In theory, James Cameron is on top of the world right now. He’s directed the two most financially successful films in history, he’s worth more than most countries, and he’s up for nine more Oscars to add to the eleven he won for Titanic. Actually, scratch the “in theory” part of that first sentence. The guy is on top of the world, no question about it. So it comes as bitter, mean-spirited consolation to us less successful types (i. e., pretty much everyone) to see this interview with his ex Linda Hamilton, who goes into exhaustive detail about Cameron’s multiple shortcomings in the relationship department. Hamilton sums up her own experience with Cameron thusly:

It’s hard to get Jim’s attention. He shouts “Take a number, take a number,” which means get in the 15-strong queue of people waiting to see him because he likes to control every second. Jim can do everyone’s job. Knowing he’s so controlling, I just got really strong. What really helped me open my heart to Jimbo was suddenly seeing him as a kid having a temper tantrum. But seeing him control everything on set was really sexy. However, what’s sexy on the set is not necessarily sexy at home.’

If you want more detail, by all means check out the interview. Hamilton seems to have photographic recall of every single spat, tiff, and argument in a marriage that ended more than a decade ago. She summed things up even more briefly at the 1995 Oscars, when she was asked if success had changed James Cameron: “He was always a jerk, so there’s no way to tell.” Odds are, next month he’ll do or say something at the Oscars to remind us all that he’s still a jerk. A talented, insanely rich and successful jerk.