I mentioned about the great classic British actors not so long ago when I saw the movie Tea with the Dames. Speaking of great actors, if you never seen Laurence Olivier in A Voyage Round my Father, you must find it and watch it.
But there is a whole new breed of good actors in the movies and on our tv screens and they are terrific.
I have seen Stephen Tompkinson in countless tv shows and like all great British actors, he plays himself terribly well. The Split from the BBC is now being shown here.
Nicola Walker is just brilliant too and she has also being in so many things. She was looking older. Maybe she has had some work done on her face as she appears more youthful in this tv show. That would be against what most female British actors do, age as they do. I best remember her for her role in Spooks, but also in Last Tango in Halifax. She now has blonde hair and scary blue eyes. Photo from Entertainment Daily.
I've never quite taken to Tompkinson but all the others you mention in the 'new brigade' are favourites of mine.
ReplyDeleteVictor, while I find Tompkinson to be a very good actor, he plays a great baddie too, he doesn't appeal to me either.
DeleteAndrew, I certainly hope that some of the old brigade will be replaced by worthy actors. I wonder if "A Very English Scandal" the three part tv drama has reached your shores. It features one of our new younger hopes Ben Wishaw and also featured Hugh Grant who plays the role of politician Jeremy Thorpe.
ReplyDeleteBen Wishaw seems to get cast for some of the best roles.
But I can't help noticing that a lot of these tv drama actors show up only on tv and not films. It's like they're jobbing tv actors and that's all they do.
ITV has been showing us some sneek peek Drama previews from their up and coming Autumn schedule. Some look good. Not sure what the BBC has got lined up yet.
Dee,t hasn't reached us yet and I've just discovered it will screen here on pay tv station BBC First beginning September 20th. I expect it will turn up on free to air at some point. I love Ben Wishaw, especially in the show about the BBC and he was ok in the rather disappointing remake of Brideshead. A very nice rear naked view, I seem to recall. Yes, there was more cross movement between tv and films in years past.
DeleteDeejohn; possibly it's because TV shows are steadier work while movie parts could be years between roles.
DeleteRiver, You're probably right. I think that's why a lot of nightly soaps feature actors that stick around for years and do nothing else.
DeleteThe English character Ken Barlow from top soap 'Coronation Street' has been playing his part since around the 1960's. He must be a record holder.
I just couldn't imagine him in any other drama.
It should also be said that many fine actors seem to totally disappear after a classic role. I often find myself saying "I wonder what ever happened to.....".
ReplyDeleteCro, I too wonder at times, but usually with young actors.
DeleteNicola Walker was wonderful in Last Tango, yes... as were the rest of the actors. Middle aged British actresses aren't ditzy or trivial.
ReplyDeleteHels, quite so. They get good meaty roles and handle them well.
DeleteThe ignorance of my non-movie watching self is shown up. Again.
ReplyDeleteBit too low brow for you EC :)
DeleteDarn! I completely forgot to go and see Tea with the Dames. Now I'll have to wait for the DVD to be released.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a lot of British TV shows, not much TV at all really. A bit of the news, the weather forecast if I need to know the next day's temperature and if I should carry a brolly, then it's over to DVDs.
River, I find it hard to sit down at home and concentrate on a dvd. There are too many distractions. Whereas in theatre, the movie gets your full attention.
DeleteI love the Britcoms, as they are called here. Absolutely Fabulous, and the Vicar of Dibly are two of my favorites, although I admit to being keen on Mrs Brown as well.
ReplyDeleteI love almost all British movies, be they from the time of Laurence Olivier, or some of the pieces done recently.
Being the hopeless romantic I am I love three movies, written and directed by New Zealand-er, Richard Curtis, but filmed in London with British actors. Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and About Time, all seem to resonate with me.
I have not really seen any "young" British talent. Most are in their 30's and 40's + and I do wonder about that. Of course I also wonder at the lack of talent in the States too.
I think there are far too many "actors" who think they are far better than they actually are.
Sorry, I did tend to go on and on about this didn't I?
Maribeth, until you mentioned mentioned my guilty pleasure of Mrs Brown, I can't stand her, but I must have watched at some point, you were doing well.
DeleteOh Andrew, don't hold Mrs Brown against me. I mentioned it was a guilty pleasure, but really from my past.
DeleteHave you seen the three films I mentioned? There is one more too. Enchanted April. Such beautiful cinematography!
I've seen Four Weddings and I think Love Actually. I don't think I've seen About Time.
DeleteDid you see the mini-series Patrick Melrose Andrew, with Benedict Cumberbatch, he's an odd looking chap but by gosh he's a good actor. He seems to have bridged the gap between movies and tv very successfully.
ReplyDeleteGrace, I don't think I did see that. Ok, looks like it was only pay tv.
DeleteThanks for this! I will look out for it here. I LOVE BBC shows.
ReplyDeleteI knew his face and googled him and saw I knew him from Ballykissangel!
Jackie, I was trying to remember the name of that show, where he played the Irish cop. It was good.
DeleteTompkinson has been in some good shows...e.g. "Ballykissangel", "Wild at Heart", "DCI Banks",
ReplyDelete"Minder"...he pops up everywhere. He sure is a working actor. As is Nicola Walker...she's here there and everywhere, too.
Lee, that's right, Banks. Slipped my mind.
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