Ian McKellan
Have you ever wondered how some of the biggest names in British film like Ian McKellan and Noel Clarke got into acting? Well it seems that Filmclub have been asking that very question.
Filmclub, the free nationwide after-school films club, has launched a special ‘Journeys’ season of films.
They asked leading celebrities to name the film that inspired them on their career journey
Sir Ian McKellen: ‘I would say I was more into theatre as a child, however there are some great film’s out at the moment like Un Prophet which inspire my work and journey forward in this industry’
Nicholas Hoult: "I always thought Steve McQueen was a really cool guy and great actor. As a child, I loved What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. This is one of the first film’s that made me want to pursue acting as a career."
Sarah Harding: "God I love film, full stop. I watched about four films yesterday. The one that inspired me...oh please let me choose more than one. I love all the old stuff.
"Sorry I’ve got to have more than one. Breakfast Club because it’s cheeky and fun and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off with Mathew Broderick because everyone wants to think they would - if they could - skive of school for one day with a Ferrari and have the time of their lives."
Tamsin Greig: "Films that inspired my journey include Matter of Life and Death and Grease. I once watched Grease seven times in a week! I also became fascinated with Betty Blue - the love story broke my heart."
Noel Clarke: "I’ve always wanted to act since I was a kid, I had always wanted to do that. In terms of writing that came out of necessity. I started writing because I felt I wasn’t doing enough acting.
"But director wise, I knew I wanted to make films when I saw films in about 1993/94. I saw Clerks, Pulp Fiction, Kids and Go. And those four films, plus Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee was a bit before that, those five films made me go ‘Oh right, I want to make films as well’ And after that I was like, ‘Right, I’m gonna make films’."
Sinitta: "Musicals, musicals, musicals. I loved all those huge MGM movies: the Busby Berkeley extravaganzas, those dancing films with Cyd Charisse, Fred Astaire.
"But if had to go for just one it would be Fame: I always knew that one day I would be Coco. And I know what Simon would chose - he’d want to be Tony in Saturday Night Fever."
Aaron Johnson: "Pulp Fiction. It wasn’t the violence: it was the vibe, it was great actors, it was a great film. It was creative and Tarantino is a brilliant director. It was overall a great movie."
Filmclub has access to a diverse catalogue of movies in 21 different languages and actively encourages members to watch a wide variety of films from Hollywood and British blockbusters to foreign language films, black and white classics to thought-provoking documentaries.
Tagged in Sir Ian McKellen Noel Clarke