samkydd

From today's Daily Telegraph this piece will no doubt be of interest to many on the forum:

Ray Winstone was a self-confessed 'toe-rag' who was thrown out of drama school; how is it that, now, he's working non-stop?

For his next role as Beowulf, Ray Winstone has grown a beard; a great, big, shaggy thing, with a hint of a gingery tinge. Cigarettes keep disappearing inside this beard, re-emerging as cylinders of ash. Bad words pop out.

'I always thought the idea of acting was not to be seen acting': Ray Winstone

And so, too, does a long and rippling laugh, like wind blowing through gorse. Why not? Life is sweet for 48-year-old Winstone, a former schoolboy boxing champion from the rougher side of town, but a big star now. Getting bigger all the time, in fact.

A late-life career surge finds him making The Departed in New York with Jack Nicholson and Martin Scorsese, filming Breaking and Entering in London with Anthony Minghella, and just about to appear at the box office in The Proposition with Emily Watson.

There is television work, too: the lead role in Vincent, a new ITV detective series, while he will star in a new adaptation of Sweeney Todd, made by his own production company, which will be shown on BBC at Christmas.

"Yes, plenty of blood for Christmas, that's what we like," he says, rubbing his hands together. He never seems to stop working these days, not that he's complaining.

"I never thought I would be doing what I am doing today. Coming from where I did, I used to feel like an outcast in this business," he says, but he doesn't feel like that any more. No wonder, for there is a gathering surge of respect for his extraordinary talents and he is one of Britain's greatest actors; such a natural on the small or big screen that watching him is like falling through a rip in the celluloid and into his world. In his most famous roles, such as wife-beater Ray in Nil By Mouth, or retired robber Gal in Sexy Beast, you can't see the seams, or the stitching, where he ends and the role begins.

"Yeah. Well. I don't ever want to be caught out acting. I always thought the idea of acting was not to be seen acting, but that is just my opinion," he says. Apparently, not everybody agrees with him. Who could that be?

"Some directors. They want to see you perform. A lot of directors get a bit nervy about not seeing someone perform. They think you aren't doing anything. I have had directors saying: 'If only you would take it seriously, Ray.' Well, f--- off! I do. They just haven't got a clue what is going on in my head. A really top director once kept me in a room and said: 'If only you would really concentrate we could...' And I just looked at him. We could what? He didn't have a clue about me or where I was coming from. Not performing? Not performing is the whole point."

He's not talking about Scorsese, who "has that bedside manner that all great directors do - they love you, you don't even know they are directing you", nor Minghella, whom he rates as "a clever and good man; it's a pleasure to work for him". He's talking about things that happened before, when he was younger and angrier. Mouthier. More stubborn.

Ray Winstone grew up in Hackney and Enfield, where his family had a fruit and vegetable business. He was London schoolboy boxing champion three times and boxed for England twice, and was at drama school only briefly, thrown out for pushing nails through a lolly stick and using it to puncture the headmistress's tyres after she said he was a "danger" to the other pupils because of his accent.

Today, Winstone concedes that he was a "bit of a toe-rag", but is still annoyed that after setting his Julius Caesar speech in a pub for a drama test, he got no marks for imagination.

"I am not even saying I did it very well, but I got nought for this, and nought for that, nought for the performance. I didn't even get one mark for doing it differently from everyone else. Nought for imagination! I took a lot of notice of that. I thought, you lot know nothing. It made me very determined."

This, then, was the spark to his gunpowder, and how fascinating that it still rankles, three decades later, even though he claims to have mellowed.

"But I have. I've become less angry as I've got older. It's called growing up, isn't it? Acting helps. Its like being in therapy, you get a lot out of your system. But there's a lack of energy in me, too. You know, I just don't have the energy to be angry. I'm not an angry young man any more, I'm just a boring old fart."

He is glad, however, that the kind of international success he is beginning to enjoy now did not happen earlier, when it might have messed him up good and proper.


'I love being a thug, but I like being a lover too': Ray Winstone in 'Sexy Beast'

"I probably couldn't have handled it, I probably would have gone off the edge, you know, ended up in prison or something. I like the fact that it is happening now, when I'm older and wiser and enjoying it. And my wife and kids can come along and enjoy it, too."

They went to Romania, when he was making Cold Mountain; they've been to America, where they met Nicholson, who Winstone describes as "proper, a cool dude", while Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are "lovely kids".

Meanwhile, back at home in Essex, Winstone says he's a domestic god and really, really good around the house, but I'm not sure if I believe him. Not so long ago, he got out the Hoover to have a quick vac along the skirting boards and his wife was so shocked that she ran upstairs for her camera and took a photograph. That sounds like evidence for the prosecution, not the defence.

No, no, insists the actor known for playing a variety of granite-faced gangsters, thugs, murderous hit men and the occasional wife beater in gritty British films, he does his bit. Honest he does. If the missus is out for the day, he will tidy up and make dinner as a surprise. He's "bang on with the old pasta", he knows how to age a steak properly, then cook it so that it's still pink in the middle. He's also a dab hand with fish, especially his favourite, skate.

"I do it with capers, black pepper and then white wine vinegar and all that. I like that. Lovely," he says. Then he adds sadly: "But I am not great at battering."

Elsewhere, Winstone admits that when on location he is a neat freak and keeps everything "spotless", but he does expect a bit of cossetting when he gets back home.

"But not to the extent that I can't do a thing," he pleads. "I do my own ironing sometimes, but when it comes to washing the plates, I can't have none of that. I have never done that in my life. So I am more domesticated when I am away from home and a bit of a slob when I get back. I suppose that is male chauvinism, is it? I don't mean it to be, but there it is."

Home and family are the centre of his life, and his roots are clearly sunk deep.

"I am a husband and father first. Acting comes after that," he says. Winstone met his Manchester-born wife Elaine in 1979, and they have been married for just over 25 years. During leaner times at the beginning of his career, he would tell his little daughters that it was all going to work out fine, that one day they would live in a house in the country, with ponies and a swimming pool.

Eventually, the fairy tale did come true, and they live on a spread near Duxford airfield, where he loves to sit in the garden and hear Lancasters and Spitfires drone over on their way to an airshow. Late one summer, he and Elaine were sitting having a drink, thinking that it was all perfect, but something was missing. What was it? Another baby.

Ellie, now four, joins Lois (23) and 19-year-old Jaime in the Winstone ranks, and Dad says that what would make his life utterly complete would be "another seven kids". Yet one of the nation's favourite tough guys has reservations about certain areas of childcare.


"I'm a hands-on dad all right, except when it comes to changing nappies. I was never that good at that. I would put the mask on."

Mask? Mask??

"Yeah, the mask. Like Jesse James, you know? I'd tie the little mask on and start, but get stuff everywhere and in the end my wife said 'get out of the way, you are absolutely useless'. But I am hands-on with the other things, I like the clean bits. Like feeding them milk. A little bit of wind is lovely, I don't mind all that. I will cuddle them all night long, but when it comes to changing nappies, gah. No thanks. Leave it out."

Padding about in his jeans and Gucci loafers, he still moves lightly, with a boxer's grace, even if he does appear to be all torso, like a robin. He's amiable and chatty and good fun, and being surrounded by women for most of his life has put him uncommonly in touch with his feminine side. He has a lot of emotional intelligence, and can talk about how he feels with candour and sincerity.

"Yeah, I know," he says, "but it doesn't always go down a storm in the pub." But he just can't help himself. He's got it all worked out.

"If you play a thug when you are younger, they want you to play a thug for ever. I love being a thug, but I like being a lover, too," he says. "I like playing men who have got that little bit of feminine side about them. I can throw a table through a window like any one else, but I do like the emotional side of things."

Maybe he should play more romantic leads? He sparks up another cigarette and strokes his beard.

"The thing is, I've always loved playing romantic leads. Most of the stuff I do is love stories anyway. Even Nil By Mouth was a love story, you know. It might not have been that romantic, but it was about two people who really loved each other, but just didn't know how to tell one another. I love playing love stories. Its much better to kiss someone than to punch them, you know what I mean?"


'Vincent' starts on ITV1 next month

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Marky B

A National Treasure [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Fellwanderer

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]-->More of a rough diamond but I know what you mean.

I'd probably classify him as a National Treasure as well. A male one, that is - there are standards to be maintained you know [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]

All the best
FELL

A signature is no substitute for a life

samkydd

[quote name='Fellwanderer' date='Sep 21 2005, 10:45 AM' post='22057']
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marky B @ Sep 21 2005, 10:08 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
A National Treasure [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]
[/quote]
More of a rough diamond but I know what you mean.

I'd probably classify him as a National Treasure as well. A male one, that is - there are standards to be maintained you know [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rotfl.gif[/img]

FELL
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]
[/quote]
Has Jenny A got kids and stuff and a big mansion out in the sticks?

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

harryfielder

The boy did good, [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Aitch,

http://www.turnipnet.com/aitch/aitch/gallery.htm

Jim

No matter how many films I see RW in, I just can't 'take' to him. I think it's a memory thing from schooldays. He reminds me of the 'school bullies' I encountered in my youth (long ago)! I suppose I should try to rise above those feelings, but I find it difficult.

Good morning boys.

David Brent

I always used to think that Ray was only able to play working class, Jack the Lad, wife beating, tough guy. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pyth.gif[/img] types.
Then I saw him take on the role of Henry VIII for television and I realised what a top actor he really is.
He may not be subtle but he is realistic.

Dave.

samkydd

I know exactly what you mean. I was a little runt at school (no, not a misspelling it does start with an 'r') and it wasn't until I was 17 that I shot up in height to 6' 4" (which co-incided with my introduction to Guiness and I don't mean Sir Alec). This new found build and height gave me a lot more confidence, so much so that I was going to make a return to a school reunion and beat the crap out of the school bullies.

I never did of course, but strangely enough my son and his friends suffered as well at school from one particular bully who was in the fourth form when my son was a scraggy first year, but he didn't tell me any of this until recently, and consequently his first four years at school were miserable to say the least (the bully stayed on for A levels)!

After leaving school my nipper joined the Royal Marine Commandos, became proficient at boxing, karate and kick boxing and he actually went back to our old town when he was on leave to literally beat the living daylights out of this ex school bully. Unfortunately it turned out that the bully had died from a drugs overdose, which was a shame because he never got his rightful come uppance!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

Marky B

How does the saying go:"Bullying is a strength recognised only by the weak"!
Ta Ta
Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Jim

WOW!!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Good morning boys.

samkydd

I read some research on this many moons ago and looking at a few live cases it would appear that some bullies can often be the victims of bullying within their own environment ie. at home, by siblings or parents. Consequently they can only relieve the torment of being perpetually belittled and bullied by finding a suitable weaker person to bully outside the home.

Wife beaters can so often be people with very low self-esteem who hold a lowly position in employment and society, and are usually the type who does as the boss says no matter what, and then whinges to everyone else about being dumped on! They put up with humiliation at work and keep their frustrations bottled up. Consequently when they get home they can become The Boss, a bully and a tyrant to their own family and physical violence is often used to relieve their immediate frustration. The bully knows he will probably get away with it. Back in his workplace he's the same placid person as usual and wouldn't say boo to a goose!

Which reminds me of when my old man was a copper in the wilds of Norfolk. He was called out to a remote cottage because the husband had been beating up his wife and kids for the umpteenth time, and a neighbour reported it. It was the first time my old man had visited the place and he hated domestic violence. He took the bloke outside, a lowly farm labourer, beat ten bells of crap out of him and then gave him ten minutes to pack a bag and leave! The woman didn't want him charged or even to leave because it was a tide cottage and if the husband left she'd be evicted. But her husband was so scared he packed and left with my old man driving the police van behind him to make sure he quickened his pace until they were clear of the village.

My old man spoke to the farmer the next day, and he let the woman and kids stay on there until the council fixed them up with a place a few weeks later. The husband never returned home and everyone lived happily ever after. Now why can't policemen do that sort of thing anymore?

Harbottle

Never been able to take to Winstone at all an awful actor in my view, in fact I actually avoid watching anything he is in [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pyth.gif[/img] I put him in the same catagory as Robson Green, Jimmy Nail and a host of others [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/shocking.gif[/img]

ollie

Ive found his acting two dimensions short of three,he dosn't offend me like some [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] he gave a powerfull performance in nil by mouth(but well within his range),but imo his best performance so far was in Tim Roth's the Warzone,but he was blasted off the screen by, Lara Belmont,apparently picked off the street having never acted before ??

cheers Ollie.

"Bullseye !!"

Steve Crook