United Kingdom, July 19 -- Christopher Atkins says drinking cost him the lead role in Footloose, which ultimately went to Kevin Bacon.

The 65-year-old actor claimed he was the film bosses' favourite to play Ren McCormack in the 1984 musical-dance movie, but they decided to "pass on" Christopher because he had been boozing the night before their first meeting.

During a recent Q+A session at the Fanboy Expo Knoxville in Tennessee, which ran from July 10 until July 12, Christopher remembered: "I was a mess back then. I was partying it up way too much, and they called me in.

"I said, 'I can't go in right now. I've been drinking and carrying on.' And they said, 'No, they need to see you.'

"And I went in, and I just blew that audition . I m...