21 July 2009: Preview of the film and discussion with Rupert Everett, Michael Waldman and Ralph Lee
Monday 13 July 2009–In recent years, Rupert Everett has attained international stardom following a memorable array of both comedic and dramatic film roles. His scene-stealing performance as Julia Roberts’ confidant in My Best Friend’s Wedding earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations, as well as American Comedy, Blockbuster Entertainment and London Film Critics Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
Everett’s autobiography Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins was published by Little Brown in 2006 to rave reviews. The autobiography was nominated for the PEN/Ackerley Prize, fast becoming a bestseller.
Everett reprised his role as ‘Prince Charming’ in May 2007, in the third of the blockbuster series of Shrek films: Shrek the Third.
Everett soon followed this appearing alongside the likes of Robert De Niro, Clare Danes and Michelle Pheiffer in Matthew Vaughn’s fantasy blockbuster Stardust, in October 2007. Following this, Everett ended an extremely busy year, starring in the remake of the 1950’s comedy hit series St Trinians, playing two characters in the movie including the leading role as the headmistress Miss Fritton. The film premiered in London in December 2007, with a sequel to follow in December 2009. Everett also lent his voice to Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
In 2008, Rupert had yet another busy year researching and writing a sequel to his autobiography, whilst simultaneously filming a special project for Channel 4, a documentary on the philanthropist Sir Richard Burton, The Victorian Sex Explorer. Everett also filmed the movie Wild Target, directed by Jonathan Lynn, starring with Emily Blunt, Bill Nighy and Eileen Atkins.
In 2004, Everett was seen in the BBC broadcasted version of Allan Cubitt’s Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Simon Cellan, the film re-unites Holmes, played by Everett, and his friend Doctor John Watson in a desperate bid to solve a case which threatens to overwhelm the privilege and tranquility of Edwardian aristocratic society.
Everett was also seen in the Richard Eyre directed film, Stage Beauty. The film, which co-stars Billy Crudup and Clare Danes, is set in the 1660s, and focuses on an actor’s struggle with stardom during a period when women’s theatre roles were played by men. Everett plays the role of King Charles II.
In 1999, Everett was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his memorable portrayal of Lord Arthur Goring in Oscar Wilde’s classic tale, An Ideal Husband. The film also starred Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam and Julianne Moore.
Other film credits include P. J. Hogan’s Unconditional Love, The Next Best Thing opposite Madonna, Disney’s Inspector Gadget, Miramax’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the critically acclaimed The Madness of King George, and the children’s favorite Dunston Checks In. Additionally, he starred in Cemetery Man, Robert Altman’s Pret-a-Porter, Duet For One, Hearts of Fire, The Chronicle of A Dwath Foretold directed by Franco Rossi, Tolerance, Inside Monkey Zetterland, and The Man With the Gold Rimmed Glasses. Two of his most well known early roles were in the classic films Dance with a Stranger and The Comfort of Strangers.
Everett has also garnered critical acclaim for his dramatic work on stage. Most notably, he gained recognition for his performance in Another Country, a role that he had originated on stage in London. He then went on to star alongside Colin Firth in the film version of the highly praised play in 1984. Additional London theatre credits include: Tennessee Williams’ The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Some Sunny Day, Another Country, Mass Appeal, Don Juan and Chinchilla. His theatre work in Glasgow includes: The Vortex, Heartbreak House, A Waste of Time, Private Lives, The Picture of Dorian Gray and The White Devil.
Everett is also the author of two successful novels, Hello, Darling, Are You Working? and The Hairdresser of St Tropez, which was published in the UK in 1995.
Everett was born and raised in the UK. Educated in a Benedictine monastery, he left school at the age of fifteen and made his way to London to pursue theatre. He eventually joined the avant-garde Citizens Theatre Company of Glasgow, where he began his theatre career in repertory. He toured with this company around Europe and England prior to, and while making a name for himself in various film and television productions.
Everett resides in London.
Courtesy of British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
The Scandalous Adventures of Lord Byron
To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s legendary travels around Europe and the Mediterranean, Rupert Everett follows in the footsteps of the great Romantic poet in an attempt to understand the man whose maverick sex life, precocious literary talent and stunning good looks made him Britain’s first modern celebrity.
This fascinating documentary has been made for Channel 4 by the same team behind the award winning documentary Victorian Sex Explorer, in which Rupert took a revealing and witty journey retracing the steps of the infamous Victorian explorer and sexual adventurer, Sir Richard Burton.
The Scandalous Adventures of Lord Byron is a Blast Films production for Channel 4.
