Much is said about the many musicians that live in Brighton, but there’s also more than our fair share of acting talent too. Skins star Dakota Blue Richards, the Pauline Fowler-killing Ray Brooks, and 90s superstar Patrick Bergin all make the journey from BN1 to LAX or Elstree on a regular basis. So, to welcome Cinecity back, here are some of the best characters portrayed by our finest actors.
Danny The Dealer (Ralph Brown)
Picking just one standout role from Ralph Brown’s career of cult figures ain’t easy. Twist our arms and we’d go for the spliff-toking bleakness of his immortal Danny, the drug dealer in Withnail And I. When Danny came into the lives of Withnail and Marwood (aka ‘I’) he was probably a lot of fun, loaded with interesting drugs. But the party that was the 60s is over and the day is rising on the 70s, and those people get very freaky as the windows poison the vibe with sunlight. Danny is frightening and funny in equal measure: “If I medicine you, you’d think a brain tumour was a birthday present.” Ralph Brown wanted the role so badly he turned up to the audition dressed as the outrageous dealer, making the role his own. (JK)
Super Hans (Matt King)
Since his first appearance in the very first Peep Show, Super Hans has succeeded in re-imagining the role of the friend you love to have but only on the periphery of your social family. Matt King’s journey couldn’t be further from that of his drag dandy alter ego. Formerly an Australia-based chef, he encountered comedian Jimeoin who convinced the ex-pat to shift his occupational focus. 15 years later he arrived as the Peep Show chum you’d never bring home to mum, although he’s very more-ish. (LN)
Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan)
You know a character is fully realised when you hear them in others. Twitter’s @AccidentalPartridge takes quotes from other people and instantly they appear in Alan’s mouth. Narcissistic, patronising and superficial – there’s plenty to hate about North Norfolk’s premier digital DJ, but despite his own lack of empathy you can’t quite hate him. The loneliness shown in his Travelodge-dwelling I’m Alan Partridge series has left real pathos around the character. Bringing him back was risky, but it’s paid off. (JK)
Ben from I’m Alan Partridge (James Lance)
Steve Coogan might win the Partridge bingo around Brighton, but James Lance was the whippersnapper everyone’s favourite failed broadcaster wanted to be back in series 1 of I’m Alan Partridge. Operating out of the Linton Travel Tavern, his bellboy Ben piqued Partridge’s jealousy by making it quite clear he was having it off with fellow staff member Sophie (Sally Phillips), slyly mocking Alan with a series of gently spiteful asides for good measure. Often spotted around Seven Dials looking cool and handsome. (BM)
Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter (Mark Williams)
Red Dwarf, The Fast Show… oh, and he’s the head honcho of the greatest ginger wizarding family on the big screen. If anyone’s truly worthy of being described as local royalty in Brighton then it’s Mark Williams. With his most famous role of the simple witted yet ultra-personable Mr Weasley, Williams solidified himself as the quintessential ‘actor’s actor’. Ron’s dad is also that rare thespian who doesn’t mind a chat with the peasantry regularly frequenting local pubs and bars. (LN)
Dick Roswell from Almost Famous (Noah Taylor)
Brilliant in everything we’ve seen him in – Submarine, The Life Aquatic, and most recently Game Of Thrones – we first fell for Brighton’s most regular visitor to Hollywood in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Noah’s portrayal of a band manager out of his depth, trying to manage the egos of his rising stars is beautifully understated. When he’s demoted for a flashy replacement we almost cried. No one loves Stillwater more than Dick does (enough to set them free) and it shows. (JK)
The Daleks (Roy Skelton)
Painting the whole world with his colourful dulcets, Roy Skelton’s voice acting reddened generations of children’s cheeks with laughter for over 20 years as the voices of Rainbow’s playful puppet-pals, George and Zippy. Roy can also be held responsible for browning just as many pairs of pyjamas, having terrified the adolescent populace as the voice of Doctor Who’s Cybermen and those pepperpots of hate The Daleks between 1967 and 1988. Roy’s very definitely earned his hall-of-cult-television-fame membership card. (KCB)
Mr Benn (Ray Brooks)
Softly spoken gent Ray Brooks is probably best known as the voice of perennial kids’ favourite Mr Benn but his 50-year career stretches back to the early days of Coronation Street. High profile parts in 60s classics The Knack and Cathy Come Home led to work in cult series The Avengers and Danger Man and the second Doctor Who film. After success in the 80s with Big Deal, he returned to soapland to murder Pauline Fowler and has recently published his autobiography. (SC)
Patrick Nice from The Fast Show (Mark Williams)
“…And our eldest son, Alexander won the Nobel Chemistry Prize, so we all went over to Stockholm for the presentation and REM did an impromptu concert… Which was nice.” In the mid-90s, the sketch show was still king, and arguably the finest was The Fast Show. Amongst the throng of characters, Brighton-resident Williams was one of the best. During the course of the series he found a cure for cancer, had a hospital named after him, saw a hobgoblin, found an original copy of the bible, gave Stevie Nicks a lift on a tractor and won six million on the lottery. All of which were nice. (EI)
Lyra Belacqua from The Golden Compass (Dakota Blue Richards)
The Golden Compass may have divided critical opinion but if we’re including a ‘one to watch’ in this category then Richards is the natural choice. It served as the springboard for this Brighton student’s professional trajectory, followed by an obligatory stint in angst-riddled teen soap Skins. Holding her own against Juliet Stevenson in drama Dustbin Baby confirmed her acting chops are more than mere child’s play. Reminiscent of a 90s Winona Ryder but with an underlying British style, Richards’ future appears well and truly on-point. (LN)
Words by Kerensa Creswell-Bryant, Steve Clements, James Kendall, Ed Isaacs, Ben Miller and Luke Nicholson
