LM - Underrated British Actresses

OK, part 2 of this set of lists. Might move on to other countries, but we'll see!

Anyway, so if you didn't read last weeks blog, these are the actresses that are never remembered or don't get the credit that they deserve. So diving right in with no. 7!

7.Rebecca Hall

This girl has one impressive list of film credits, including the Prestige, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and most recently the Town. But would you remember her name? I doubt it. She is one of those actors that her face you will recognise, but say her name and you will blank stares all around.

6.Olivia Colman

A skilled actress being able to be comic and yet also able to give some seriously chilling performances. Probably most famous for her roles on both Peep Show and Green Wing, Olivia Colman turns up everywhere from films Hot Fuzz and Confetti, and tv shows like Black Books, the Office and Beautiful People. But one of her stand out performances would have to be her cameo in Doctor Who, where she is so minimal and eerie. Definitely one of her bests.

5. Eleanor Bron

 Wow. What a legend, and what a career! From appearing in films like Help! and Bedazzled with co-stars like the Beatles and Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, (her name even inspired Paul McCartney) she hasn't kept the attention that she deserves. An amazing actress with the ability to switch effortlessly between drama and comedy who needs to come back to the limelight! 

4. Kelly Macdonald

Another actress whose name manages to escape people. And I cannot think why. Probably her most well known film would have to be Trainspotting, and from there she ahs moved on to bigger and better things. Sort of like Rebecca Hall in the unfortunate way she isn't remembered, she gets higher billing mainly for the fact that she can do anything you throw at her. Want proof? Check out her performances in No Counrty For Old Men and State of Play. Two of her finest.

3. Victoria Wood

Possibly my favourite comedian of all time, and also a very talented actress in her own right. Victoria Wood is probably more well known in Britain that she is here and most famous for her comedy series with the also very talented Julie Walters, her serious side came out suddenly in Housewife 49, with amazing results.

2. Liz Smith

 At age 89, this fabulous actress is still going. Most well known for her wonderfully batty role on the Vicar of Dibley, Liz Smith got her first big break at age 50 in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments, and since has just kept on doing what she loves best. Turning up in such films as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Keeping Mum and the City of Ember, and almost stealing the show every time.

1. Joan Sims

I know it's weird to finish the list with someone who is most well known for her roles in the Carry On films, and not much else. In her time, Joan Sims was one of the best comic actors of her day, guest starring in many famous British TV shows. But this is a bitter sweet tale. Sims stated in her biography that she was always getting typecast, and suffered from depression. She died in 2001 from liver failure, but left an amazing collection of characters and should be one that is remembered.

So that's it for this week, and I will be the first to say how hard it was. Next time I think I will try and move on to some other medium... maybe music....

LM - Underrated British Actors

Well, here we are with the second of my pretty random posts. This time, if you didn't tell from the title, it's all about those actors and actresses who never get the credit or attention they deserve. I live in an old fashioned kind of world, hence why I still say actress. Also, I find that whenever someone says actor, I think male actors.

So, anyway, I had to restrict this to the British Isles, since otherwise the list would go on for ages. Also, this is also from the perspective of living in Australia, so most likely they are more well known in they're own coutry. Or at least one would hope so!

So without further ado, lets carry on!

7 Underrated Actors:

7. The Entire Cast of Dad's Army

Ok, not really one actor, but since all the mains are men, and since the only other people I know who's heard of this show are either related to me or were alive when it was on, I'm going to put it on here.
This show is incredible! The cast is so good, you cannot imagine anyone else playing the parts here. I'm going to have to highlight Clive Dunn, who plays Lance Corporal Jones, as being one of the best slapstick actors ever. Also for being able to play a 70 yr old when he was only 49. If you get a chance, have a look at this show, because the characterisation can never be beaten.

6. Marc Warren

OK, this dude is fairly well known in the UK, and I'm sure he is in Australia, but whenever I mention him, I always have to give an example of what he's been in, and every time the only thing down under that people remember him from is that Doctor Who episode. And he's been in so much more!!!
From a laid back con artist in Hustle, to a down right creepy Marilyn Monroe impression in Hogfather, this dude has probably done it all. But good is that when no one here knows!

5. Paterson Joseph

This guy pops up all over the place, from the suave and charismatic Marquis de Carabas in Neverwhere, to the selfish game contestant on Doctor Who. Whatever role he plays, he is completely different, and you can see him putting his all into it.
The reason he's on the list is because he doesn't get the attention he deserves, and I speak from experience when I say that no one knows who he is. This dude definitely needs some more attention from everyone out there. And to not be known just as Lyndon from Green Wing.

4. Kenneth Williams

For those who have seen a Carry On film, you will instantly know who this is. But for a lot of people, this fabulous talent has never been seen. Kenneth Williams was at the heart of the Carry On films, with the most recognisible reactions and nostril flares, perfect comic timing and ability not only to play completely daft characters, but also serious ones.
He is on this list mainly because I reckon people need to re-discover him, and his amazing abilities. He is, to me at least, among some of the great British comedians, like Peter Cook, Rowan Atkinson and Arthur Lowe. He will be missed.

3. Matt King

Matt King is one of those actors who pops up all over the place. His most famous role is probably as drug addicted Super Hans from Peep Show, but also has an extensive resume of films, theater and tv shows.
I put him on because he doesn't get the credit he deserves. He co-wrote and came up with the idea for the Alan Davies TV show Whites, he is currently starring in Spirited alongside Claudia Karvan, and has appeared in such films as Inkheart, Rocknrolla and Malice in Wonderland. But do you know who he is? I haven't a clue, but I'm not very hopeful. This dude deserves more recognition than he gets.

2. Jack Wild

"Hey! Isn't that the Artful Dodger from Oliver?" I hear you ask. And yes it is, and that is also the reason he appears on this list. Though he was a big star in his day, and one of the youngest people to get nominated for an Oscar, he is only known for one film and the Pufnstuf series.
Even though he wasn't in that many films, he did quite a few, most of which have disappeared into the anals of filmic history. you can find copies of Melody on Amazon and The Fourteen is available on youtube, any of his other films have vanished, and it would be awesome if they could be brought back again.


And now it's time for the final person! After all the ones before I bet you're dying to know who this will be, unless you got bored earlier on and stopped reading. But enough chatter. Time for no. 1!



1. Huw Rhys

Yep, you read correctly. Huw Rhys. This guy is so unknown that he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. And don't try looking him up youtube either. While possibly more famous in Wales, he made a name for himself in the English mystery show, The Gil Mayo Mysteries or just Mayo (depending on which hemisphere). He has also appeared from time to time in bit parts on various TV shows such as Doctor Who and Spooks, but no one really knows who he is. And he is pretty awesome!

Anyway, the girls will have to wait another day or 2. I didn't this was going to be so long. I hope you enjoy, and please keep reading.

Greetings and welcome

Hello people everywhere! Though I doubt many people will actually view this blog, I'm going to try and stick with it anyway.

So, I live in a world of lists. What films I like, what books I have to read, even what homework I have to do. And I would like to share some of these lists with all the world. This will probably end up very opinion based, but I don't really care. I'm mainly focusing on books, films and music, though I may branch off into other things like TV. Yep, I sure love my media.

So to get started, I thought I'd share some of my five favourite things, i.e books, films, albums and tv shows, and also, because I can, directors. So lets get started with books.

(Btw, these are my opnions. I don't really care if you think I'm insane for liking one thing and not liking another. It's just an opinion!! Also, I'm not going to go into detail as to why I like what I like. If people actually want that, then I can do it later. But right now, this is sort of just to get to know me.)

Books:
5. Soul Music by Terry Pratchett
4. Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
3. 1984 by George Orwell
2. Peter Pan by J.M Barrie
1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham

I never realised how many kids books I like! Anway, moving right along...

Films:
5. The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985, dir. Woody Allen)
4. Singin' in the Rain (1952, dir. Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen)
3. The Blues Brothers (1980, dir. John Landis)
2. Corpse Bride (2005, dir. Tim Burton and Mike Johnson)
1. Harold and Maude (1971, dir. Hal Ashby)

So, yeah, that's that! Now for ...

Albums:
5. Strike! - The Baseballs (2009)
4. Made of Bricks - Kate Nash (2007)
3. Americana Deluxe - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (1998)
2. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day (2009)
1. Help! - The Beatles (1965)

Again, I would like to stress this is an opinion. I don't really want to get replies asking why I picked one album or film or whatever over another.

TV Shows:
5. Pushing Daisies
4. Firefly
3. Dad's Army
2. Blackadder
1. Black Books

And finally (god, I didn't know this would take so long!)

Directors:
5. Terry Gilliam
4. Jean-Pierre Jeunet
3. Alfred Hitchcock
2. Billy Wilder
1. John Landis

For those Burton fans out there, he came in at no.6, just in case you were wondering.


So, that's it for this weeks blog. Hopefully I can get around to doing this at least once a week, but what with yr 12 being a complete bitch, we'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for reading if you do, live long and prosper! TTFN