|
|
 |
Dean Lennox Kelly guest-stars - Radio Times, April 2007 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Nick Griffiths finds out about the actor's unexpectedly modern portrayal of the Bard.
"William Shakespeare was the last
person I expected to play," says [Dean Lennox] Kelly.
"It wasn't on my little list of things
I want to do as an actor, but it was
a lovely surprise."
Kelly (who played barman Kev in
Shameless) takes the guest-star role
in The Shakespeare Code - the second
episode of Doctor Who's new series -
involving a trip to the Globe Theatre,
witches and the end of the world.
It's a different Shakespeare from
the one you might expect.
"They didn't want the normal
portrayal," says Kelly. "They wanted him
to be - and this isn't bigging myself
up - a 16th-century rock star. The
director would say to me: 'Think
Liam Gallagher, but you're a lyrical
genius.' Looking at the [famous]
image of Shakespeare, you wouldn't
think that," notes Kelly. "It's not
done him any justice. He could have
got a better head shot.
"When I was telling my mates
I was playing him, they went, 'Are
you having a bald head?' No I'm not!
They would have cast Max Wall if
they'd wanted that."
Snaring the Globe - the rebuilt
version of the 16th-century original
to which Shakespeare belonged, but
which was destroyed by fire in 1613 -
for the filming was a major coup.
Doctor Who is the first TV drama to
be allowed inside. "It's a beautiful
spot," says Kelly. "But when I got on
stage it was 3 o'clock in the morning,
on a night shoot - it was quite
overwhelming. I felt quite vulnerable.
"It was almost scary for a while.
Especially with David Tennant's
energy as the Doctor. One thing
I thought was: 'What do I do with
my body?' I'm a modern person!"
So what did he do? "I just went
slightly camp, slightly Johnny Depp
in Pirates of the Caribbean, a bit of
Liam Gallagher, a bit of Kev from
Shameless, a bit of me, a bit of
eyeliner - there you go!
"For a whole load of kids, their
vision of Shakespeare is gonna be
me, prancing about. I could inspire
a generation of Shakespeare lovers.
Or not. But that's going to be great -
imagine me being in a shop and
a little kid comes up and goes,
'Excuse me, Mr Shakespeare!'"
**
Now take a look at our full Doctor Who guide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EMAIL A FRIEND |
|
| Want to share this page with a friend? It's quick and easy! |
| Email a friend |
|
|
|
|
|
