Kiefer Sutherland: ‘The best kiss of my life? I haven’t had it yet – I hope’

Born in London, Kiefer Sutherland, 50, is the son of actors Shirley Douglas and Donald Sutherland. In the 80s and 90s, he starred in films including Stand By Me and The Lost Boys, Flatliners and A Few Good Men.

 

 

From 2001, he played Jack Bauer in the television series 24. His latest Netflix series, Designated Survivor, is out on DVD next week. He is also a country singer-songwriter, and this year he made his Glastonbury debut. He is twice divorced and has a daughter, the actor Sarah Sutherland.

 

 

When were you happiest?
I consider myself quite a happy person. One of the most exciting times was when Sarah was born.

 

 

What is your earliest memory?
Swimming with my mum and dad.

 

 

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I wore a pair of my brother’s track pants to school when I was in third grade, because I thought they looked so cool on him. He was seven years older, so they looked ridiculous.

 

 

Property aside, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
Aside from a car, it would be a guitar. I used to have almost 100, but now I am down to 22.

What is your most treasured possession?
An acoustic guitar I have with me all the time: it’s a 1959 Gibson Western.

 

 

What makes you unhappy?
Not being able to solve a problem frustrates me the most.

Who would play you in the film of your life?
I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

What is your most unappealing habit?
Smoking.

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
I would focus on trying to keep things that are becoming extinct alive.

 

 

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The list is long: given the fact that my dad is 6ft 4in and all my brothers are 6ft 4in-plus, I wish I was taller.

What is your favourite smell?
Nature in Canada, where I’m from. I have always loved the lakes in the north and the smell of the woods.

 

 

What is your favourite word?
As a Canadian, it would be “Sorry”.

What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
“I hate you.” It was said at school by someone who didn’t like me.

 

 

What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Watching Modern Family.

What do you owe your parents?
I guess everything. I don’t think either of them wanted me to go into entertainment, but all the choices I made were directly from things I had watched them do, so they gave me a great deal of confidence.

 

 

To whom would you most like to say sorry and why?
There have been moments when I’d want to say sorry to both my parents for some of the stuff I’ve done.

What does love feel like?
The easiest thing for me to say would be comfort and at ease.

 

 

What was the best kiss of your life?
I don’t think I’ve had it yet – I’m hoping!

Have you ever said ‘I love you’ and not meant it?
No.

 

 

What is the worst job you’ve done?
I’ve been lucky enough to act for 35 years. The only other job I had was as a cook at a drive-in restaurant, and I enjoyed that as well.

 

 

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Some of my choices were mistakes, so I’d have to say myself.

 

 

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I would take things a little slower.