City champion hits back at Chloe Sevigny's 'grim' comments

CITY councillor Pat Karney has issued a firm but friendly rebuttal to anti-Manchester comments made by Hollywood actress Chloe Sevigny, reports Luke McDonagh.

Sevigny (pictured) has landed herself in the city’s bad books for branding it “one of the grimmest places I’d ever been in my entire life.”

The Golden Globe winning actress, well known for her roles in films American Psycho and Zodiac, made the comments in Interview magazine.

She and interviewer Kim Gordon, bassist of popular alternative band Sonic Youth, shared their mutual disdain for Manchester, the latter describing the town as ‘depressing’.

Sevigny spent six “very hard” months last summer living in Manchester for the filming of upcoming television series Hit and Miss, during which “it rained every single day I was there”.

Councillor Karney, Manchester's city centre spokesperson, said: "I don't know which Manchester she visited but it wasn't the one I know and love, which is visited by more people every year than any other English city except London.

"She should come back and we'll show her why the real Manchester is one of the best cities in the world.”

Such comments prompted Karney to defend the city’s honour: "Whatever she claims about the weather, Manchester people are known for their sunny dispositions and visitors are always guaranteed a warm welcome."

But the Big Love star was that desperate to escape life here that she couldn’t bear to stay even a single day longer in order to see one of her favourite bands, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks.

She said: “They were playing the day after I was leaving, and I was like, I’ve gotta get the hell out of here. I’m not staying one more night just to hear them, so I left.”

It would seem Sevigny struggled to make friends during her stay, complaining of loneliness and a lack of visitors. Indeed, Chloe was relieved when follow Americans, the band Sebadoh, came to town: “It was, like, finally I could identify with someone after being there for so long and having no contact with any Americans.”

However, whilst in town the fashion conscious star had her diary full, having been seen hobnobbing in a variety of Manchester’ upmarket venues.

During her visit, Chloe regularly frequented the city’s trendy Northern Quarter, enjoying herself in Common and Teacup. Tiger Lounge and Australasia were also graced with her presence.

Sevigny’s new show, set to air later this year on Sky Atlantic, is the creation of Burnley-born screenwriter Paul Abbott, and follows the story of Mia, a pre-op transsexual assassin who discovers she is the father of an 11-year-old son.

Abbott has extensive ties with Manchester, having received a doctor of letters from the University of Salford last year and an honorary Doctorate in Arts from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2006. And of course, Abbott’s most famous creation, TV show Shameless, was produced, set and filmed in Wythenshawe.