Life imitates art as US activist gets his way

HOUSE of Cards television star Michael Kelly ought to be talking to reporters, but instead he is working the room, trying to persuade a movie executive to cast him in Deadpool 2.

The actor is used to getting his way, thanks to confusion with his famous character, ruthless US chief-of-staff Doug Stamper in the hit political drama.

It is a mark of the impact the cold-blooded Stamper has had on popular culture, that reallife politicians are intimidated when Kelly is in Washington lobbying for one of his causes.

“Stamper walks the Congress halls and people listen. It’s funny – it’s real,” Kelly, 48, said.

Close to his heart is care for the elderly – he played a key role last year in the reauthorisation of the Older American Act.

Stamper blackmails and murders his way to the top in House of Cards but, as is often the way, Kelly is a teddy bear in real life.

“I’m a very happy man, nothing like that guy,” he said.

“I walk into a room smiling, so the guard goes down.”

Over four seasons, Kelly developed one of the most coldblooded, pitiless characters in modern drama, earning him an Emmy nomination.

Higher-profile big screen movie roles have followed.

Kelly was in Pasadena, California, for a chat with US TV critics about his new series, the period drama, Taboo.

Set in London in the early 19th century, with Tom Hardy in the lead, it is the proudest achievement of Kelly’s career.

“When you have a certain level of success it gives you some confidence to be a little more free,” Kelly said.

Of President Donald Trump, Kelly said: “I will be a big critic, but I won’t bash him.” – AFP