In a candid Guardian Live interview, Reynolds admitted he hated making Boogie Nights – and never got over ‘love of his life’ Sally Field

Actor Burt Reynolds has criticised Hollywood for its lack of progress in tackling racial discrimination over his 50 years in film, and said American society still has a long way to go with the issue.

Reynolds, 79, who was raised and still lives in Florida, described how he hated how black people were treated in the south and lamented how little had changed in Hollywood.

“I didn’t like things about the south, I hated it, I really did,” said Reynolds on race. “It still isn’t right, it won’t ever be right in our lifetime. I really did think things would have progressed by now. I certainly thought we would have a lot more black directors, writers, producers.”

Q&A: Burt Reynolds Read more

The actor, who is celebrated for his roles in films such as Deliverance, Smokey and the Bandit and Boogie Nights over his 50-year career, was speaking to columnist Hadley Freeman at a Guardian Live event, following the release of his second memoir, But Enough About Me.

Reynolds, wearing an all-black outfit and fuchsia tie, also revealed that while his role as porn king Jack Horner in Boogie Nights might be among his most popular performances, he hates the film and hated working with director Paul Thomas Anderson – and has still never watched the whole movie.

Despite having had a playboy reputation in Hollywood, Reynolds said the subject matter – based on the adult entertainment industry – made him uncomfortable.

“I don’t like those people, I feel like they are due for a very hard time because they tried to do legitimate film and they’re never going to be able to,” he told Freeman. “It’s sad, they were very sad people and they showed up a lot of times on set. It’s a one-way street, if you go down that road as an actor, you’re finished.”

The veteran actor also revealed how Mark Wahlberg had become so engrossed in his role as porn superstar Dirk Diggler, he would walk around the Boogie Nights set wearing a fake erection.

Reynolds said he had “hated” Paul Thomas Anderson so much that he turned down a role in the director’s next project, Magnolia. “I’d done my picture with Paul Thomas Anderson, that was enough for me,” he said.

Reynolds recounted numerous tales of a life spent among some of Hollywood’s greatest legends, counting Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Bette Davies amongst his closest friends, as well as offering his verdict on Marlon Brando (“he wasn’t very nice”).

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Those were the days, my friend … Sally Field and Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit. Photograph: Courtesy Everett Collection/Rex

The actor also told one regret-tinged anecdote about accidentally spurning the advances of Greta Garbo, when she had wanted to go home with him.

“I didn’t know she was Greta Garbo, otherwise I wouldn’t have turned her down,” said Reynolds with a laugh. “She was beautiful, extraordinary. She had a blouse on that was canary yellow and she didn’t have anything on underneath it … she said ‘would you give me a ride home?’ Just before she got out of the taxi I said, ‘sorry, you didn’t tell me your name’ and she said, ‘my name is Greta Garbo’ … and then she left. What an idiot. I was 22 going on 12 … Years later I got a note from her saying ‘you were an idiot’.”

The actor also addressed his recent admission that he still believes his Smokey and the Bandit co-star Sally Field was the “love of his life” and spoke of his regret that they never worked on another film together.

“She’s amazing,” he said. “You’d think after a guy says ‘I love you and I hope we can make another movie together’, that you’d hear from them. But I never heard a word, so I guess I’m never going to hear.”

Despite having dozen of films to his name, Reynolds admitted he only liked five of them, singling out The Longest Yard as a particular favourite.

He also spoke about his regret after turning down certain roles, including Pretty Woman, but said turning down James Bond in 1970 hurt, but “only in the wallet – it doesn’t hurt me artistically”.

However, he rebuffed reports that he had turned down the roles of The Godfather’s Michael Corleone (“I would have taken that”) and Star Wars’ Han Solo (“if I’ve been offered that I didn’t know about it”).

Indeed, having spent half a century in front of the camera, Reynolds said he was more keen than ever to turn his hand permanently to directing – and was just waiting for the right script.

“Directing is what I’d love to do,” said Reynolds. “I’d rather direct than anything. I think that’s what I’ll probably end up doing; hopefully I’ll get a script that’s wonderful … I think it will help me get away from a lot of painful stuff.”

He added: “I think I can do something that will surprise people.”

Burt Reynolds was in conversation with Hadley Freeman at a Guardian Live event. To find out what other events are coming up sign up to become a Guardian Member.