Russell Brand's Comedy Roles

by Helen Earnshaw | 18 April 2011

Arthur

In such a short space of time Russell Brand has gone from stand up comic to Hollywood a-lister and leading man.

This week he returns to the big screen with Arthur, a remake of the Dudley Moore classic, as he leads an all star cast of Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner and Greta Gerwig.

St Trinian’s (2007)

Brand took on the role of Flash Harry in the 2007 movie St Trinian’s - which was his first major film role.

St Trinian's, a school for "young ladies" with its anarchic doctrine of free expression, brings together a motley crew of ungovernable girls who, using their wit and ingenuity, save the school from bankruptcy.

It was the first St Trinian’s movie in nearly three decades and went on to become one of the top grossing British independent films of the past ten years.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

However it was the role of Aldous Snow in comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall that really put him on the acting ma as he teamed up with Kristen Bell and Jason Segel.

Devastated Peter takes a Hawaii vacation in order to deal with recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know Sarah's travelling to the same resort as her ex ... and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.

Brand received rave reviews for his performance as the outrageous rocker showing that he could more than hold his own on the big screen.

The movie went on to open at #2 at the U.S. box office and grossed over $105 million worldwide.

Bedtime Stories (2008)

Bedtimes Stories brought Brand another supporting role as he teamed up with Adam Sandler and Guy Pearce.

A family comedy about a hotel handyman whose life changes when the lavish bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew start to magically come true.

Despite poor reviews the movie opened at #3 at the U.S. box office in it’s first week of release and went on to gross in excess of $110 million worldwide.

Get Him To The Greek (2010)

2009 proved to be his big breakthrough year in terms of movies as he landed his first lead role in Get Him To The Greek, which saw him reprise the role of Aldous Snow.

A record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.'s Greek Theatre.

Directed by Nicholas Stoller and produce by Judd Apatow the movie opened at #1 at the UK box office but was edged out in the U.S by Shrek Forever After.

Despicable Me (2010)

He lent his voice to an animation movie at the end of last year with Despicable Me - in which he voiced the character of Dr. Nefario.

When a criminal mastermind uses a trio of orphan girls as pawns for a grand scheme, he finds their love is profoundly changing him for the better.

It is a great performance from Brand as he is almost unrecognisable as Dr. Nefario in this great family movie.

Despicable Me was one of the best performing animation movies at the box office last year going on to become the eighth biggest grossing movie of 2010.

Arthur (2011)

This week he is back in Arthur, which is directed by Jason Winer and features an all star cast.

Kind-hearted, fun-loving, and utterly without purpose, Arthur spends every day in the heedless pursuit of amusement.

But when his unpredictable public image threatens the staid reputation of the family foundation, Bach Worldwide, he is given an ultimatum: marry the beautiful but decidedly unlovable Susan Johnson (Jennifer Garner), an ambitious corporate exec who can keep him in line, or say goodbye to his billion-dollar inheritance and the only way of life he knows.

It’s a deal Arthur would be inclined to take - if he hadn’t just fallen for Naomi (Greta Gerwig), a New York City tour guide who shares his idealism and spontaneity.

The independent Naomi sees Arthur not only for who he is, but for who he could be, and finally gives him a reason to take charge of his own life.

All he needs to do is stand up for what he wants. But at what cost?

With some unconventional help from Hobson - the one person who always believed he could do anything - Arthur will take the most expensive risk of his life and learn what it means to become a man.