Russell Brand 'sniffed booze for Arthur'

Russell Brand has revealed that he often carried around a bottle of alcohol while filming the upcoming comedy Arthur.

In the film remake, Brand portrays a drunken playboy who defies his wealthy family's order to marry a beautiful heiress (Jennifer Garner).

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the British comedian, who has likened Arthur to a fairytale, claimed that he'd sniff the alcohol, but never took a sip, in order to channel his character's boozy behaviour.

"What I used to do - with great caution - is I'd carry a bottle of rum or whiskey or tequila around and before each take I'd take a big nose full of that stuff and it would evoke much more the giddy, wild memories of when I was a boozer," he said.

Brand further explained that his strategy proved to be popular among the film's cast with Garner and Helen Mirren eventually joining in.

"Jennifer Garner was smelling booze before things. Helen Mirren smelling booze before things," he teased. "It was like New Jack City. It was an epidemic of booze smelling."

The original Arthur proved to be both a commercial and critical success upon its release in 1981 with John Gielgud taking home a 'Best Supporting Actor' Academy Award.

Brand recently confirmed that he's interested in signing on for the movie musical Rock of Ages.

Arthur is released in US cinemas on April 8 and on April 22 in the UK.

Watch the official trailer for Arthur below: