Matthew Macfadyen says he has an open mind about poltergeists

ENFIELD INDEPENDENT
First published Wednesday 22 April 2015 in News
Last updated 04:58 Thursday 23 April 2015



Matthew Macfadyen plays Guy Lyon Playfair, who was sent to the Hodgsons house to investigate what was going on.

What attracted you to the project?

Timothy Spall and Rosie Cavaliero, both of whom I’ve worked with before. I worked with Tim on a Stephen Poliakoff drama called Perfect Strangers, and I did Little Dorrit with Rosie for the BBC. It always comes down to the script, though, which was well-written, fascinating and properly scary.

Were they the sort of scripts you could just rattle through?

 That’s my litmus test, how quickly I can get through them. You know it’s a chore when you think, oh, I could be doing something else right now.

The Enfield Haunting isn’t just a jolty story about a mean poltergeist, either, is it?

No, it’s nuanced and beautifully written. It’s not a documentary, but a dramatic retelling, so there are bits which are teased and pushed in certain directions for the purposes of telling a story. I love everything to do with Maurice and his daughter. If it hadn’t been so delicately handled, it could have been quite naff.

How much did you know about the Hodgson case before you signed on?

I didn’t know anything about it and, stupidly, I didn’t read The House is Haunted, the book by Guy Lyon Playfair that the series is based on. I came straight from Ripper Street on to this and was a bit frazzled. They kindly organised for me to meet the real Guy, though, which was interesting.

What did you make of him?

He’s in his 80s now and absolutely fascinating. It’s always daunting when you play someone who is real, although I’m not doing an impersonation, that’s not the gig. I’m just taking what I fancy. Saying that, I hope Guy isn’t too horrified at what he sees. I’ll have to write a letter of apology. The Hodgsons’ story is very divisive. Some people believe them, others think they made the whole thing up.

What’s your take?

I have an open mind. I think the sensible stance to take in this situation is to be agnostic and go, I just don’t know. I’ve never experienced anything like it, but I know plenty of people who have and they’re not gullible. There was definitely something going on, it’s just unexplained. I’m certainly not in the ‘that’s all cobblers’ camp. That would be very short-sighted.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/12893746.Star_of_The_Enfield_Haunting_Matthew_Macfadyen_says_he_has_an_open_mind_about_poltergeists/

Spooky first trailer for Timothy Spall and Matthew Macfadyen drama The Enfield Haunting

RADIO TIMES
By Ben Dowell
Sunday 12 April 2015 at 09:00PM



Are you ready to be scared?

Here is the first look at new Sky Living drama The Enfield Haunting – and it may send a chill down your spine.

Starring Mr Turner's Timothy Spall alongside Ripper Street actor Matthew Macfadyen, the drama explores the supposedly genuine haunting of a small house in north London in the late 1970s.
Spall's character Maurice Grosse is a paranormal researcher drawn to the house on Green Street in Enfield after the tragic death of his daughter in a motorcycle accident.

He is joined in his quest to investigate the strange incidents at the address by his wife Betty, played by Truly, Madly, Deeply and The Village star Juliet Stevenson.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-12/spooky-first-trailer-for-timothy-spall-and-matthew-macfadyen-drama-the-enfield-haunting

Timothy Spall: I was terrified making new poltergeist drama The Enfield Haunting

RADIO TIMES
By Ben Dowell
Tuesday 7 April 2015 at 10:50AM



Playing a man who investigates ghosts can have its drawbacks, according to Timothy Spall – especially when it comes to going to bed at night.

Spall is starring alongside Ripper Street actor Matthew Macfadyen in The Enfield Haunting, Sky Living’s upcoming drama about the supposedly genuine haunting of a small house in north London in the late 1970s.

In preparation for the role, the Mr Turner actor met parapsychology investigator Guy Lyon Playfair who is played by Macfadyen in the series and who wrote the book This House is Haunted on which the drama is based.

According to Spall, the encounter calmed his terrors about taking on the job which he initially turned down because it “frightened the life out of me”.

“I asked him, ‘didn’t you worry that when you came back there would be demons sitting on your bed or something?’ and he said, ‘oh no, made a nice cup of tea, went to bed’.


READ MORE HERE: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-07/timothy-spall-i-was-terrified-making-new-poltergeist-drama-the-enfield-haunting

Nominations Announced for the Moët British Independent Film Awards

INDIEWIRE
By Sydney Levine | Sydneys Buzz
November 10, 2014 at 4:04PM



The nominations for the 17th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced recently, at St Martins Lane, London by actor Jared Harris .

Joint Directors, The Moët British Independent Film Awards’ Johanna von Fischer & Tessa Collinson said: "This has been a record year for MBIFA with over 250 films submitted giving our dedicated members their toughest challenge to date. Hugely impressed by the quality of films and performances across all categories the shortlist demonstrates how the standard of creativity in British independent filmmaking continues to flourish year on year. The decision of who will walk away with one of the iconic MBIFA trophies* is now in the hands of our distinguished independent jury announced today. We are looking forward to seeing as many of the nominees as possible at the Awards on 7th December, to celebrate their incredible achievements. It will be a very personal celebration for us also, as the last in a wonderful 9 Award Ceremonies as Joint Directors of BIFA.”

The highest number of nominations this year goes to "‘71" with nine nominations including Best British Independent Film; Best Director and Debut Director for Yann Demange; Best Screenplay for Gregory Burke; Best Actor for Jack O’Connell and Best Supporting Actor for Sean Harris. "Pride" picked up seven nominations and "Catch me Daddy,""Frank," and "Mr Turner" picked up five nominations each.

Nominations for Best Actress go to Alicia Vikander for "Testament of Youth;" Cheng Pei Pei for "Lilting;" Gugu Mbatha-Raw for "Belle;" Keira Knightley for "The Imitation Game" and Sameena Jabeen Ahmed for "Catch Me Daddy." Leading men hoping to take home the Best Actor award include Asa Butterfield for"X+Y;" Benedict Cumberbatch for "The Imitation Game"; Brendan Gleeson for "Calvary"; Jack O’Connell for "’71" and Timothy Spall for "Mr Turner."

Best Supporting Actor nominations go to Andrew Scott and Ben Schnetzer, both for "Pride;" Michael Fassbender for "Frank;" Rafe Spall for "X+Y" and Sean Harris for"’71."

Dorothy Atkinson for "Mr Turner;" Imelda Staunton for "Pride;" Maggie Gyllenhaal for "Frank;" Sally Hawkins for "X+Y"and Sienna Guillory for "The Goob" are all nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.

READ MORE HERE: http://blogs.indiewire.com/sydneylevine/nominations-announced-for-the-moet-british-independent-film-awards-20141110

Benedict Cumberbatch Discusses The Time He Accidentally Made A Boner Joke To A Teenage Girl

CRUSHABLE
7 hours ago by Jill O’Rourke

Oh, Benedict Cumberbatch. What an awkward British butterfly. His recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show is like the gift that just keeps on giving. There were Beyonce impressions, there were pengwings, and now there’s a story about the time he accidentally told a teenage girl she gave him a boner. And not just any teenage girl — a gold-medal-winning Olympic swimmer. What a time to be alive!

Let me set the scene for you. Last year (actually this year, but he says last year so just go with it) Benedict was presenting at the Laureus Awards, which he describes as “like the Oscars, but for sports.” He almost lost me as soon as he said the word “sports,” but his voice is so captivating that I kept listening. And boy was it worth it! Benedict explains that he spoke to American swimmer Missy Franklin at the event, and reminds us that she’s still a teenager (19 now, but 18 then). That’s an important detail to remember when you hear his story. Benedict was marveling at how much she’s accomplished at such a young age, and he was trying to express how old it made him feel, and he chose to use the sentence “I’m just getting stiff even listening to you.”

Read more: http://www.crushable.com/2014/10/30/entertainment/benedict-cumberbatch-erection-joke-stiff-missy-franklin-graham-norton/#ixzz3Hf3CIC9v

Benedict Cumberbatch can't hide his astonishment as he comes face-to-face with his very own waxwork

MAIL ONLINE
By COLETTE FAHY
PUBLISHED: 17:43 EST, 23 October 2014 | UPDATED: 18:10 EST, 23 October 2014



This week he was honoured with his very own waxwork at Madame Tussaud's in London and Benedict Cumberbatch couldn't hide his astonishment when he saw it firsthand.

The 38-year-old actor was greeted with the figure when he was taping an appearance on BBC's The Graham Norton Show and made sure to examine it thoroughly while looking utterly bemused.

Benedict even adopted an identical pose to his doppelganager to allow Graham, fellow guests Miranda Hart, Timothy Spall, and Adam Levine and the audience to see the similarities for themselves.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2805727/Benedict-Cumberbatch-t-hide-astonishment-comes-face-face-waxwork.html#ixzz3H4JT5Ej7 
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Sky ghost story to star Timothy Spall and Matthew Macfadyen

THE STAGE NEWS
By:  Matthew Hemley
September 11, 2014



Timothy Spall, Juliet Stevenson and Matthew Macfadyen are to star in a new three-part ghost story for Sky Living.

The drama, called The Enfield Haunting, will be directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, whose credits include Danish drama The Killing.



Produced by Eleven Films, it is based on the book This House is Haunted, by Guy Lyon Playfair, which has been adapted by Joshua St Johnston.

Spall said described the script as “full of emotional texture”.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the excellent team Sky Living and Eleven Films have assembled,” he said.

RED MORE HERE: http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2014/09/sky-ghost-story-star-timothy-spall-matthew-macfadyen/

Brenda Blethyn in Secrets and Lies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNmJNjJkOpg

The first movie I ever saw with Brenda Blethyn and I've been a devoted fan ever since.  1996 film 'SECRETS AND LIES" about a successful black woman who traces her birth mother to a rather seedy looking lady, whose whole family seems to be crippled by secrets and beligerence.  Great film with Marianne Jean-Baptiste as her daughter.

THE BRIT LIST: TOP TEN BRITISH CHARACTER ACTORS IN MOVIES TODAY By Leah Rozen | Posted on Friday, July 20th, 2012 (BBC AMERICA)

It’s well known among actors that while leading roles may afford the most screen time and biggest pay checks, supporting roles offer the greater acting challenges and often juiciest lines and scenes.

As Britain’s Eddie Marsan, one of the most talented character actors working today, once said, “I have friends who are leading men, and they’re only ever allowed to play leading men of a certain type. But as a character actor, there’s a wider variety of projects available.”

While a few lucky character actors eventually become leading men – think Bob Hoskins, Alan Rickman, Rhys Ifans and Bill Nighy – most, thanks to physiognomy, build or age, are left to shine in secondary roles.

British thespians have always excelled as character actors. Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, Donald Crisp, C. Aubrey Smith, Roland Young and plenty more regularly brightened studio releases.

The tradition continues today. Just run through the cast list for any of the eight Harry Potter films and you’ll find a veritable Who’s Who of British talent trotted out as characters who either instruct Harry and his adolescent pals or threaten them.

In salute of these supporting stalwarts, here’s a list (in alphabetical order) of the ten busiest British male character actors working in movies today:


READ MORE: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2012/07/the-brit-list-top-ten-british-character-actors-in-movies-today/

Pierce Brosnan struggles to fit into a small yellow Citroen C-Zero with Emma Thompson By J J ANISIOBI (MAIL ON LINE)

As 007 he was a very suave James Bond who had his choice of woman and drove a very cool Aston Martin.

Times have changed for Pierce Brosnan, however, and the Irish-born actor found himself zipping around the Croisette in Cannes, yesterday afternoon.

The sun may have been out with a nice breeze, but there was nothing cool about the 59-year-old's little yellow car.


Pierce was in the area filming scenes for new movie Love Punch, and he was joined by co-stars Emma Thompson and Timothy Spall.

Despite his less than impressive vehicle the smooth actor still looked at his dapper best in a white shirt and blue blazer.

He also wore a pair of sunglasses but seemed to be struggling somewhat in the midday heat.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2157935/Pierce-Brosnan-struggles-fit-yellow-Citroen-C-Zero-Emma-Thompson.html

BBC’s very own “Downton Abbey” - Fermanagh-filmed “Nick Nickleby” set for big success - VIDEOS North's attracting top flight projects due to pristine locations and talented film crews By ANTOINETTE KELLY, IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Crom Castle

It's already being dubbed the new Downton Abbey, but the fact is that the BBC's new period comedy Blandings has a better writer: P.G. Wodehouse.

It's the latest top flight project that will be filmed in the north or Ireland, with a cast that includes Absolutely Fabulous' Jennifer Saunder and Harry Potter star Timothy Spall. Blandings will be filmed in the imposing surroundings of Crom Castle, in County Fermanagh, and is sure to highlight the north's pristine landscapes and the talent of their world class film crews.

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster told the Belfast Telegraph: 'The fact that Crom Castle was selected as the venue to film the PG Wodehouse Blandings stories is a real coup for Fermanagh. It was great to meet the cast and crew, and to see at first hand the program being filmed.' 


Read more:  http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/BBCs-very-own-Downton-Abbey---Fermanagh-filmed-Nick-Nickleby-set-for-big-success---VIDEOS-146528595.html

Timothy Spall: 'Fate has already tried to kill me' (THE GUARDIAN)

After raising a family and surviving leukaemia, Timothy Spall threw caution to the wind and took a barge round the coast of Britain with his wife, Shane. Nick Duerden asks them about their late-blossoming spirit of adventureFifteen years ago,as the actor Timothy Spall lay in a hospital bed dying from acute myeloid leukaemia, Shane, his wife, would sit beside him, writing, in pursuit of a catharsis that wouldn't come. On her laptop, she would rail about certain nurses on the ward, her occasional over-reliance on gin and the illness that was trying to claim the life of her husband.

Tim's recovery was torturously slow. Shane never read those words after they were written, while Tim, then 39, banned himself from discussing his illness in the public domain. "I deliberately kept schtum about the whole nitty-gritty of it," he says now. "I didn't want to talk about it until I knew I was in the clear, but I also didn't want to be one of those actors who endlessly flag up their travails. I didn't want to become known for it, in other words."

Instead, he wanted any attention that came his way to be about the work, not his private life. "But then we made a programme about what we do in our private life," he says, laughing, referring to The Voyages of the Princess Matilda on BBC4. "So I suppose the embargo was lifted."

Shane has written a book to accompany the series. It's essentially a travelogue charting the adventures of a husband and wife as they pilot a barge round the British coast, "Oh, we had no idea about the power of the sea, the perpetual sense of jeopardy," Tim says. Shane adds, "We've had some stressful times on the boat, very stressful." Tim agrees: "Last year was an epic journey, north-east Scotland all the way down the east coast, and we ended up like that [holds his hand up at a steep angle].

There are rocks all over, you face being wrecked – the boat is up and down and all over the place. Seriously, it's a life or death situation."

The book also dips, fleetingly, into memoir. Shane reprints many of her late-night hospital writings here, painfully revisiting the time of Tim's illness. "Tim hadn't read them before," Shane begins. Her husband interjects: "It was difficult, obviously it was. It made me realise what not just Shane, but my children, my whole family, had to go through. Reading it was like reliving all the guilt of it." Guilt? He nods. "I was ill – they were suffering."

 In May 1996, the actor was riding high after his most successful film to date: Mike Leigh's Secrets & Lies. The cast were flown out to the Cannes film festival, but Tim remained behind, the exhaustion he had felt of late now suddenly suggestive of something serious. He was admitted to hospital for tests, which revealed leukaemia and a bleak prognosis: a 60/40 chance of survival.

 "He was supposed to have a total of five courses of chemotherapy," says Shane, "but his immune system was shot. It had degenerated so much that the chemo itself was killing him." "In the end," Tim adds, "I only had two [courses]." He shakes his head. "Awful, dreadful. What I remember most strongly was that Shane was always with me, right by my side, morning and night.

And always she was tapping on her laptop. At the time, I found it quite comforting. But whenever she does it now, I'm immediately back with my illness. It's an uncomfortably evocative sound. It reminds me that I almost died."

"If you had," she says, reaching for his hand, "I'd have been miserable."

Read more:http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/25/timothy-spall-shane-barge-book?newsfeed=true