Cigar Diary: Havana Nights 2005 and Inspiring Words of Smoking Wisdom From a Distinguished Actor
by James Suckling, Cigar Aficionado
June 1, 2005
The Festival del Habano showcased some great new cigars and lots of revelry as usual
At the closing gala dinner of the 2005 Festival del Habano,
British Actor Jeremy Irons and Cuban jazz great Chucho Valdes enjoyed the camaraderie.
I couldn't tell you if it was a fashion faux pas or not. Few people knew, however, that British actor Jeremy Irons was wearing the same outfit at this year's Academy Awards in Hollywood that he had donned just a few days before in Havana for the gala dinner of the VII Festival del Habano, the annual cigar event in Cuba. Let's hope he sent it to the dry cleaners before wearing it again.
At the Academy Awards, Irons was introduced as a "comedy superstar." Strange, considering what a serious, dramatic actor he is. But, in fact, Irons made the crowd at the Oscars laugh. And he is a smoker.
In Havana, Irons received an award from the Cuban cigar industry as "Communicator of the Year" during the February 25 gala dinner. But he also confessed to smoking both cigarettes and cigars. "I was sitting next to a very beautiful woman today, and she asked me if I smoke both cigarettes and cigars," said Irons, standing on the stage in front of about 1,400 participants while puffing on a Partagas 8-9-8. "I do. Smoking a cigarette is like having sex, but smoking a cigar is like making love."
The crowd applauded as Irons took a few drags on his cigar, adding that he hoped to smoke fewer cigarettes as he got older. "In the years ahead, I am going to try to smoke more cigars," he concluded, drawing more cheers from the crowd.