By Laura Frykberg
For a man who has been described as “one of the filthiest people alive” and the “pope of trash”, cult filmmaker John Waters was remarkably well behaved in his interview with Nightline.
Although he did reveal and unlikely admiration for Justin Bieber and the trick to his trademark moustache.
Waters is no stranger to strict classifications of his films, but when classifying his stage show This Filthy World, “strict” isn’t his description.
“It’s about glamour, fashion, movies, crime – everything that’s of interest. Current events – I’m a news junkie. It’s about living the life today in this great, filthy world,” he says.
The filmmaker, actor, writer, journalist, artist and comedian is known for his cult cinema and his more mainstream hit Hairspray. But he is also known for his distinctive fashion.
Unique maintenance of his fashion worked in his favour during a recent appearance on the Graham Norton Show, where he made the most unlikely of friends.
“I’m a huge Justin Bieber fan, he drew on my moustache after the show,” he says.
“The paparazzi took our picture and it was in all the UK press, which I was thrilled about. I saw the documentary about him and when he stuck his head out and shook his hair I screamed, ‘I’m a Belieber’.”
Refusing to call himself an artist, the 65-year-old calls himself the “filth elder”, with one wish before his career ends.
“Making bad taste 1 percent more respectable. The day I die, if I’ve done that, I’ve done what the God’s of trash put me on this earth to do.”
Waters performs This Filthy World in Auckland on Wednesday night.
3 News