BONO FIDE?

In a new documentary the U2 singer tries to shed his various personas and find his real self. He talks to RACHAEL DAVIS

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Despite the fact that he is a self-described 'exhibitionist', Bono found himself being something of an enigma. Bold, brash, outspoken - particularly on issues of politics, non-violence and religion - he found himself wearing a public-facing mask, one that was partly self-crafted and partly thrust upon him.

"I think when you get a bit famous, it’s easy to fall into caricature, really," the rockstar says.

"And maybe it’s easier more easy for some of us than for others - but you get drawn in very, very bold, brassy colours, and I certainly drew myself like that over the years, and I just wanted to get the pencil out and bring back some dimension to my life, and try and figure out actually the commonness of my story, or the ordinariness of my story, rather than the extraordinariness."

While the production is something of a theatrical autobiography, one that sees Bono portray versions of himself at various points in his life as well as his bandmates the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., and his father, the narrative is interspersed with pared-back renditions of some of U2's biggest hits.