SILENT Bob star Kevin Smith has told Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio breakfast show that the success of his cult comedy Clerks was an accident – insisting he has “no talent”.
The 49-year-old filmmaker and actor said he had no intention of becoming a successful director when he made the 1994 comedy, which cost £21,000 but raked in £2.5 million at the box office.
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Kevin said: “I should have never become a director, I have no talent. I’m just a fan of movies who had a passion to make that one movie.”
He played the mute Silent Bob in Clerks alongside Jason Mewes’ Jay, after he maxed out all of his credit cards to make the film.
The gamble paid off, with the movie – which was filmed at the convenience store where he worked – fast acquiring cult classic status and making Kevin a star.
He took ownership of the characters after selling Clerks to Miramax Studios and has used them in most of his movies to date.
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The characters have appeared in subsequent Jay and Silent Bob films, plus the 1999 Ben Affleck and Matt Damon movie Dogma.
He is now bringing the pair of stoners to the screen for another outing in Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, which comes out tomorrow.
Speaking today, Kevin added: “The human stories people have told me about their experiences with my movies are way better than my stupid stories in the movies.”
Kevin revealed last year that he almost died after suffering a “massive heart attack” known as “the widow-maker”.
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He tweeted a selfie from his hospital bed, covered in tubes and explained how cancelling his live stage show saved his life.
He wrote: “I had a massive heart attack. The Doctor who saved my life told me I had 100% blockage of my LAD artery (aka “the Widow-Maker”).
“If I hadn’t canceled show 2 to go to the hospital, I would’ve died tonight. But for now, I’m still above ground!”
The Chris Evans Virgin Breakfast Show with Sky is on weekdays from 6.30am
