Hollywood actor Brian Cox has spoken with pride of his |native city’s “amazing turnaround.”
The star of Troy and the Bourne Supremacy stood on a stage at Magdalen Green and told the crowds enjoying the final day of the inaugural West Fest he used to be ashamed of Dundee.
But he made it clear he was ashamed of the look of the place, ashamed of what the “City Fathers” in the past did to the buildings and the environment in his home town.
He was never ashamed of its people, who, he said, have come back stronger after each blow to the local economy.
He spoke to festival-goers on the Green after local group Loadsaweeminsinging performed one of his favourite songs, They Fairly Mak You Work, which featured in a documentary made by Mr Cox on Dundee’s jute industry.
“For me, it is a song of Dundee because it is a song of survival,” Mr Cox said.
“It shows the kind of steadfast quality of the people of Dundee and the fact nothing can dent them.
“They have been written off more times than we can all imagine, but they come back and come back stronger.”
A friend recently told him that Dundee “punched well above its weight” and that made him proud to be a Dundonian.
“I think this city has achieved an amazing turnaround over the last 30 years,” Mr Cox said.
“There was a time I used to come to Dundee and was horrified at what the City Fathers had done to shoot themselves in the foot.”
He used to think he could not face visiting Dundee.
“I used to hit the Kingsway and go to Mid Craigie and see my sister and then get out,” Mr Cox said.
“Now I am proud of the city, particularly proud of the people and what the people of this city can do.
“Dundee is its people. It is not its architecture. It is not its university.
“It is the people that make its architecture, that make its university and do all the things that make Dundee successful.”
The international film star was clearly impressed that it was the people of the west end of the city who got together to galvanise their local community to put on several days of entertainment and cultural events to suit all ages and tastes in the inaugural West Fest.
After his address Mr Cox charmed the crowds, taking time to sign autographs, oblige locals wanting to pose with him for photographs or just chat.
But he did admit he wanted away to catch the end of “the game” with his German wife Nicole and their two Germany-supporting sons Orson (8) and Torin (5).
The family came over from their home in America because Mr Cox’s latest film, The Good Heart, was being shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
That happened to coincide with Dundee University’s graduation ceremonies, allowing the star to attend in his position as rector of the university.
Mr Cox said he would be back in Dundee for his installation at the university, but the date had still to be arranged.