Five Minutes with CJ Johnson from Kinski And I

He was a madman! A chronic sex addict, a megalomaniac and a man with serious anger issues – while also being a multimillionaire and one of the world’s most in-demand movie stars. So the world was his oyster, and he just fucked it like a depraved beast.

How did you come to approach Kinski And I, your interpretation of his banned autobiography? Where did you get it in the first place?

I first read the second, censored edition at least a decade ago. When I found out a totally extreme edition was published, but then banned and pulped, I went looking, and managed to buy a copy from a rare bookseller in Maryland in the US.

Often when culture is banned, it only attracts more attention. Is Kinski’s influence a dangerous one?

The book’s too hard to find! But, to think about it –he writes from the perspective of megalomania (narcissistic personality disorder), so he sees himself as removed from society and outside its controls (which often saw him imprisoned). If you followed his ideas – particularly regarding sexual relations – you’d wind up in the joint pretty quick. But his book is so extreme, you’d have to be disturbed already to emulate him.

Do you see any similarities between you as an individual and Kinski himself?

I’ve got an addictive personality, OCD, sexual kinks, and am a performer. So he’s like me times a thousand. But I do really respond to his European-ness, his work ethic, and his sense of humour. The book is hysterically funny.

How have audiences responded to the show previously?

We’ve only had a couple of walk-outs over three seasons, which surprises us, because the material is disturbing and pornographic. People often use the word “hypnotic”. One audience member tweeted, “Like a bizarre satanic TED Talk of grand filmic proportions,” while another tweeted, “Compelling, baffling, funny and terrifying.” That’s about right!