Dominic Cooper In The Devil's Double
This year sees Dominic Cooper mark his tenth year as an actor, he kicked off his career in The Gentleman Thief back in 2001, and it looks set to be a very successful one.
We have already seen him take on the role of Howard Stark in Captain America: The First Avenger but he is set to return this week in The Devil's Double.
The movie promises to be his most challenging yet as he plays Uday Hussein and Latif, the man hired as his double.
To celebrate the release of the movie we take a look back over some of Cooper's must see films.
- The History Boys
It would be Alan Bennett's The History Boys that would propel Cooper to stardom when he landed the role of Dakin for the National Theatre production, which went on tour in Hong Kong, Wellington and Sydney.
In 2006 the stage show was adapted by Alan Bennett for the big screen featuring all of the original stage cast, including Cooper.
The British film was met well by the critics and was nominated for the 2007 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film as well as launching the film career of Cooper.
Directed by Nicholas Hytner the movie is an entertaining and faithful version of Bennett's well known play. It's sharply written and is witty, funny and moving.
- Mamma Mia
In summer 2008 the young actor enjoyed major success as part of Mamma Mia's ensemble cast that includes Meryl Streep and former 007 Pierce Brosnan.
Streep headed the cast as single mother Donna Sheridan. Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard play the three potential fathers to Donna's daughter Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) who is about to marry Sky (Cooper).
Despite receiving mixed reviews from the critics the film has enjoyed major box office success this summer sand took in excess of $609 million worldwide, not bad going for a musical.
Mamma Mia has been Cooper's biggest box office hit to date in what was a highly entertaining movie - despite some of the mixed reviews.
- The Duchess
He then moved from the musical to the period drama as he teamed up with Keira Knightley for The Duchess - a movie that should have received far more acclaim than it actually did.
The movie saw Cooper take on the role of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey who embarked on an ill-fated affair with Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.
The Duchess tells the engrossing tale of Georgiana, a woman before her time, as he battles against all that life that throws at her.
It's a great relationship between Georgiana and Charles and both Cooper and Knightley believe great and heartbreaking performances.
- Tamara Drewe
Cooper turned to comedy last year with Tamara Drewe, which saw Gemma Arterton star in the title role, in what was a Stephen Frears directed movie.
Cooper took on the eye liner wearing rocker Ben who pursues Tamara as she returns back to her home town.
The movie premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2010 and went on to score missed reviews with the critics when it was released.
- Captain America: The First Avenger
Cooper has already appeared on out screens this summer as Howard Stark, yes we finally get to take a look at Iron Man's dad, in Captain America: The First Avenger.
Stark is a suave and sophisticated fellow and Cooper plays him perfectly and has some great little scenes with Chris Evans.
The movie has already topped the U.S. box office and has so far grossed in excess of $246 million at the global box office.
Captain America: The First Avenger has a little bit of everything action, adventure humour, charismatic lead, great villain, strong woman, and a little hint of romance; though I am glad to say that it’s not too in your face, and all this adds up to a great ride.
- The Devil's Double
Baghdad 1987, Latif is taken to see his former schoolmate Uday, eldest son to Saddam Hussein. Latif is told that a great honour had been bestowed upon him: because of the great likeness between them, he has been chosen to be Uday's ‘fiday’ - his body double.
Trapped, tortured and fearful for the safety of his family Latif has no choice but to comply.
A chilling vision of the House of Saddam Hussein comes to life as Latif is forced to become part of Uday’s world, witness to the horror of his insane life of debauchery, excess and brutality.
A world entrenched in betrayal and corruption and an experience for which he almost pays with his life on more than one occasion.
The Devil's Double is released 10th August
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Dominic Cooper