Scottish Actors

Scottish Actors blog - hiatus extended

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

The Scottish Actors blog will be on hiatus for the next few weeks.

Due to an increase in family, work, study and personal commitments, I'm taking a short break.

The next updates will be posted on Sunday ~~12 May~~ 2 June.

David Tennant: project news and updates

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:15:00 +0000

Broadchurch

The Broadchurch soundtrack EP by Olafur Arnalds will be available to American fans from 30th April on iTunes. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The worldwide link to watch episode 7 of Broadchurch has been posted to DailyMotion. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The finale of Broadchurch (an extended episode) airs on ITV tomorrow (22 April) at 9pm.
All the latest Broadchurch news, reviews, photos, etc., can be found here.

The Politician's Husband

Review of The Politician's Husband in The Lady describes it as 'a reminder of how television should be. It's a big, brainy, sexy political drama with a splendid cast and no compromise made for lightweights.'
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
Amazon now list the DVD of The Politician's Husband to be released one week early - on 13th May!
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The BBC have released several new hi-res promo photos of David Tennant in The Politician's Husband. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The Politician's Husband premieres on BBC Two on Thursday (25 April) at 9pm.
All the latest The Politian's Husband news, reviews, photos, etc., can be found here.

Great Scott

RadioDramaReviews has posted a review of The Great Scott: The Fair Maid Of Perth.

Source: David Tennant on Twitter
This afternoon's episode, braodcast on BBC Radio Four at 3pm, was entitled The Great Scott: Rob Roy.
The third episode of The Great Scott (narrated by David Tennant) will be Waverley. It premieres on Sunday 28th April at 3pm on BBC Radio Four and is repeated the following Saturday.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest Great Scott news, reviews, and MP3 downloads, etc., can be found here.

Spies of Warsaw

On 17th May, the television station ARTE will start broadcasting Spies Of Warsaw in both France and Germany. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest Spies of Warsaw news, reviews, photos, etc., can be found here.

Doctor Who

David Tennant will reprise his role as the Tenth Doctor (with Billie Piper as Rose) for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special episode which will air on Saturday 23rd November 2013. He's been filiming recently, and all filming locations, photos, etc., can be found here.

David Tennant spoke to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 briefly on Friday morning via telephone from the Doctor Who set. More info (including MP3 of the call) here.
There is a photo of David Tennant (and all the Doctors) on the front of Doctor Who Magazine #460 which is published on Thursday 2nd May. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The Peter Davison era of Doctor Who retrospective from the Resurrection Of The Daleks DVD (introduced by David Tennant) has been posted to YouTube. Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest Doctor Who news, reviews, photos, etc., can be found here.

Bernard Who?

David Tennant will be one of the stars interviewed about Bernard Cribbins in a two part documentary titled Bernard Who? The first episode premieres on BBC Radio Four at 11.30am on Thursday 25th April.
More info here. Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Double Income No Kids Yet

The Double Income, No Kids Yet Series One audio is available for £2.99 from AudioGO. (The page has a photo of a young David!) Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Virgin Media Shorts

Screen Daily reports that David Tennant will help judge the Virgin Media Shorts Competition.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Much Ado About Nothing

Screen Daily have announced that CinemaLive are to release the David Tennant / Catherine Tate's production of Much Ado About Nothing worldwide in cinemas. Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Tree Fu Tom

TBIVision reports that Tree Fu Tom will be shown on the US station Sprout from 22nd April.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Diary dates

Sun 21 Apr - David Tennant stars in The Great Scott: Rob Roy on BBC Radio Four at 3pm.
Mon 22 Apr - Penguins - Spy In The Huddle released on Blu-ray in the UK.
Mon 22 Apr - Joe Sims (Nige Carter) on Lorraine on ITV at 8.50am and at 12.35pm on Channel 4 on What's Cooking to promote Broadchurch.
Mon 22 Apr - At 7.15pm real life political couple Peter and Virginia Bottomley will discuss The Politician's Husband in Front Row on BBC Radio Four.
Mon 22 Apr - Episode eight of Broadchurch premieres on ITV at 9pm.
Mon 22 Apr - Tree Fu Tom will be shown on the US station Sprout from today.
Tues 23 Apr - Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collection Tenth Doctor book Beautiful Chaos is published.
Thurs 25 Apr - David Tennant interviewed in Bernard Who? on BBC Radio Four at 11.30am.
Thurs 25 Apr - Episode one of The Politician's Husband is broadcast on BBC Two.
Sun 28 Apr - The first two episodes of Broadchurch will be shown in Paris at Forum des Images.
Sun 28 Apr - BAFTA Television Craft Awards announced. Writer John Morton nominated for Writing: Comedy for Twenty Twelve.
Sun 28 Apr - Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited - The Fourth Doctor will premiere on BBC America with David Tennant interview clips.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

For all the latest news on David Tennant, visit the most frequently update website - David Tennant on Twitter - or follow them on Twitter or Facebook

Dougray Scott: interviews

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:10:00 +0000

Dougray Scott takes Netflix subscribers to ‘Hemlock Grove’

MCT/photo source: The Day

Dougray Scott costars in the new Netflix series Hemlock Grove, which begins streaming on April 19.

When he was a little boy, actor Dougray Scott used to stow away in his father's car when his dad left for work as a salesman.
"I used to hide in the back until he drove so far away from the house that he couldn't take me back. I used to be fascinated by his preparation in the morning. And what it taught me - it didn't teach me then because I wasn't sure what I was looking at - but looking back on it, I realize why I had a fascination for it, because what I watched him do was try to form himself in the morning into this character so he could go out into the world and sell fridges and freezers.
"And whatever he was feeling, he had to suppress that in order to present this happy, likable, charismatic character to the people he wanted to buy his wares. And I just loved watching him do that. I was fascinated by it."
Scott is still studying characters who exhibit one thing, but are thinking another. He's bounced from the big screen in films like "Mission Impossible II" and "Ever After: a Cinderella Story" to the small screen in "Desperate Housewives" and the new thriller, "Hemlock Grove," premiering Friday on Netflix.
Scott grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Fife, Scotland. He longed to be a soccer player, but says he wasn't good enough. When he was 14 he discovered the play "Death of a Salesman."

Tony Roper: recovering from surgery

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:05:00 +0000

Rab C Nesbitt star Tony Roper is recovering from prostate cancer surgery.
It's believed he was operated on at the Southern General Hospital in Govan two days ago.
A source close to the actor said: "It seems Tony is recovering well, although it wasn't a straightforward case of treating the prostate cancer.
"There was a tumour to deal with at the same time.
"However, he came through the operation well and is getting his strength back."
Tony, who worked as a miner before going to drama college when he was 26, is one of the country's most popular comedy actors.
His first major starring role was in Scotch and Wry but he went on to play the part of the amoral Jamesie Cotter in Rab C Nesbitt for the past 20 years. Alongside Barbara Rafferty as Ella, the ever-warring pair made up one of the most popular sitcom duos to appear on screen.

Tony's talents however aren't confined to acting.
Read much more at Glasgow Evening Times

Everyone at Scottish Actors wishes Tony a quick and full recovery.

Peter Mullan: role in Texas music vidoe

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Texas tease 'The Conversation' music video - picture
From Digital Spy:

Texas have released a teaser of their upcoming music video exclusively on Digital Spy.

The band have put out a still from the clip, which sees singer Sharleen Spiteri walking with acclaimed Scottish actor Peter Mullan.

Spiteri and Mullan in new Texas video. Source: Digital Spy

The visual for the song, which is available to download now, was also directed by the group.

Read more, listen to the song, at Digital Spy

Kevin McKidd: 'Justice League' casting

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:45:00 +0000

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox cast, photos revealed

Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd, both veterans of the hit ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy, will head up the cast in the upcoming DC Universe animated feature Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, based on Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s Flashpoint.
Chambers will play Barry Allen (the Flash), the superhero around whom the film centers and who is, to a certain extent, responsible for shaping the world of Flashpoint. McKidd stars as the Batman of the Flashpoint Universe, while Kevin Conroy will return as Bruce Wayne in the sections set in the main DC Universe that reportedly bookend the film.
Source (including image): ComicBook

Also reported by TV Guide

Bluray.com has an article about the release of the Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox DVD here

Ewan McGregor: 'Son of a Gun' preparations

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:40:00 +0000

Ewan McGregor delves into Trainspotting prequel “Skagboys”
Hollywood star Ewan McGregor has revealed he is devouring Irvine Welsh’s latest novel – which follows a younger version of his famous Trainspotting character.
Skagboys, a prequel to Welsh’s 1993 book Trainspotting, follows an early 20s version of Mark Renton as he changes from a “daft young guy” out for a buzz on drugs, to a total junkie.
Read more at Deadline

Ewan McGregor works on his muscles for Oz film role
From The Daily Record:

The 42-year-old Scot wanted to beef up his biceps to star in Australian crime thriller Son of a Gun.

Ewan pumps iron ahead of new film role

Pumped up Ewan McGregor goes through the pain barrier as he works out for his latest role as a big screen tough guy. The 42-year-old Scot beefed up his biceps for Australian crime thriller Son of a Gun. The Scots plays Australia’s public enemy number one, who takes on a young protege after he is sent to prison.
The actor hired personal trainer Brett Smith to get him in shape. Brett said: “He wanted the guns – the big arms – so he had to put on a bit of muscle and strength.”
Ewan tweeted his delight at his transformation, saying: “Brett, thanks for all the sessions in your gym.”

Source (including photo): Daily Record

Knockout guest list at boxing

Photo source: The Age National

Colourful characters and goodfellas will find security is tight at a boxing match promoted by Mick Gatto because the ringside buzz is that actor Ewan McGregor is the special guest.
Australian heavyweight champion Lucas ''Big Daddy'' Browne has muscled into acting to play a bad dude in Son of a Gun, the thriller McGregor is filming in Western Australia, and their friendship led to an invitation for great the Scot to attend the match on April 28. The cast will move to Melbourne later this month for filming, so McGregor will take in many sights once here.

Greg Hemphill & Ford Kiernan: 'Still Game' stage production

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:35:00 +0000

TV’s Still Game to return to the stage

Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill have given their blessing for the stage adaptation.
Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Still Game is to make a return after a six-year absence with the blessing of Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, the duo behind the series.

The duo, who also starred in another BBC comedy hit, Chewing The Fat, have given permission for the stage production.
Read more at Scotsman

Patrick Doyle: 'Impressions of America' soundtrack

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Patrick Dolye: Impressions of America (Original Soundtrack)

Impressions of America is a symphonic composition by Scottish film composer Patrick Doyle. His inspiration for this Original Soundtrack comes from his relationship with America, travelling back and forth from Scotland and Hollywood.

The Soundtrack consists of fiftheen cues, which he composed over the years in his career as a film composer, gives a nostalgic look at America. The landscapes, traditions and it's people.

Scored for and recorded with a full symphony orchestra, Varèse Sabrande releases film composer Patrick Doyle's Impressions of America to celebrate the composer's 60th birthday in April of 2013.
Read more, and download the album, at New Film Scores

Tony Curran: 'Defiance' news and updates

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:15:00 +0000

Tony Curran of "Defiance" attends Syfy 2013 Upfront at Silver Screen Studios
at Chelsea Piers on April 10, 2013 in New York City. Source: Zimbio

From Twitter:
Tony Tellado, host of Sci-Fi Talk, in conversation with Tony Curran of Defiance from SyFy Up Front - here
Tweeted by Tony Curran:

Next weeks gonna get darker and more interesting https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/325775343824822273/photo/1
Scotty Stuart in background keeping an eye on me https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324023808010887168/photo/1
he gets up to no good next Monday also.. April 22 9pm Syfy https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324368894242467841/photo/1
A lot of passion and hard work went it to this wonderful journey with an amazing cast and crew Defiance2013 https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324009799547228161/photo/1
Chilling between shooting Defiance2013 https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324007286945230848/photo/1
Datak & Sukar hanging together before we shoot, Defiance2013 https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/323996664727756801/photo/1
"Don't mess with these fellas" https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324405766448611328/photo/1
Shooting the final battle scene https://twitter.com/TonyCurran69/status/324026829709115392/photo/1

Defiance - Syfy Video Featurette: 'VFX Before & After' - Episode 1Take a look at the before & after visual effects from episode 1 here.

Defiance - Syfy Video Featurette: Episode 1 Recapby Antiopodalarapaima

Online Magazine - Guaranteed Post: Defiance Reviewed
by Geeks versus Nerds

Tony Curran's Favorite Scene from the PilotWatch the video at SyFy.com

Tony Curran Reveals What Really Happens in the BathVideo interview at SyFy.com

New Stills and Another Promo for Defiance Episode 1.02 - Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Goat Dread Central

Defiance Actor Tony Curran Talks Defiance TV Series And Video Game
Actor Tony Curran reveals Syfy new TV Series Defiance and his portrayal of Datak Tarr.
Watch the video interview here.

Defiance - Game Hub: Tony Curran Video Interview
Defiance Actor Tony Curran Talks Defiance TV Series And Video Game

Watch the interview here.

Defiance - Syfy Video Featurette: Tony Curran Video Interview
Tony Curran (Datak Tarr) reveals what really happens in the bath with Jaime Murray (Stahma Tarr).
Watch the interview here.

Defiance Trailer: Beast
New Earth, New Rules. The world is your oyster.
Watch the trailer here.

3 Behind the Scenes Featurettes
at SF Series and Movies.

Intro to the AliensVideo at Defiance.com

Get to Know DatakVideo at Defiance.com

Defiance [1x01] "Pilot" Opening Creditscourtesy of YouTube

Actor Tony Curran sneaks off film set to watch the Celtic game still wearing his alien costume
Actor Tony Curran sneaked out of filming his new sci-fi telly show to catch Celtic vs Barcelona - dressed in his full alien costume. The Doctor Who star was given a couple of hours off from filming Defiance to catch the game.But the die hard Celtic fan was warned by producers not to remove his make up or costume.And ex pats watching the game at McVeigh’s Tavern in Toronto were stunned when he walked in dressed as his character in the new show Datak Tarr.

The Celtic-mad actor was in the middle of shooting a new science fiction programme in the Canadian city, and had begged the producers for a few hours off to watch his team play Barcelona in the Champions League.But with a hectic shooting schedule, Tony was told he could only nip out if he agreed to keep his full make up on so he had to head to the pub dressed as alien gangster Datak Tarr from the new series Defiance.

Despite trying to hide his ghostly white face with a bunnet and scarf, he spent the whole night explaining to the members of the Downtown ...
Read much more at Daily Record

Defiance Review: New Sci-fi Drama Premieres Monday
From Cinema Blend:

We've had a long time to anticipate the arrival of Syfy's new drama series Defiance, and in that time, many of us have likely set our expectations high for what will hopefully be a new must-watch original sci-fi drama for the cable channel. The series premiere does not disappoint, bringing us into a story about human and alien characters who are trying to co-exist in a city that was once St. Louis and is now known as Defiance. Developed by Rockne S. O'Bannon, Kevin Murphy and Michael Taylor, Defiance's tone blends western with sci-fi and tells the story of humans and aliens as they attempt to co-exist with one another on what's left of Earth.

The history of the setting is explained throughout the premiere. Aliens showed up decades ago thinking earth was uninhabited, they were wrong, war broke out and after earth was torn apart by the battles and drastically changed by alien technology, humans and Votans (the collective term for the various alien species) eventually laid down their arms and have attempted to share what's left of the planet. There's a bit more to it than that, and we begin to learn the details as the first episode gets going.

Read much more at Cinema Blend

'Defiance' Review: New Syfy Drama Comes Out With Guns BlazingFrom Huffington Post:

"Defiance" (9 p.m. ET Monday, Syfy) is not just a smart, well-crafted TV show with a good cast and an adventurous flavor, it's also indisputably science fiction, which is a relief.

Read much much more at Huffington Post

Defiance: TV Review
by Hollywood Reporter

Meet the Aliens of Defiance
We love horror, which pretty much translates into loving aliens since they are often scary (exceptions include E.T., Stitch, Gleek the Monkey and that alien from Mac and Me that loved Sears). A new alien epic is coming via Syfy's Defiance (Airing Mondays at 9/8c on Syfy), where sheer terror is substituted with pure sci-fi, but that doesn't make these aliens any less tough. In the show, life on Earth is cataclysmically changed by the arrival of the Votanis Collective, a conglomeration of alien races fleeing the destruction of their world. After your standard issue alien war apocalypse, we're left with a world in which humans exist alongside a rash of extraterrestrial races.
Castithans: Of all the Votan races, Castithans are closest to humans. They are characterized physically by their white skin and hair, and culturally by their adherence to a strict caste system.
Irathient: Irathients are a proud, tribal and spiritual race possessed of excellent combat skills. They have broad and flat nasal bridges, reddish skin, and large eyes. They are sometimes seen as feral due to their love of nature and their aggression.
Indogenes: Indogene have bright, white skin laid with hexagonal patterns, and no hair. An intellectual race, they value science above all and upgrade themselves with cybernetic implants.
Gulanee: Gulanee are rarely seen, and are beings of pure energy.
Sensoth: Somewhat simian in appearance, Sensoth tend to be on the larger side, and are the longest-lived of the Votan races. Their size and strength makes them well-suited for use as muscle and manual labor.
Liberata: Short in stature and generally fairly hairy, the Liberata are a servant class with a lower social standing than the other races.
Volge: A frightening, war-like race, the Volge make use of Cold Fire weaponry and pose a threat to both Votans and humans, alike.
Source: Chiller TV

'Defiance': Everything You Need To Know
Huffington Post's very comprehensive guide to everything Defiance is here.

'Defiance': Syfy Attempts To Blend TV Series, Video Game
Earth is recovering from an apocalyptic event, alien races cooperate warily, a wise-cracking outsider suddenly finds himself shouldering new responsibilities.

Yes, the world of "Defiance" features familiar sci-fi touchstones, but it's taken an ambitious approach to how you can experience them: Through both a weekly TV series and an online-only video game.

Five years in the making, the joint project is the most high-profile and big-budget attempt at ongoing "transmedia" entertainment, promising characters and storylines that crisscross between the Syfy network show and Trion Worlds game.

Set in 2046 on a "terraformed" Earth where humans live alongside seven alien species, the series premiering Monday displays a space Western vibe with bar brawls, interspecies politics and love, plus actors familiar to genre fans like Julie Benz and Jaime Murray. The already-released game, a multiplayer third-person shooter, has plenty of guns to upgrade, quests for supplies, and boss battles in which players cooperate to bring down giant monsters.

Though they can be experienced separately, somebody who both plays the game and watches the show will gain an extra layer of insight to each, promises actor Grant Bowler, who appears in both. Bowler said he was impressed and a bit wary of that idea when he signed on to play lead Joshua "Jeb" Nolan, who becomes "lawkeeper" of the city of St. Louis, renamed Defiance by survivors.

Read more at Huffington Post

Popular video game 'Defiance' inspires SyFy TV series examining the uneasy co-existence of aliens and humans
Read more at Daily News

Defiance - Yahoo! TV: Monday's Picks Apr 15 '13 - NEW Series Syfy 9/8CRead more at Antipodalarapaima

Defiance - Syfy Video: "Down In The Ground Where The Dead Men Go' Episode Trailer - Airs Apr 22 '13
Read more at Antipodalarapaima

Defiance - Syfy: NEW Series - April 2013 ScheduleRead more at Antipodalarapaima

'Defiance' Ratings: Syfy Series Hits High NotesRead more at Huffington Post

Syfy's 'Defiance' travels between media worlds with TV series and online gameRead more at Zap2it

TV Ratings: Syfy's Pricey 'Defiance' Gives Network Best Demo Premiere Since 2006Read more at Hollywood Reporter

Defiance Behind the Scenes: Tony Curran Talks about Castithan Honor
Source: YouTube

Doctor Who - BBC America: Season 5 Marathon Schedule Apr 18 '13

04:00PM Vincent and The Doctor

Visiting a museum, the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Amy (Karen Gillan) are especially excited with the gallery for Vincent van Gogh (Tony Curran). Many of van Gogh pieces are displayed, including "The Church at Auvers (1890)". However there is something irregular discovered on the painting - a small alien image within a window pane. The Doctor quickly takes Amy back to 1890 where they locate the troubled artist that upsets the locals, cannot pay his bills, and is able to see an invisible monster that no one else is able to see.

Guest stars include Defiance's Tony Curran, Nik Howden, Chrissie Cotterill and Sarah Counsell.
Source: Antipodalarapaima

Alan Cumming: interviews and nominations

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:10:00 +0000

Alan Cumming dares do all in 'Macbeth' on Broadway
The actor tackles 15 roles from the Shakespearean tragedy along with a mental patient in a story that frames the performance. He finds it 'terrifying' but relishes the chance to try something that's never been tried before.

Alan Cumming outside the Broadway theater where he is playing 15 parts in "Macbeth" in Manhattan, NY.
(Jennifer S. Altman, For The Times / April 14, 2013)

Like world-class athletes, actors often measure their achievements by the degree of difficulty. Does a part require an unusual amount of range? An extraordinary number of man hours? Is it simply a matter of a chewy set of lines to get one's lips around?
By all these standards, Alan Cumming would be an extreme-sports medalist.
In a stage turn that will last nearly two hours, Cumming is set to play the part of Macbeth. Or, rather, the parts of Macbeth, as he tackles 15 roles from the Shakespearean tragedy, including the title character, Banquo, Duncan, Lady Macbeth and plenty of others (as well as, in a story that frames the performance, a disoriented mental patient reenacting the play).
Read more at LA Times

Alan Cumming -> Quoted
The celebrated actor talks about preparing for his one-man production of Macbeth.

After sold-out engagements at the National Theatre of Scotland and Lincoln Center Festival, Alan Cumming is bringing his dark, one-man production of Macbeth to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a limited engagement, opening April 21. Cumming says that even though he was drawn to the idea of a new production, he still finds performing the show somewhat daunting.

“I’m really excited to do it again. I feel like I wasn’t done with it… It’s the most challenging and most overwhelming thing I’ve ever done in my entire life,” says Cumming.Read more at Next Magazine

Alan Cumming nominated for United Solo uAward
United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, has announced the nominees for its uAward, which recognizes those with outstanding achievements in popularizing the form of solo performance.
Alan is nominated for his performance in Macbeth (National Theater of Scotland, Lincoln Center, and Broadway.
The recipient of the special uAward will be announced at the United Solo Festival Closing Ceremony.
This year the Festival will begin Oct. 3 and conclude with the Closing Ceremony on Nov. 24 at Theatre Row. During its eight-week program, the Festival will present a variety of local and international performances. The producers are currently accepting submissions from all over the world. Artists and performance companies are invited to submit their solo shows now through April 22. More information can be found at the festival's website, www.unitedsolo.org.
Read more at Playbill

Alan Cumming welcomes first Birks cinema fans
Hollywood movie actor Alan Cumming OBE extends a personal welcome to the first patrons of The Birks Cinema at the Golden Ticket event on Friday 19th April
Source: YouTube
Also reported by BBC

Billy Connolly: new merchandise range

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:05:00 +0000

Billy Connolly launches man bag range
He's one of Britain's best-loved comedians and now Billy Connolly is branching into fashion.
But as fans would expect of the wacky stand-up, he doesn't take take himself too seriously with his range of clothing and households goods.
Items on sale from the 70 year old comedian's website, www.billyconnolly.com, include man bags, T-shirts and hats.

Funny man: Billy Connolly's range includes the £4.50 man bag, featuring himself in the Leonardo Da Vinci 'Vitruvian Man' drawing

The merchandise includes images of the bearded actor or lines from some of his most popular jokes, such as 'too old to die young' and 'never trust a man who, when left a lone with a tea cosy doesn't try it on'.
Source (including photos): Daily Mail

Also reported (with different images and more information) by Scotsman

Martin Compston: interviews

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Actor Martin Compston makes waves as leading man

Martin Compston. Picture: Graham Jepson. Source: Scotsman

From The Scotsman:

Martin Compston is fast becoming the go-to guy for directors seeking a leading man with an edge. We join him as he does his best Daniel Craig impression in the Irish Sea

We are sheltering from a howling gale in a small, out-of-season seaside resort on the east coast of Ireland. Battered by the fierce wind roaring in off the Irish Sea, a tired-looking fairground appears to be struggling to remain upright. At the fairground – which is in fact a set for a new ITV1 drama The Ice Cream Girls – bored teenagers light up in an apathetic fashion by the waltzer while their friends try in vain to stop their candy floss blowing away in the gale-force winds. Next to them stands another ride, festooned with pictures of young women in bikinis looking inexplicably cheery. Just beyond the fairground, the raging sea is a dark shade of grey. Enormous breakers crash on to the shingle beach with a sound like thunder. It’s not what you would call a good day to go swimming but unfortunately for him – that’s exactly what Martin Compston is about to do.

Jonathan Watson: Quiz Show reviews

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0000

Quiz Show reviews (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh)

Jonathan Watson in Quiz Show. Photo from Traverse Theatre.

More reviews are coming in for Quiz Show, starring Jonathan Watson, which is currently playing at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
Here's a selection from:
Telegraph
The Independent
The Journal

There are more reviews, as well as information on the play and its cast, at the Traverse Theatre website.

Ewan McGregor and other Scottish links with Star Wars

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:35:00 +0000

Disney says a new Star Wars film will appear yearly from 2015. But while the stories might be set in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars has some interesting connections closer to home.

Star Wars will blast back to the big screen with movies alternating between those expanding the saga and spin-off character-based films.
At first glance the franchise's galaxy populated with Jedi, Wookies, Ewoks and jet pack-propelled bounty hunters seems a long way from Scotland.
But given a closer look, a tartan-tinged Force runs strong through the Star Wars films and comic books.
Some of these connections are well-known.

They include Scots actor Denis Lawson playing rebel fighter pilot Wedge Antilles in the original film trilogy.
Lawson's drama school class-mate, Carnoustie-born Ian McDiarmid, starred as the Empire's powerful emperor in 1983's Return of the Jedi and appeared in the most recent films: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Crieff lad Ewan McGregor - Lawson's nephew - starred as a young Obi Wan Kenobi in those last three movies. And McGregor says he is keen to reprise the role in any of the new flicks.
Talking to Newsbeat entertainment reporter Natalie Jamieson last month, the actor said: "If they needed Obi Wan Kenobi I would rather it was me than someone else, of course."

Another Scot who appeared in The Phantom Menace was Glasgow-born Ray Park, who played Darth Maul, a fierce warrior serving the evil Dark Side.

Read much more at BBC News Highlands & Islands

Not Another Happy Ending to premiere at EIFF

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:30:00 +0000

EIFF to close the 2013 Festival with World Premiere of 'Not Another Happy Ending'

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is proud to announce NOT ANOTHER HAPPY ENDING starring Karen Gillan and Stanley Weber (alongside Amy Manson, Iain de Caestecker, Kate Dickie, Freya Mavor, Gary Lewis and Henry Ian Cusick), as the Closing Night film of the 67th edition of the Festival.
The red carpet will be rolled out at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on 30th June when the stars and filmmakers attend the World Premiere of this indie romantic comedy set in Glasgow.
Read more at The Fan Carpet

Also reported by STV, Screen Daily, The List, Radio Times, The Edinburgh Reporter, and many others.

Clare Grogan: 'Aye Write' interview

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:15:00 +0000

Video: Clare Grogan at Aye Write!
From Herald Scotland:

Clare Grogan has given us a special video interview about Altered Images, female musicians and Gregory's Girl.

Clare Grogan and Ken McCluskey. Picture by Martin Shields. Source: Herald Scotland

The actress and singer appeared at the Aye Write! festival with Ken McCluskey from The Bluebells to talk about What Presence!, a book that celebrates the photography of Harry Papadopoulos.

Watch the interview at Herald Scotland

Elaine C Smith: radio interview

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:10:00 +0000

Elaine C. Smith: Celebrity Interview

Photo source: Twitter

Susan Calman talks to actress Elaine C Smith about Zombie Rule #9.
Duration: 09:32

Source: BBC Radio Scotland

Joanna Vanderham: new role in 'Marple' series

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:05:00 +0000

Miss Marple just got sexy!
Classic mystery gets a raunchy revamp with Joanna Vanderham playing sultry American heiress
From Daily Mail:

She may not be the sexiest of sleuths but there is no fooling Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
And ITV bosses are obviously hoping the wisened old spinster will still entice audiences - especially with the added glamour factor of gorgeous actress Joanna Vanderham in the mix.
Filming has begun for the latest adaptation of the detective stories written by Christie - although Miss Marple remains as an elderly spinster, her surrounding cast is notably glamorous.

Joanna Vanderham plays a sultry American hostess

Tom Hughes joins Julia McKenzie, who plays Jane Marple, as filming begins for Marple: Endless Night.
Tom and Joanna are reunited to play young lovers alongside Olivier award-winning actress Julia.
Read more (includes more photos, and video) at Daily Mail

Weekly schedule for The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Mo 4/22: Kat Dennings, Philip Kerr
Tu 4/23: Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall
We 4/24: Rainn Wilson, Karen Gillan
Th 4/25: Zac Efron, Anna Quindlen
Fr 4/26: Robin Wright, Andy Dick

Mo 4/29: TBA
Tu 4/30: Larry the Cable Guy, Andrea Osvart
We 5/1: Michael Ian Black
Th 5/2: Pierce Brosnan, Tone Bell
Fr 5/3: Angela Kinsey, Simon Amstell

David Tennant: project news and updates

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:40:00 +0000

photo courtesy of BBC

Broadchurch

Currently the Radio Times website lists the final episode of Broadchurch (on 22nd April) to last an extra 5 minutes so it would run from 9pm to 10.05pm.
The first six episodes of Broadchurch are now available to download from iTunes. Each episode costs £1.89.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The original soundtrack EP of Broadchurch, featuring music written by Olafur Arnalds, will be available for download on Mercury Classics from Monday 15 April. Clips have been posted to Mercury Classics Sound Cloud.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
The first two episodes of Broadchurch will be shown in Paris on 28th April at Forum des Images.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest Broadchurch news, reviews, interviews, photos, etc., can be found here.

The Politician's Husband

The BBC have posted the first trailer for The Politician's Husband to YouTube.

Source: David Tennant on Twitter

It has been confirmed that the first episode of The Politician's Husband will premiere on Thursday 25th April at 9pm on BBC Two. This means that the first episode of the three part drama will be broadcast the same week as the final episode of Broadchurch. More information here.
The BBC Media Centre has added a new David Tennant interview (plus photos) about The Politician's Husband. This is to promote the three part drama, and extracts from the interview will be used in various publications over the next few weeks. In the interview, David explains that Paula Milne's writing and the fact that it is a political drama drew him to the project. Read more here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Amazon are now showing both the front and back cover of The Politician's Husband DVD. It will be released on Monday 20th May.

Source: David Tennant on Twitter

All the latest news, etc., is here.

Headway

Headway has published April's newsletter, which includes the new David Tennant signed cards.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Spies of Warsaw

In the US, Spies Of Warsaw is available now on Amazon Instant Video.
DentonRC says that the US version of the Spies Of Warsaw DVD (released on Tuesday) includes "a 10-minute featurette with Tennant discussing the feature." Other websites indicate that the extra features will be the interview clips which are on the BBC America website.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
More information here.

The Great Scott

From Sunday 14th April 2013 at 3pm on BBC Radio Four for three consecutive Sundays, David Tennant will be starring in a series of radio plays written by Walter Scott. The first story is The Fair Maid Of Perth and the second one will be Rob Roy. The final story has not been announced yet.
More information (including MP3 links) here.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

Richard II

The Richard II performance which was listed in some places for Saturday 7th December has now been removed from both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Barbican websites. Tickets never went on sale for this performance. This means that now David Tennant will play 84 performances (39 in Stratford-Upon-Avon and 45 in London). Most performances of Richard II on the Royal Shakespeare Company website are sold out but The Barbican Centre website still has availablilty for most dates.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter
All the latest news, etc., is here.

Diary dates

Mon 15 Apr - Broadchurch soundtrack EP available for download on Mercury Classics.
Mon 15 Apr - Watch start a new run of repeats of David Tennant's episodes of Doctor Who.
Mon 15 Apr - Episode seven of Broadchurch premieres on ITV at 9pm.
Tues 16 Apr - Spies Of Warsaw DVD is released in the US and Canada.
Thurs 18 Apr - David Tennant's birthday!
Sun 21 Apr - David Tennant stars in The Great Scott: Rob Roy on BBC Radio Four at 3pm.
Source: David Tennant on Twitter

For all the latest news about David Tennant, visit David Tennant on Twitter - the most frequently updated website about David Tennant. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more immediate news.

Elaine C Smith: fundraising evening for St Andrew's Hospice

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:35:00 +0000

Elaine C Smith performing for St Andrew's Hospice at Airdrie's Sir John Wilson town hall

Comedian Elaine C Smith is doing a show to raise funds for Lanarkshire’s St Andrew’s Hospice.

An Audience with Elaine C Smith will be at Airdrie Town Hall on Thursday, April 18.
She said: “I am so pleased to be performing not only in Lanarkshire but also to help raise money for St Andrew’s Hospice – a well-loved local charity which has to raise £57,000 every week in life.
“The hospice is very close to my heart and I can’t wait to see everyone turning out to have a great night and support an amazing cause.”
Read more at Wishaw Press

Sionhan Redmond and Phyllis Logan: Sylvia Plath's 'Ariel'

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:30:00 +0000

Stars to recite Sylvia Plath’s Ariel as she intended
As part of the London Literature Festival, 40 actresses and poets, including Phyllis Logan, Samantha Bond, Anna Chancellor and Siobhan Redmond will each read a single work from the restored edition of the manuscript found on Plath’s desk after her suicide at the age of 30 in February 1963. Plath predicted that the collection would “make my name”.
The Royal Festival Hall performance on May 26 will be introduced by Plath’s daughter, Frieda Hughes, 53, who wrote a foreword to the restored version.
Read more at London Evening Standard
Image sources: IMDB and Wooller

Doctor Faustus
Glasgow South & Eastwood Extra's review of Siobhan Redmond's Doctor Faustus is here.

Jonathan Watson: 'Quiz Show' reviews

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:15:00 +0000

Quiz Show reviews

Jonathan Watson in Quiz Show

Here's a selection of Quiz Show reviews from Herald Scotland (source of pic), Thom Dibdin, The Independent and The Scotsman

Ewan McGregor: interview

noreply@blogger.com (ScottishActors) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:10:00 +0000

Celebrity Interview: Ewan McGregor
Scottish movie magnet Ewan McGregor recounts his vibrant two-decade career, and discusses a return to the role that made him famous

He's a Hollywood powerhouse and a lead in some of the biggest blockbusters in years including Moulin Rouge, Angels and Demons and as the fabled Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas' Star Wars prequel trilogy. Ewan McGregor however, has Danny Boyle to thank for his global success after the Oscar-winning director cast him as the heroin addled Mark Renton in Irvine Welch's ode to a defining generation, Trainspotting. Put mildly, it propelled the young Scot into the stratosphere.

So with the long-awaited announcement that Boyle will go on to film the sequel, Porno, its understandable McGregor was one of the first to sign on to reprise his role. In fact, the entire original cast - including Jonny Lee Miller, Ewen Bremner, Kelly McDonald and Robert Carlyle - have all confirmed their participation in the movie. It seems they're all equally aware what a great debt they owe Boyle.

Announced shortly after this interview, McGregor spoke about his thoughts of a potential for a sequel. "I've always been waiting to read it and I never got sent it to read", he said. "I know in the past I always said I wouldn't do anything that would damage the reputation of the movie Trainspotting because I wouldn't want to do a poor sequel, but at the same time, I would always read it if I was sent it. I was never in the position where they've asked me to do it."