was type-cast as the effete Brit.

“I’ve always accepted roles purely on the worth of the screenplays. I don’t make it a point to seek macho characterizations. I like to work. If a script comes in that appeals to me, I take it.�

Sands, who shaped his career working in Europe, said that, in Hollywood, he’s discovered that demands on the actor are “slightly different.�

“Acting in Hollywood is much more about definition than depth. In Europe the emphasis is on depth as compared with the focus on breadth in the United States.�