Simon Russell Beale 'good guy' casting rumour...

dickiebart

CommanderBond.net has a snippet report on some possible casting on Bond 23. Allegedly Simon Russell Beale is to play an ally to Bond. The report suggests he could take over as M, Q or a Mathis style character. I haven't heard much about Simon, but Wikipedia says he is described as "the greatest stage actor of his generation". He was also in Spooks.

Anyone know much of his work?

blueman

Not M or Q please, but a Mathis-type ally sounds great.

darenhat

I don't know anything about him as a far as acting goes...but if it's true, I'd think he'd make an outstanding M as far as appearance goes. Kinda has a Bernard Lee thing going for him.

The fact that he and Sam Mendes are already acquainted adds some believability to the rumour:

HowardB

Now that Bond 23 seems to be back on track I'm sure we'll be hearing more and more casting and plot rumours...always good fodder for conversation on AJB. Simon Russell sure looks like he could play some sort of charactor in a Bond film. Reminds me a little of Robbie Coltrane. Is it just me or in the pre-Dalton Bond films the British or European supporting cast members were all fine actors and with the exception of Joseph Wiseman and Jack Lord the American actors all grade "D" hacks?

Loeffelholz

darenhat wrote:

I don't know anything about him as a far as acting goes...but if it's true, I'd think he'd make an outstanding M as far as appearance goes. Kinda has a Bernard Lee thing going for him.

The fact that he and Sam Mendes are already acquainted adds some believability to the rumour:

I'm with you, DH. Don't know a thing about him...but he looks like the sort of 'everyman' who generally makes a serviceable character actor.

jetsetwilly

I hate to be pedantic, but his full name is Simon Russell Beale, not Simon Russell. He's considered the finest stage actor working in the UK today, and he very rarely moves outside the theatre - getting him for Bond 23 would be something of a coup.

Thunderbird 2

jetsetwilly wrote:

He's considered the finest stage actor working in the UK today, and he very rarely moves outside the theatre - getting him for Bond 23 would be something of a coup.

Good point - though someone would have once said the same about Ian McDiarmid and Sir Patrick Stewart!

Loeffelholz

jetsetwilly wrote:

I hate to be pedantic, but his full name is Simon Russell Beale, not Simon Russell. He's considered the finest stage actor working in the UK today, and he very rarely moves outside the theatre - getting him for Bond 23 would be something of a coup.

He ought to be the villain, then B-) They're way overdue to put a mature (clearly older than Bond) classically-trained actor in the role of the main baddie, IMO.

Loeffelholz

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

jetsetwilly wrote:

He's considered the finest stage actor working in the UK today, and he very rarely moves outside the theatre - getting him for Bond 23 would be something of a coup.

Good point - though someone would have once said the same about Ian McDiarmid and Sir Patrick Stewart!

I'd take either of them, as well! -{

TonyDP

I'm not familiar with the gentleman's work but between that scarf and the black outfit, he looks like he just stepped off the set of The Prisoner.

"Who are you?"
"The new Number 2"
"What do you want?"
"Information. We want in...for...mation"

dickiebart

jetsetwilly wrote:

I hate to be pedantic, but his full name is Simon Russell Beale, not Simon Russell. He's considered the finest stage actor working in the UK today, and he very rarely moves outside the theatre - getting him for Bond 23 would be something of a coup.

Sorry. Fixed! I got excited as it was the first tidbit regarding Bond 23 in ages, that I didn't check my facts.