Like many people, I first became aware of what a massive talent Brian Cox was when I saw him in 1987’s Manhunter, Michael Mann’s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon. Although only on screen for about 10 minutes, Cox stole the entire film. While poor distribution means his role in the film is less well-remembered than Anthony Hopkins in Jonathan Demme’s Silence of the Lambs four years later, the film paved the way for a hugely successful career as a supporting actor in Hollywood.
Not that success seems to have changed him. Having cut his teeth as a gofer in Dundee Rep in the early-60s and gone on to master not only stage, but also TV and film, Cox is about as far from being a “luvvie” as an actor can get.
He sets out his stall at the very start of the book with a hilarious deconstruction of the grotesquely inflated ego that is Steven Seagal and takes in equally astute dismissals of the likes of Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino. His anecdote about friendly rival Michael Gambon’s habit of plastering his dressing rooms with autographed photos of Robert De Niro he’d signed and sent to himself is a classic. As is his retelling of Gambon’s taking Terrence Rigby up in his private plane to cure him of his fear of flying only to pretend he had a massive coronary in mid-flight.
It’s not all score settling, though. Those who come in for especial praise include long-time friend and mentor, the late Fulton McKay of Porridge fame, Alan Rickman and Lindsey Anderson. The latter’s unforgettable 1970s recommendation “don’t just do something, stand there!” is a lesson that Cox says has served him well throughout a career that now stretches to 234 credits on IMDb.
Having reached the ripe old age of 75, Cox now finds himself beloved by millions of TV viewers across the UK for a two-word catchphrase that has competitors trembling – “Vur-gin Me-di-yah!” he shouts about a million times nightly from my TV. Anyone disagreeing with Cox’s razor sharp insights into the various facets of acting and the entertainment business in general might be well inclined to take the equally pithy two word advice of a rather less well known Cox creation and “fuck off”.
I’d like to retire to read this in the extension….
PS. shouldn’t this be in Reads…?
Does it cover much about his time in D’Ream ?
His missus will be here if you’re not careful.
The Craig David fan? Her beau’s a Lecter.
FUCK OFF! With all due respect, of course…
To be honest, the takedowns I’ve heard about seem a bit mean-spirited. He even has a pop at the Dame’s thespian credentials, based on a brief encounter in the mid-60s. Seems rather strange to bring that up, I think 🤔
Included reads, nights in and forum – must have listed it wrong
He had the temerity to slag Bowie off?!?!?! Ordered!
And in volume 2, the no-hits-Clash get a hoofing in the sweetbreads, too.
The young BC is as close to a perfect John Rebus as I could imagine. Certainly miles better than fekkin John Hannah or Ken Stott.
Agreed. In fairness to JH, he always maintains that he knew he was too young to play JR and only took the role because he co-owned the rights and the show wouldn’t have got made without him. Fine actor though he is, we’ve all seen KS play grizzled seen-it-all-before cops way too often
Have to say I thought Ken did a rather fine job.
On a tangent, here is Stefan Grossman to tell us what happened to the rabbit.
Speaking of whom, I stumbled across this recently –
https://i2.wp.com/metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/briannnn-509b.png
It always takes me a few seconds to figure out which one we’re talking about.