Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (July 18, 2008)

CHECKING IN WITH THE HISTORY BOYS
Hey History Boys fans! Dominic Cooper, the actor who so memorably played “Dakin” in the 2006 film, shows up this week in Mamma Mia! looking fabulous in a Speedo. This got me to wondering: whatever happened to the rest of the cast?

Okay, to be perfectly honest it got Brian Juergens to wondering – and me to totally stealing his idea. Sorry, Brian!

Anyhoo. Curious what the boys of The History Boys are up to? Here’s a rundown...

L to r: Russell Tovey, Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Andrew Knott,
Dominic Cooper, Samuel Barnett, Jamie Parker, Sacha Dawan

Russell Tovey (“Rudge”)

Tovey came out publicly in a 2007 article with UK’s Attitude magazine and has been working steadily in British television since then. His highest profile role this side of the pond was a guest turn on last year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. The jug-eared actor clearly has an ardent fan base. So ardent, he wound up at number 94 on this year's Hot 100.

Samuel Anderson (“Crowther”). Anderson now plays police officer Ross Kirk on the long running UK soap Emmerdale. He’s also made some guest appearances on the BBC comedys Stuck and Gavin & Stacey.

 

James Corden ("Timms”). Corden is the co-creator and star of the BAFTA award winning BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey. NBC has ordered a pilot for an American version of the show. If it gets picked up. Corden will act as executive producer. He made the news a few months ago for planting an unexpected big wet kiss on Daniel Radcliffe at an awards ceremony. He also recently spoofed David Beckham’s famous Armani underwear ad. Lord bless him!

Andrew Knott (“Lockwood”) has appeared on the BBC Drama Drop Dead Gorgeous and starred in the 2007 horror film, The Sick House. He'll play a young MI-5 agent in the upcoming BBC spy series, Spooks: Code 9.

 

 

Dominic Cooper (“Dakin”). Of all The History Boy alums, it seems like Cooper has been the busiest. He starred in the movie The Escapist, can currently be seen in Mamma Mia!, and has no less than four movie projects in post-production.

Cooper in Mamma Mia!

Cooper has been working out of late and boasts an impressively muscular body in Mamma Mia. He says he was prompted to get in shape by the thought that he’d spend the year shooting this film in a skimpy bathing suit. But don’t be too impressed at his appearance. He admits those Speedos were padded a bit!

Samuel Barnett “Posner” Barnett plays Thomas Addams in HBO mini-series John Addams

Jamie Parker “Scripps” can be seen in the upcoming Tom Cruise film, Valkyrie.

Sacha Dawan “Akhtar” will be starring in the upcoming horror film, Splintered.

Left to right: Barnett, Parker, Dawan

All in all these guys are doing pretty well for themselves!

Next page! Kathy Griffin's back hair.