Hello :)

I thought the following excerpts might be of interest. They're from recent interviews given by Russell Tovey (The History Boys) and both have a strong gay angle.

The one for Doctor Who Magazine mentions the possibility of a gay assistant. The Attitude interview actually refers to Tovey's real-life sexuality - he's gay - which will please fans of his stint in the BBC sitcom Annually Retentive (It was in this show that he pinged my gaydar - he brought a very 'real' quality to his role as a TV Producer whose homosexuality fascinates the quiz show host star of the show). I think it's very inspiring that a young actor like Tovey is open about his sexuality, especially as he's getting bigger and bigger roles and may have been advised not to be so open.

Here's an excerpt from the Attitude interview:

Russell Tovey is one of the UK’s most exciting up and coming actors. He tells Attitude about his new play, New York’s gay bars, jogging with Dustin Hoffman and his hairless arse.

His most famous role, as nice-bit-of-rough Rudge in The History Boys, would suggest Russell Tovey is something of a geezer. The 26-year-old actor certainly has the credentials: he’s from Essex, says things like ‘Awight’, arrives for the interview in minimal clothing despite the fact it’s bloody freezing outside and, from where I’m sitting, he’s in great shape. (The camera makes him look chunkier, plus he’s been hitting the gym lately.) But Russell turns out to be a soft-spoken, well-mannered, all-round-likeable lad who, while he doesn’t want the whole interview to be about the fact that – hurrah! – he’s gay, doesn’t shy away from the subject either. He’s a charmer and it’s easy to see why he’s in a steady relationship (dammit!) and also in constant demand as an actor. He’s been doing the thesping thing since he was in short pants and his CV including roles in His Dark Materials and Doctor Who amongst others. Next up: Edward Bond’s black comedy The Sea.

Did you get to sample the New York scene?

Yeah. I went to Splash. I’d heard all the stories about how amazing the scene was Pre-Aids but now it seems really tame. What I did like, though, was how there are gay bars and pubs everywhere rather than segregated into areas like Vauxhall and Old Compton Street.

You were in Doctor Who at Christmas. Did you get to meet Kylie?

Of course. She’s fabulous, really sweet. I like her but I’m not a massive, massive fan, so when I met her I wasn’t like all the queens around the room going ‘Oh My God!’ There was so much security on set. Everyone had to have wristbands, everything was cordoned off, she was covered up when she got out the car, but I don’t think that’s her. She seemed really normal and down to earth.

Do you have any dream roles?

I want to play really dark, fucked-up characters. I want to play characters like drag queens, rent boys, someone who has been abused, a rapist.

Are you dark and fucked-up yourself?

No. I think I’m alright, I think I’m a happy chappy.

Which acting job are you most proud of?

The History Boys, of course, and I’ve just done a pilot for a drama series called Being Human which is about a ghost, a werewolf and a vampire sharing a flat. I play the werewolf, although I’m not that hairy in real life. I had to buff up for the role because I spend the first few minutes fully naked. Well, I cover my balls, but you see my bum a lot. Is my bum hair? No. I have a nice bum, so I’ve been told. It’s very smooth and pert. Would I do full-frontal? Yeah, if it was right. I wouldn’t do it on, like, Eastenders but I don’t have any qualms about it.

Where would you draw the line artistically?

I wouldn’t do full sex in a film. I don’t see a need for it. The whole point of acting is showing the essence of it without actually doing it. You don’t need to see my penis entering an arsehole or a vagina.

Unless it was in Triga porn…

Yeah, but I don’t wanna do porn. Where’s the drama in that?

Next up, the Doctor Who Magazine interview:

What did you make of the script when you first read it?

I loved it. Russell T Davies’ writing is phenomenal. One of my favourite shows when I was younger was Bob and Rose…

It made me cry.

Yeah, it was incredible. It does that. And Lesley Sharp [who played Rose] is amazing. I thought, I want to be in something like that. Queer as Folk, too, was so on the edge, and so fresh, and groundbreaking. And Doctor Who is him. Russell is the reason it’s so successful. What’s nice is, after the read-through, he turned to me and said that he’d had me in mind when he was writing the part.

[Your character’s] one of the few characters that doesn’t die. Do you feel like you’re missing out?

No, cos it means that I can come back as a companion! [Grins] If Russell writes it, I’ll do it, no question. You don’t say no to a Russell T Davies script. Yeah, a gay companion. ‘Ooh, it’s big in here! Bigger on the inside innit? How about some curtains?

Perhaps what the tardis really needs is scatter cushions?

Oh God, definitely. I’d love to get my hands on the Tardis. This show has quite a gay following, doesn’t it? I told a couple of mates, who are gay, that I’m doing it – well, they went mad. When I said that it’s with Kylie, they exploded! It’s a double-whammy of gay. Do you think there’ll be a Kylie action figure? Or what about a Midshipman Frame one?

With a removable jacket for when he gets too hot?

No, the whole lot should come off! Removable clothes. I’m aiming for the gay market.