The Herald - The Herald Magazine
From Bodyguard to Two Doors Down, the stars who lit up our TV and film screens this year
THE British Academy of Film and Television Art Awards (BAFTAs) are taking place tomorrow. The awards showcase and celebrate the best of Scotland’s film and TV achievements. This year’s ceremony at Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow will be hosted by Edith Bowman. Here’s our pick of the bunch from this year’s nominations.
LORN MACDONALD
Best Film Actor for Beats
If you haven’t heard about this Kirkcaldy-born actor yet, you will soon. The 27-year-old impressed audiences with his raw interpretation of Mark Renton in the Citizens Theatre’s take on Trainspotting in 2017. His feature film debut performance in Brian Welsh’s rave culture flick Beats has landed him with a nomination for best actor in film. Upon hearing about the nomination, the modest actor tweeted that he was off to ring his gran. A rising star this Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate is definitely one to watch.
PETER MULLAN
Best Film Actor for The Vanishing. Mullan has not always been a household name. While we associate the 59-yearold actor/director with his incredible performance in films such as My Name Is Joe and TV hits such as the subtle family sitcom Mum and big budget American drama Ozark, where he played the head of drug dealing family, before he began his film career he worked as a bouncer in pubs and clubs in Glasgow’s south side. The former Glasgow University student is also an active supporter of many left-wing causes. Up for his role in The Vanishing
– the tale of three lighthouse keepers who mysteriously disappeared on the remote Flannan Isles in the Outer Hebrides.
NCUTI GATWA
Best Actor Television for Sex Education Born in Rwanda and brought up in Edinburgh, Gatwa was praised for his eccentric portrayal of Eric Effiong in Netlflix’s Sex Education, which made him an instant success. His performance has garnered him an MTV Movie and TV Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Actor. The Royal Conservatoire graduate has also starred
in many plays, including a part in a performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. At 27 years old, Gatwa’s ability to take on sexuality, race, culture and toxic masculinity in such a compelling manner shows that he has a successful career ahead of him.
SHIRLEY HENDERSON
Best Film Actress for Stan and Ollie Standing at only 5ft tall, Henderson is known for her portrayal of soft spoken Gail in Trainspotting and as Jude in the three Bridget Jones films. The 55-yearold Fifer first got into acting after winning a talent contest while at a Butlins Holiday Camp. After this she gained experience singing in boxing rings in between bouts. She played 17-year-old ghost Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter (she was 37 at the time). More recently she played Lucille, wife of Oliver Hardy in feature film Stan and Ollie which earned her nomination for best actress.
FLORENCE PUGH
Best Film Actress for Outlaw King Oxford-born Pugh has said that her love of accents and acting began in her school days when, in a Nativity, she insisted on playing the leading role of Mary in a strong Yorkshire accent. The 23-year-old is up for Best Actress in film for her performance as Elizabeth de Burgh (wife of Robert the Bruce) in Outlaw King. Pugh made her film debut in 2015 where she starred alongside Maisie Williams in The Falling. She is also a singer/songwriter and has a You Tube account loaded with original songs and covers. She will be playing Amy March in the upcoming film adaptation of Little Women.
RICHARD MADDEN
Best TV Actor for The Bodyguard
He stole the hearts of viewers and had the words “Ma’am” ringing through everyone’s ears when he played David Budd in The Bodyguard. His performance in the BBC series won him a Golden Globe. Brought up in
Elderslie, Renfrewshire, the actor has also had starring roles in Game of Thrones and Disney’s Cinderella. Madden received an honorary doctorate from the Royal Conservatoire this year for his contribution to drama. The 33-year-old was one of the public’s favourite to be the next James Bond. Madden recently revealed that he hasn’t always been a fan of the limelight, he actually joined his first theatre group as a child in order to combat his shyness.
KELLY MACDONALD
Best TV Actress for The Victim
Most of us will remember Macdonald’s rosy-cheeked, mischievous grin from her role as schoolgirl, Diane, in Trainspotting. She was working as a barmaid in Glasgow when she saw a leaflet advertising an open audition for the movie. Now, 23 years on from the film’s release and her career has gone from strength to strength. The 43-yearold Glaswegian mother of two has been nominated for Best TV Actress for her role as grieving mother Anna Dean in The Victim. Macdonald’s old school in East Renfrewshire, Eastwood High, has named its theatre and drama centre after her.
JON S BAIRD
Best Fiction Director Stan & Ollie
Up for best film director, Baird has come a long way since his childhood in Peterhead. The 46 year old is known for directing the film adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Novel, Filth. This was the second highest grossing 18 certificate of 2013. Baird began his career as a runner for the BBC and quickly moved up the ranks. He was an associate producer in Green St and wrote and directed Cass. Baird recently tweeted that before he began work on Stan & Ollie he visited both of their graves to promise he would “do them justice.”
JESSIE BUCKLEY
Best Film Actress for Wild Rose
This heartwarming Glaswegian film is up for Best Feature Film. It follows a young girl who has a vision of becoming a Nashville country star – a dream that doesn’t come easy to a single mother who is not long out of prison. The musical film stars Jesse Buckley as main character Rose-Lynn Harlan. Buckley has been hailed for her performance and incredible countrywestern singing voice, which also stars Julie Walters. The movie is filmed across Glasgow and features The Old Fruitmarket and The Grand Ole Opry.
THAT JOKE ISN’T FUNNY ANYMORE
Best Short Film
Up for the Short Film Award, this 12-minute long documentary has been compared by the Scottish Documentary Institute to “a real life Groundhog Day.” Directed by Hannah Currie and produced by Beth Allan, the film was shown at Leeds and Edinburgh Film Festival to critical acclaim. Set in Ireland, the film follows the complicated relationship between a couple 10 years after husband Paul’s life-altering brain injury, which left him in a loop of memory loss and joke telling. The film is developed through Bridging The Gap, an initiative that provides support and opportunity for emerging filmmakers in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
TWO DOORS DOWN Best Television Scripted
Arabella Weir and Alex Norton star in this comedy series following a couple’s antagonising relationship with their neighbours. It originally aired as a one-off Hogmanay special in 2013 but now the show is four seasons deep and shows no sign of slowing down. Two Doors Down has been well received by the nation and was on the receiving end of the Royal Television Society’s Best Comedy Award in 2017. Filming for the show takes place between Dumbarton, Hamilton and Bishopbriggs. Philip Differ, creator of Only An Excuse, said it was one of the best Scottish comedies ever.
PURE
Best Writer Film/Television
A comedic insight into the world of intrusive thoughts, Pure tackles mental health and sexuality. From initial confusion to acceptance of a very unique OCD diagnosis, main character Marnie (the TV debut of Charly Clive) is a relatable character to most people in their twenties. After impulsively moving from Scotland to London after an embarrassing moment at a family party, Marnie has to build a whole new life all while getting to grips with her mental illness. The show is adapted from the Biography of Rose Cartwright, which was crowdfunded in 2014.