Peter Capaldi- Actor of the Week

Peter Capaldi as the new and very well dressed Dr. Who

Peter Capaldi is getting lots of attention lately as the new Dr. Who. But many of us have known about this fabulous actor for years now. First, I have to point out his wonderful recurring role in The Vicar of Dibley as Tristan Campbell, a love interest for our lady Vicar.

Peter Capaldi with Dawn French in The Vicar of Dibley

Not only does he feature as the handsome floppy haired producer in the Songs of Praise episode, he comes back in another episode to ask Geraldine to marry him! Heart stopping, until it is revealed that...(spoiler removed- go and seek out this episode now!)

Peter Capaldi with Lindsay Duncan in The History of Tom Jones

If there has ever been any doubt about Peter Capaldi as a comic actor, one only has to point to his very camp portrayal of the effete Lord Fellamar in The History of Tom Jones. His final scene after a run in with a pistol puts a smile on my face just thinking about it. Bravo!

In Dangerous Liaisons from 1988

Peter has been time travelling for decades via various costume dramas such as Dangerous Liaisons. Here he is Azolan, the valet of the Vicomte de Valmont.

Peter Capaldi as Samuel Kent in The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher

I would say he looks mighty fine in a top hat here in the dramatization of a true crime story The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: The Murder at Road Hill House. I haven't seen this 95 minute television special from 2011 based on a Scotland Yard investigation in Victorian London. Can anyone recommend this? It looks good!

As Caecilius in Dr. Who The Fires of Pompeii

And Peter Capaldi has even done a bit of Dr. Who work already, in the episode entitled The Fires of Pompeii from 2008.

As Cardinal Richelieu in the BBC series The Musketeers

Peter is very scary looking as Cardinal Richelieu in the BBC series The Musketeers. He certainly can do evil and severe can't he? Anyone seen this? I am embarrassed to say I haven't been able to check this one out but Peter would be a great reason to tune in!

Peter Capaldi with Nicole Kidman in Paddington 

Although we no longer have Colin Firth as the voice of Paddington Bear in the new Paddington film, we have Ben Whishaw as our favourite bear's voice and Peter Capaldi as the bad-tempered and penny pinching Mr. Curry. I hope this one turns out well. Hard to say at this point but fingers crossed!

So hurrah for the new Dr. Who and please leave a comment with your fave Peter Capaldi role below. He has been in so many great film and TV roles, I could only feature a few.

Cheers!

Celia Imrie- Actor of the Week

Celia Imrie

What a joy to have Celia Imrie as my Actor of the Week. She has been in so many of my favourite films that I had a hard time deciding which ones to feature.

Celia Imrie Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 Star Wars Phantom Menace

If you didn't know that Celia played the first female fighter pilot in Star Wars Episode 1: Phantom Menace, don't feel bad. I had no idea either! Apparently George Lucas made her remove her lipstick. No lippy for fighter pilots?

Celia Imrie as Una Alconbury in Bridget Jones's Diary

Of course I will always think of Celia as Una Alconbury in Bridget Jones's Diary. She was perfect as Auntie Una, the meddling best friend of Bridget's mum.

Una Alconbury: You career girls. Can't put it off forever. Tick-tock, tick-tock

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Una Alconbury:  Come and look at your gravy, Pam. I think it's going to need sieving.
Pam Jones:  Of course it doesn't need sieving. Just stir it, Una.

Celia Imrie in Calendar Girls- bigger buns!

In Calendar Girls, we will always remember Celia as "Bigger Buns" which is apparently what some fans shout out when they meet her in the street. Actually, as I was starting this post I told my husband I was featuring Celia Imrie he said he'd never heard of her. All I had to say was "Bigger Buns", and he replied "Oh, her!"

Celia Imrie as Mrs. Meyrick in Daniel Deronda

As the lovely Mrs. Meyrick in Daniel Deronda, we get to see Celia as a Victorian matron. Small part but very well done I think. I am reading Daniel Deronda now and I have her voice in my head as I am reading.

Celia Imrie as Mrs. Quickly in Nanny McPhee

Celia must have had a lot of fun playing the way over the top character of Mrs. Quickly in Nanny McPhee, chasing Colin Firth all over the highly coloured set. The food fight looked like a good time too!

Celia Imrie as Lady Glenmire in Cranford

In Cranford, Celia plays Lady Glenmire, not quite the grand lady that the Cranford crowd was expecting and she gives them quite a lot to talk about when she marries one of the few men in that village! Naughty, naughty!

Celia Imrie at the premiere of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I just can't wait to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. This has been out in the UK for months, but we don't get it in North America until May 4th. I know I am going to end up buying this DVD! It looks like such fun from the trailers.

Celia Imrie as Grace Rushton in Titanic

I will be watching Titanic the TV miniseries again this weekend as I quite enjoyed it (despite what some critics and viewers are saying). Celia's character of Grace Rushton is a "new money" first class passenger who is snubbed by the aristocrats she is trying to impress. She is very concerned about her Pekinese Suki especially when the ship starts sinking.

So did I manage to cover all of your fave Celia Imrie films? Or would you like to add one or two to the list? I would have added the character of Mrs. Miller in The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling but I couldn't find a photo of her. She starred in Tom Jones with the father of her teenaged son Angus (Benjamin Whitrow aka Mr. Bennet from P&P 1995). And it is a gem if you have never seen it! Any others I missed?

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling with Samantha Morton and Max Beesley

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, an adaptation of the 18th century comic novel by Henry Fielding was first brought to my attention in a promo spot at the beginning of my Pride and Prejudice 1995 VHS tapes (my god, am I ever old!). There was an adorable little interview with some of the cast, including Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet from P&P and Squire Allworthy from Tom Jones). He was talking so affectionately about this miniseries that I made sure I taped it when it aired on TV in 1997.

Max Beesley as Tom Jones

Narrated by  John Sessions playing Henry Fielding himself, the running gag is that he is very long winded and keeps getting cut off in hilarious ways. This film is part farce and part social commentary with some characters (and names) that likely inspired Dickens. Max Beesley is the titular Tom Jones, a foundling bastard, left in the bed of the appropriately named Squire Allworthy, a man with the highest morals and high hopes for his adopted son Tom. Of course Tom has to arrive at that morality in a really roundabout way, after tasting all the delights that the world has to offer and after being dragged to the lowest point a human can reach, all the while entertaining us with his adventures.

Brian Blessed as Squire Western from Tom Jones

A few notable supporting players (of which there are so many I can't do them all justice) are Brian Blessed as the boorish blustering Squire Western, who is a delight to watch and so over the top! Samantha Morton is also wonderful as Tom's love interest and neighbour Sophia Western. She is a super combination of tender female and explosively tempered daughter of the blustery Squire.  Her ladies maid Honour is played brilliantly by Kathy Burke, comedienne extraordinaire who mugs for the camera delightfully.

James D'Arcy as Mr. Blifil in Tom Jones

James D'Arcy does an awesome job of the hateful Mr. Blifil, although you do feel for him when you see the unusual relationship he has with his mother. And the characters of Square, Thwackum, Partridge, Lady Bellaston and Lord Fellamar are given lots of good screen time which is great.


This is a miniseries which will not fail to disappoint. It is however a bit bawdy, which is unsurprising considering that the novel had quite a reputation for being "low" entertainment, including sexual promiscuity and prostitution. As someone interested in genealogy, I can certainly support the fact that there was an awful lot of pre-marital hay rolling in the 1700s and bastard children abounded! In any case, you may want to take this into consideration especially if there are young children around. The subject is treated with a light touch however, almost always for comic effect.

This miniseries is fun and sweet and crazy all at the same time. It will also transport you to the year 1749 with gorgeous locations and costumes which will pull you right in. The musical score is so wonderful (by the talented Jim Parker) that my husband requested the CD for his birthday one year and just about wore it out.  I think this miniseries is best savoured in six one hour chunks, which is how my original VHS tapes were packaged. Plus you will want to make it last because it's so wonderful!

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P.S. Yes, I did take my moniker from this film. I mashed the names of two characters, Jenny Jones (the purported mother of Tom) and Bridget Allworthy (the Squire's sister). Kudos to Professor Miriam RF who was the only one to guess the origin of my name!

P.P.S. I wish I could say that I enjoyed the book, as I usually love to read the novels of my fave adaptations, but alas I found this one a bit too wordy for my taste. At least I understand the joke about Henry Fielding the narrator blathering on and getting cut off all the time. Perhaps I am not the only one! Bless the film makers for finding the wonderful story amongst all those words!

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"It is not enough that your designs, nay, that your actions, are intrinsically good; you must take care they shall appear so." -Henry Fielding