I think the first time I saw Bill Paterson was as Sandy opposite Alan Rickman and Juliet Stevenson in the amazing Truly Madly Deeply. That was way back in 1990 and he has been in so many great things since then. A few of his period pieces really stand out.
As Molly Gibson's father Dr. Gibson in Wives and Daughters, Bill Paterson stole many of our hearts. The ultimate firm but loving father, he and Justine Waddell absolutely transport me into their middle class Victorian home. Toasting cheese sandwiches by the fire is possibly my favourite scene between these two wonderful actors.
As another loving but firm father Rupert Potter in Miss Potter, Bill Paterson gets the tone just right again. And those mutton chop whiskers are hilarious. Great chemistry again here, this time with Renee Zellweger.
Well, here he is again in Victorian garb as Mr. Meagles in Little Dorrit. Not a huge role, but a significant one as the father of Pet Meagles, the romantic interest of Arthur Clennam. Always the father of a good looking and sometimes troublesome daughter?
Bill Paterson has also appeared in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Killing Fields, Amazing Grace, and Hard Times. Did I miss any of your fave Bill Paterson films?
I'm so glad you mentioned Baron Munchausen. Somewhere I read that when he got the red wig on for that role, "There was no stopping him!"
ReplyDeleteWhich still makes me laugh when I think of it.
Not a big deal but he had a 2 episode part in Dr. Who.
Funny, but while I didn't recognize his name, I definitely recognized his face from some of my all-time favorite movies. I think he was brilliant in W&D, and captured the patronizing, loving, but blind father that ends up causing himself and his daughter such needless grief because he doesn't trust her to do the right thing! I agree, the toasting cheese scene is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI've seen both Little Dorrit and Wives and Daughters :) I love them both, and I also love that wonderful toasting-cheese-scene that you mentioned!
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