I've liked this guy since seeing a DVD of the British film Maurice. He was incredibly good looking then and is a distinguished actor now. Currently, he's a regular in the BBC series Sherlock. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws)
| Rupert Graves Online. Biography. | ||
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Actor Rupert Graves
has enthralled audiences worldwide with his acting skills in a vast array of
film, stage, and television work.
In this biography we
take a brief look at his career, ranging from his first television role in 1978
to the present day.
To view more
details about Rupert's work, visit the Film & Television and Stage Productions links.
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| The Versatile Actor. |
Rupert Graves began
his acting life some thirty five years ago, landing the small part of a prefect
in the cult television series "Return Of The Saint", sharing the screen with
respected film and stage actor Ian Ogilvy, star of the notorious "Witchfinder
General", who coincidentally also starred in an earlier production of Noel
Coward's "Design For living", a play that Rupert would eventually star in, in
1995.
Prior to this Rupert
Graves had his first taste of the acting bug by taking part in Victorian musical
nights held at Birnbeck Pier in his home town. As befits the past of all great
actors, Rupert Graves did not enjoy his time at school - unable to accept the
indignities of authority and it's restrictive rules.
This small television
part was quickly followed up with the stronger role of Yan in a television
adaptation of Enid Blyton's "Five Go Down To The Sea", from which a raft of more
television work came his way.
In between his
attempts to make it in acting, a variety of part time employment and a mini
excursion into punk rock music followed. Amongst others, Graves worked as a
circus clown, in a chip shop, and a shoe factory. However, the acting blood was
still in his veins, leading him to join a troupe with the amazing name of "Silly
Billy Pickles And The Peanut Street Gang", which entertained children at
Butlin's holiday camps.
Born 30th June, 1963
in the seaside resort of Weston-Super-Mare, Rupert Graves, even with a clutch of
television credits to his name, was far from a confident actor at this point in
his life. Indeed, he apologised to director James Ivory for his acting in "A
Room With A View", convinced he had "messed up the film".
James Ivory was no fool and knew better, much better.
He promptly signed
Rupert Graves to star in a production that was to catapult him into stardom, the
award winning and controversial adaptation of another E. M. Forster classic
"Maurice".
It was undoubtedly
this film, with it's daring subject of homosexual love between two men from
totally different classes, that made the name of Rupert Graves. The film was an
immaculate piece of production with a cast to die for, with a performance by
Graves as Alec Scudder that electrified cinemas and lifted the film to heights
probably not expected.
This controversial
role, combined with his boyish good looks was to gain Graves a loyal base of
fans from both sexes, and also brought about the same obvious if not boring
question from a host of lazy or headline seeking journalists - "Are you
gay?"
For a period of time
Rupert Graves never answered the question, deciding to let the gossips gossip,
and fuelling all manner of speculation. For the record, he's not. Rupert is
married to production coordinator, Susie Lewis, and they are the proud parents
of five children.
Due to his liking for
difficult roles and never fearing to go forwards in terms of stretching himself
Graves may well have this type of speculation for some time to come - he played
a gay character in "Torch Song Trilogy", a transvestite villain in "Open Fire",
and the lover of a sex change male in "Different For Girls" (Winner of the Best
Film Award at the 1996 Montreal World Film Festival), hardly your typical
Hollywood fare.
In the majority of his
work, with few exceptions the term "powerful drama" would seem to sit well with
the characters portrayed by Graves.
To have a more
balanced look at his work and abilities try taking a look at "Intimate
Relations" (Rupert won the Best Actor Award in 1996 at The Montreal Film
Festival) with it's dark and deep humour, "The Tenant Of Wildfell Hall", with
it's undertones of darkness, or the comedic classic "Where Angels Fear To
Tread".
Apart from his film
and television work, Rupert Graves has a great fondness for live theatre. His
many works on stage include the critically acclaimed "Midsummer Night's Dream"
at The National, "Torch Song Trilogy" at The Albery, "A Madhouse In Goa" at The
Lyric Hammersmith and Apollo West End, "The Caretaker" at The Comedy, the
outstanding "The Elephant Man" on Broadway, and not forgetting his superb
outings in "Hurlyburly" at The Geilgud, (Olivier Award Nominee) and the award
winning "Closer" on Broadway.
Since the break
through feature "A Room With A View", headline roles have continued over the
years at a furious pace. From the award winning ITV adaptation of "The Forsyte
Saga", to the dark and dangerous "V For Vendetta", the hilarious "Death At A
Funeral", and the iconic "Sherlock", to name just a few, the years show no
respite for this talented and in demand actor.
Apart from his obvious
skills and charisma in front of the camera, many will be amazed at how much work
he actually takes on, for example, not including the constant interviews, press
launches, and other media related duties, from the beginning in 1978, Rupert's
workload has seen him complete (up to and including 2013) a staggering ninety
plus film and television productions and twenty plus stage
appearances.
James Ivory knew what
he was doing in 1985 ........
To view a
comprehensive guide to Rupert's film and television work,
 click here.For more information about his live theatre work, visit the stage section of the website by clicking here.©Rupert Graves Online. |
