Timothy Spall’s latest film, Reuniting the Rubins, is released across UK cinemas this Friday 21st October. To celebrate its release we take a look at the Spall’s career to date, from Hollywood blockbusters to small independent British films.
- Reuniting The Rubins, 2011
In Reuniting The Rubins, Timothy Spall plays an up-tight lawyer who has to put his dream retirement on hold when his ailing mother (Honor Blackman) emotionally blackmails him into reuniting his estranged children for a Jewish holiday.
They might not see eye to eye, quarrel, fight, but they are still family and it is going to take a whole lot of soul searching and sacrifice for all involved to come together in this heart warming, family comedy.
Harry Potter Series, 2004- 2010
In 5 out of the 7 blockbuster movies, Spall played the role of Peter Pettigrew or Wormtail . Pettigrew is responsible for betraying his old school friend James Potter to Voldemort but by transforming himself into a rat, he remains in hiding as Scabbers, Ron Weasley’s cherished pet, until he is discovered in third film.
- The King’s Speech, 2010
Award-winning film telling the story of King George VI’s sudden ascent to the throne and struggle with his stutter.
Spall played a gruff bulldoggish Winston Churchill (a role he has also played in Jackboots on Whitehall, 2010) for which he was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
-The Damned United, 2009
Film about football manager Brian Clough’s 44 fateful days in charge of Leeds United in 1974 following his success with Derby County. Spall played Cloughs trusted assistant Peter Taylor.
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, 2007
In the Burton/Depp version of the 19th century legend and Broadway musical about the vengeful barber Spall played Beadle Bamford, the evil flunky of crooked Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman.)
- Enchanted, 2007
Spall played Nathaniel in Disney’s parody of an animated fairytale princess who gets trapped in the real world.
A servant to the evil Queen Narissa, he changes allegiance when the Queen ‘s true character is revealed to him. Spall played the part of Nathaniel both in live action and in animation.
- Pierrepoint, 2005
Spall played the title role in biopic of Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s most prolific hangman, known as the ‘Avenging Angel.’ Spall’s performance was hailed as a triumph.
- The Last Samurai, 2003
Tom Cruise, an American military advisor is captured by his Samurai opponents and changes allegiance.
Spall played Simon Graham, Cruise’s interpreter, a role for which he had to learn Japanese. Thanks to his beautiful voice Spall served as narrator and appeared throughout the film for emotional effect.
- Vanilla Sky, 2001
In this provocative fantasy Spall’s cameo Thomas Tipp, Tom Cruise’s loyal business associate who warns the playboy publisher that his job is in jeopardy. The first of two films with Cruise in leading role.
- Still Crazy, 1998
The comic tale of the reunion of retired seventies rock band, Strange Fruit. Once wild, legendary rock gods, now a condom vendor, roofer, gardener and a hotel clerk. Spall played drummer (gone fat) David ‘Beano’ Baggot.
- Secrets and Lies, 1996
Mike Leigh’s family drama centred on the mid-life crisis of Cynthia Purley (Brenda Blethyn) and the return of the daughter she gave away at birth. Spall played Maurice Purley who lends his sister sporadic moral support whilst slowly being beaten down by his demanding wife.
Reuniting The Rubins is in selected cinemas from Ocober 21st
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