Alex Godfrey
@mrgodfrey.bsky.social
Features Editor at Empire magazine.
BSME Best Feature Writer 2023 / shortlisted 2024 & 2025.
Shortlisted for PPA Best Writer 2025.
Previously: words for Guardian / GQ / Esquire / Telegraph / Sunday Times Culture / Wired
https://linktr.ee/MrGodfrey
BSME Best Feature Writer 2023 / shortlisted 2024 & 2025.
Shortlisted for PPA Best Writer 2025.
Previously: words for Guardian / GQ / Esquire / Telegraph / Sunday Times Culture / Wired
https://linktr.ee/MrGodfrey
Pinned
The Last Days Of Harry Godfrey
Documenting my dad's death. Because he told me to.
alexgodfrey.substack.com
When my dad was dying in hospital, and apparently not bothered about it in the slightest, he told me I should write about it. I scoffed at the time. I didn't want to write about that. But after mulling over it for an age, I've just had a week off work, and got it all out there. Allllll of it.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
I spent a glorious hour talking to Udo Kier in 2019. He was at home in the desert with his dog, Liza Minnelli. He talked about meeting gigolos with River Phoenix (for research). He told me about directing himself as a paraplegic transsexual telephone sex-worker. Obviously I loved him.
Cult cinema hero Udo Kier: ‘I like the film, it’s very brutal'
He has worked with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier – as well as gone underage drinking with Rainer Fassbinder and chatted up hustlers with River Phoenix
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I spent a glorious hour talking to Udo Kier in 2019. He was at home in the desert with his dog, Liza Minnelli. He talked about meeting gigolos with River Phoenix (for research). He told me about directing himself as a paraplegic transsexual telephone sex-worker. Obviously I loved him.
I spent a glorious hour talking to Udo Kier in 2019. He was at home in the desert with his dog, Liza Minnelli. He talked about meeting gigolos with River Phoenix (for research). He told me about directing himself as a paraplegic transsexual telephone sex-worker. Obviously I loved him.
Cult cinema hero Udo Kier: ‘I like the film, it’s very brutal'
He has worked with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier – as well as gone underage drinking with Rainer Fassbinder and chatted up hustlers with River Phoenix
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I spent a glorious hour talking to Udo Kier in 2019. He was at home in the desert with his dog, Liza Minnelli. He talked about meeting gigolos with River Phoenix (for research). He told me about directing himself as a paraplegic transsexual telephone sex-worker. Obviously I loved him.
I saw a video from the guy who shot Tom Baker's MBE investiture the other day. "I was Tom's photographer for 15 years," he said. I just think people should check over automated subtitles. They're often a bit mad. If you don't have the audio on this might seem pretty wild. Even Tom looks shocked.
November 23, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I saw a video from the guy who shot Tom Baker's MBE investiture the other day. "I was Tom's photographer for 15 years," he said. I just think people should check over automated subtitles. They're often a bit mad. If you don't have the audio on this might seem pretty wild. Even Tom looks shocked.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
Had the time of my life writing this for our new issue: The Tim Burton and Paul Reubens collaboration, mostly on Pee-wee's Big Adventure, but also beyond, including the years when Reubens was very publicly shamed and Burton stood by him. I had a nourishing talk with Burton for it. On sale tomorrow.
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Had the time of my life writing this for our new issue: The Tim Burton and Paul Reubens collaboration, mostly on Pee-wee's Big Adventure, but also beyond, including the years when Reubens was very publicly shamed and Burton stood by him. I had a nourishing talk with Burton for it. On sale tomorrow.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
⚔️ ISSUE PREVIEW ⚔️
Empire's #TheOdyssey issue lands in stores and online tomorrow. Here's a look at what's inside this month's pages...
ORDER: greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-janua...
READ MORE: empireonline.com/movies/news/...
Empire's #TheOdyssey issue lands in stores and online tomorrow. Here's a look at what's inside this month's pages...
ORDER: greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-janua...
READ MORE: empireonline.com/movies/news/...
November 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
⚔️ ISSUE PREVIEW ⚔️
Empire's #TheOdyssey issue lands in stores and online tomorrow. Here's a look at what's inside this month's pages...
ORDER: greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-janua...
READ MORE: empireonline.com/movies/news/...
Empire's #TheOdyssey issue lands in stores and online tomorrow. Here's a look at what's inside this month's pages...
ORDER: greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-janua...
READ MORE: empireonline.com/movies/news/...
Had the time of my life writing this for our new issue: The Tim Burton and Paul Reubens collaboration, mostly on Pee-wee's Big Adventure, but also beyond, including the years when Reubens was very publicly shamed and Burton stood by him. I had a nourishing talk with Burton for it. On sale tomorrow.
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Had the time of my life writing this for our new issue: The Tim Burton and Paul Reubens collaboration, mostly on Pee-wee's Big Adventure, but also beyond, including the years when Reubens was very publicly shamed and Burton stood by him. I had a nourishing talk with Burton for it. On sale tomorrow.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
Rachel was so great, I don’t quite know what The Observer will be without her
Wonderful and moving tribute by @timadamswrites.bsky.social to Rachel Cooke, the brilliant Observer journalist who also frequently lit up the pages of the Guardian Weekly, who has died at the age of 56.
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Rachel was so great, I don’t quite know what The Observer will be without her
Next week's issue is a whopper. 12-page cover story on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, an incredible coup by @nickdesemlyen.bsky.social, many months in the making. Trojan-horsing some excellence onto the newsstands. And that's just the start of the huge 2026 preview we put together. You're welcome.
The journey begins…
Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is revealed on Empire’s world-exclusive cover – the first look and first word on an epic like no other. On sale Thursday 20th November.
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
Christopher Nolan’s #TheOdyssey is revealed on Empire’s world-exclusive cover – the first look and first word on an epic like no other. On sale Thursday 20th November.
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Next week's issue is a whopper. 12-page cover story on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, an incredible coup by @nickdesemlyen.bsky.social, many months in the making. Trojan-horsing some excellence onto the newsstands. And that's just the start of the huge 2026 preview we put together. You're welcome.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
🚨NEW PODCAST SPECIAL🚨
Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean talk Anemone with Empire’s Alex Godfrey — and director Ronan Day-Lewis joins separately to discuss taking on the project as his directorial debut.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/5aX4...
Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean talk Anemone with Empire’s Alex Godfrey — and director Ronan Day-Lewis joins separately to discuss taking on the project as his directorial debut.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/5aX4...
November 11, 2025 at 10:44 PM
🚨NEW PODCAST SPECIAL🚨
Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean talk Anemone with Empire’s Alex Godfrey — and director Ronan Day-Lewis joins separately to discuss taking on the project as his directorial debut.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/5aX4...
Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean talk Anemone with Empire’s Alex Godfrey — and director Ronan Day-Lewis joins separately to discuss taking on the project as his directorial debut.
Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/5aX4...
My kinda journalism.
Is Mike Wazowski Jewish or Polish?
A deep inquiry into a pressing question
sproutstack.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
My kinda journalism.
Extremely engrossing read on the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, by Andrew Hankinson in The Observer. Some of it reads like folk horror. Some like The Banshees Of Inisherin.
share.google/8Hs2oskTXc5I...
share.google/8Hs2oskTXc5I...
November 9, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Extremely engrossing read on the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, by Andrew Hankinson in The Observer. Some of it reads like folk horror. Some like The Banshees Of Inisherin.
share.google/8Hs2oskTXc5I...
share.google/8Hs2oskTXc5I...
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
Volcano breaks silence
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Volcano breaks silence
When my dad was dying in hospital, and apparently not bothered about it in the slightest, he told me I should write about it. I scoffed at the time. I didn't want to write about that. But after mulling over it for an age, I've just had a week off work, and got it all out there. Allllll of it.
The Last Days Of Harry Godfrey
Documenting my dad's death. Because he told me to.
alexgodfrey.substack.com
October 26, 2025 at 8:49 AM
When my dad was dying in hospital, and apparently not bothered about it in the slightest, he told me I should write about it. I scoffed at the time. I didn't want to write about that. But after mulling over it for an age, I've just had a week off work, and got it all out there. Allllll of it.
Hadn't seen this Elephant Man bts before. Lynch and crew shooting Michael Elphick. Cinema!
October 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Hadn't seen this Elephant Man bts before. Lynch and crew shooting Michael Elphick. Cinema!
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
One of my favourite things is actors on set in full make-up having a cheeky drink or smoke.
October 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
One of my favourite things is actors on set in full make-up having a cheeky drink or smoke.
I LOVED Pillion, a most unexpected and unpredictable film, a singular, eye-opening BDSM comedy-drama. The ever-perceptive @christinalefou.bsky.social interviewed director Harry Lighton and his actors (Alexander Skarsgård & Harry Melling) for a glorious 6 pages in Empire. Stoked to have it in there.
EXCLUSIVE 🚲
BDSM romance Pillion is “a funny and touching and weird love story”, says Alexander Skarsgård.
“[The sex scenes] are dramatically quite interesting,” he tells Empire. “There’s lust, but also jealousy and confusion and pain.”
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
BDSM romance Pillion is “a funny and touching and weird love story”, says Alexander Skarsgård.
“[The sex scenes] are dramatically quite interesting,” he tells Empire. “There’s lust, but also jealousy and confusion and pain.”
Read more: www.empireonline.com/movies/news/...
October 21, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I LOVED Pillion, a most unexpected and unpredictable film, a singular, eye-opening BDSM comedy-drama. The ever-perceptive @christinalefou.bsky.social interviewed director Harry Lighton and his actors (Alexander Skarsgård & Harry Melling) for a glorious 6 pages in Empire. Stoked to have it in there.
This feature - reuniting Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd to talk 40 years of Back To The Future - has been in the works for a while. I knew @ollyrichards.bsky.social would ace it. It's a delightful, poignant, funny conversation. The chemistry is real.
In print only. New issue in shops on Thurs.
In print only. New issue in shops on Thurs.
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This feature - reuniting Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd to talk 40 years of Back To The Future - has been in the works for a while. I knew @ollyrichards.bsky.social would ace it. It's a delightful, poignant, funny conversation. The chemistry is real.
In print only. New issue in shops on Thurs.
In print only. New issue in shops on Thurs.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
Do you like scary movies? With animals in? Have resurrected some prints. Signed, A3 and available from Fiveways Arts and Crafts, Brighton. Online here:
fivewaysartsandcrafts.com/search?q=nad...
fivewaysartsandcrafts.com/search?q=nad...
October 18, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Do you like scary movies? With animals in? Have resurrected some prints. Signed, A3 and available from Fiveways Arts and Crafts, Brighton. Online here:
fivewaysartsandcrafts.com/search?q=nad...
fivewaysartsandcrafts.com/search?q=nad...
Just heard someone singing Blood, Sweat & Tears' 'Spinning Wheel' and remembered Nicolas Cage telling me how much David Lynch hated that song.
October 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Just heard someone singing Blood, Sweat & Tears' 'Spinning Wheel' and remembered Nicolas Cage telling me how much David Lynch hated that song.
This is a regular vexation for me. Frantically trying to figure out how and where to push buttons so that closing credits keep going while the tiny countdown mercilessly rushes to an end, it's hell.
yo Apple, if you’re gonna pay to license “Sympathy for the Devil” or “Chest Fever” don’t automatically cut to the next episode while it’s still playing
October 18, 2025 at 6:52 AM
This is a regular vexation for me. Frantically trying to figure out how and where to push buttons so that closing credits keep going while the tiny countdown mercilessly rushes to an end, it's hell.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
It all ends here
Eleven and the heroes of Hawkins are back to face the darkness on Empire’s world-exclusive #StrangerThings5 cover – going inside the apocalyptic final act and beyond with the Duffers and their cast.
On sale Thurs 23 October.
READ MORE: www.empireonline.com/tv/news/stra...
Eleven and the heroes of Hawkins are back to face the darkness on Empire’s world-exclusive #StrangerThings5 cover – going inside the apocalyptic final act and beyond with the Duffers and their cast.
On sale Thurs 23 October.
READ MORE: www.empireonline.com/tv/news/stra...
October 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
It all ends here
Eleven and the heroes of Hawkins are back to face the darkness on Empire’s world-exclusive #StrangerThings5 cover – going inside the apocalyptic final act and beyond with the Duffers and their cast.
On sale Thurs 23 October.
READ MORE: www.empireonline.com/tv/news/stra...
Eleven and the heroes of Hawkins are back to face the darkness on Empire’s world-exclusive #StrangerThings5 cover – going inside the apocalyptic final act and beyond with the Duffers and their cast.
On sale Thurs 23 October.
READ MORE: www.empireonline.com/tv/news/stra...
I Swear is in UK and Irish cinemas today. It's an emotional workout - sweet, sad, funny, upsetting and, ultimately, as uplifting as cinema gets, I reckon. John Davidson is an inspiration, and Robert Aramayo does him justice: it's a gobsmacking performance, in a hugely compassionate film. Go see it.
October 10, 2025 at 9:28 AM
I Swear is in UK and Irish cinemas today. It's an emotional workout - sweet, sad, funny, upsetting and, ultimately, as uplifting as cinema gets, I reckon. John Davidson is an inspiration, and Robert Aramayo does him justice: it's a gobsmacking performance, in a hugely compassionate film. Go see it.
Reposted by Alex Godfrey
On sale next week - tickets to my hour-long BFI lesson on the crime genre. Join me for a whirlwind trip from Yakuza to mafioso, Michael Mann to Jean-Pierre Melville:
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
Lights, Camera, Genre! Crime | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Dive into crime’s shadowy worlds, exploring gripping stories, high-stakes drama, and gritty visual styles that define this suspenseful, thrilling genre.
whatson.bfi.org.uk
September 26, 2025 at 1:17 PM
On sale next week - tickets to my hour-long BFI lesson on the crime genre. Join me for a whirlwind trip from Yakuza to mafioso, Michael Mann to Jean-Pierre Melville:
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...
whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/d...