Colin Morgan puts in an attractive performance in every way as a jittery, wounded soul, chained by a life of cables and wires – Cultbox
* Morgan’s performance here was silently saddening; a wholly controlled and intimate study of sorrow which blossomed in private and slight moments. A tender breakdown when catching sight of childhood relics, sharply arched body language as he fails to feel secure in unfamiliar territories – truly excellent stuff. – Filmoria
Colin Morgan’s acting during these scenes was phenomenal, all of his despair and frustration simmering under the surface and visible with just a few tears. – Leo’s reaction to Karen is by and large the most well-acted scene in this entire series. He is both an adult recognizing a threat and a child being confronted with his long-dead mother. – The Geekiary
Leo’s (Colin Morgan) horrified, powerless reaction provides the actor his best moment of the series. – Framerated
The scene is saved by Colin Morgan, delivering a series-best performance as Leo shares a bittersweet conversation in captivity with a distant Karen. – Digital Spy
Colin is often referred to as a ‘method’ actor: a term which, for me, falls far short of explaining his natural, intrinsic ability. Method acting is based on the actor recalling their own experiences in order to portray reactions or emotion, even if they have to artificially create the experience themselves … a series of training exercises were developed to prepare the actor for their performance.
Colin had an innate understanding of deep emotion from a very early age. It is interesting that a young man just out of school, who had led a seemingly very happy family life, could already bring up such depth of anguish, sorrow, and pain. This ability has grown and expanded during the years, and he is becoming a master at portraying the deep, dark, and difficult.
We think of Colin as an Empathicactor, and we think Colin is a highly empathetic human being, as well. Colin has the capacity to grasp and assimilate what his character is experiencing. He comprehends the feelings, problems, and views of others; therefore, he can and does literally ‘put himself there’. Colin, as far as we know, had not yet experienced the loss of someone deeply loved by him. Yet, with intuition, compassion, and understanding, he was able to impart the anguish of deep personal loss. Both Freya and his father tore at his heart and ours as well. His research and study, his interest in the character’s back story even if it is not part of the script, these are internalized and brought to bear in his heartfelt and haunting portrayal(s).
“The last two projects after Humans got even darker, but it’s good. It’s an aspect of life that I guess I’m really interested in. I’m just fortunate that I’m able to explore that and find pathways through all of these lost souls.” . (Colin Morgan)
As we look back over Colin’s choices, it is clear he finds a sensitive connection to these roles … bringing these people out into the light, and giving us a chance to find understanding where none may have existed before.
Vernon: an unsympathetic, sarcastic teen-ager who ends the play with a greater understanding of the meaning of life.
Esteban: the victim of an early death, his apparition appears from time to time throughout the play to comfort his mother.
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Jimmy Rosario: a young man strung out on drugs who is filled with a weird inexplicable charm and courage, and who, by the end of the play, shows that he is the wisest of the four central characters.
Merlin: A young sorcerer whose natural gift could easily cause his execution. Hiding his talent always, while trying to help those he cares for, showing us all along the way the heartbreak that his subterfuge is costing him.
Cathal: a young drug addict living out of his car, unable to overcome the habit that is destroying him while still giving hope and some sense of the joy of life to his homeless, elderly, car-park neighbor.
Calum: isolated from a normal growing up, having insulated himself in the lore of the island, he finds his first encounter with this young woman disturbing and confusing.
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Carlos: a gay, unhappy, self-described “bipolar compulsive fantasist,” starts to convince himself that his father violated him as a child.
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Ariel: even though a fairy sprite , and at last being granted the freedom he had longed for, realizes he would miss the master he had come to love.
Skinny Luke: a young man crying out to be included, to be part of the ‘gang’.
Victor: who remains a good and devoted friend, even though his love for Vera is not returned.
Leo: a re-built human … whose memories of a dark past cannot be forgotten.
“The Laughing King”, a 10 minute film being released soon to help raise awareness about depression and mental illness, particularly in men, is testament again to his continuing concern for the internal suffering all around us.
Nathan: A man of science consumed by grief as he enters a life-altering downward spiral.
... Most of the characters I’m drawn to, as an actor, are ones that are quite intensely lonely and a bit lost and are looking for some kind of redemptive answer. The long days of shooting occupy my headspace and it is challenging, but it’s part and parcel to the commitment of that kind of role.
September 3rd, Leicester Square, UK Premiere for LEGEND, the movie. Release date for UK audiences: September 9th.
September 10-20, 2015. Toronto International Film Festival, will see the official release of LEGEND for Canadian audiences.
October 2nd for the US, again Limited Release. No announcement yet for South America. 😦
This should be an interesting outing for Colin … another completely different character in his CV. Being about gangsters, I imagine American audiences will be interested, even though it is about London and not Chicago or New York. Many people here are currently watching “The Making of the Mob: New York”, a TV mini-series, which could ignite an interest in this film. So perhaps theatres will be quicker to put it on their marques than they were with Testament.
P.S. Taron Egerton appears again, a delightful young actor who charmed us, as Edward, in Testament of Youth.
The best commentator on any of Colin Morgan’s characters is Colin, himself. In this narrative, he allows us to see the intelligence and thought he brings to understanding Leo’s background and state of mind.
Re-posting and adding to our June 8th entry because we really like it. These are chosen excerpts, descriptive of anticipated six-part tv series: The Living and The Dead.
Somerset, England, 1888. A land and a community on the edge of monumental change, on the great hinge between ancient traditional ways and an industrial, scientific future. A land of ghosts and myths, poltergeists and demons – if there was ever a time for those ghosts to rise out of the ground, this would be that time. At the heart of this small community is Nathan Appleby, a reluctant gentleman farmer who is obsessed with proving the existence of the afterlife.
In BBC One’s new original drama, this complex and compelling man will investigate hauntings, paranormal happenings, and ghostly visitations, encouraged by the Society for Psychical Research. But as these terrifying investigations become ever more frequent and ever more scary, Nathan starts to see and hear disturbing things that he simply cannot have imagined. Will Nathan’s interest in the occult begin to threaten his family, his livelihood and even his sanity?
According to Writer-creators Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham … “We want it to be moving, tender, sensual…and very, very scary.”
As with almost everything he does, Colin Morgan’s slow and steady progression to the romantic side of film seems measured and well-thought out … stretching his advances into new areas slowly, as a quiet stretch of the muscles in the early morning.
* Merlin’s little, innocent flirtations with Gwen. * Merlin’s hauntingly poignant, deeply felt love for Freya. * Cathal’s enthusiastic matchmaking between Fred and Jules. * Calum’s awkward crush on Nikki. * Jimmy’s cheeky flirtation with Phoebe. * DS Anderson’s implied and impersonal liaison with Stella. * Leo’s slow softening toward Mattie. * And now comes: Waiting for You: Sylvie
” … through it all, Sylvie’s been falling for Paul. She’s like a second in Paul’s corner of the ring; finally he’s out of the fight, a little bruised, but bearing the prize. * Followed by: Charlotte Appleby, Nathan’s beloved wife.
Sylvie / Charlotte
As with so many of the things he does, he is deliberate and classy in his choices. So, I start with his innocent flirtations with Gwen and continue, step by step, up to his latest portrait of a young farmer very much in love with his wife. Tender and lovely. My kind of romantic leading man. 🙂 ❤
This kind of thoughtful entry into relationships appeals very much to this writer.
Somerset, 1894. A house that’s almost as old as the English countryside itself. A brilliant young couple inherit the farm and are determined to start a new life together. But their presence in this isolated corner of England starts to unleash strange, unsettling and dangerous supernatural phenomena that will start to threaten their marriage.
This is a drama steeped in the eeriness of the rural world at the moment when the industrial revolution came crashing in to disrupt all the old certainties. Uncanny, intriguing, disturbing. At the series’ heart is the love story of Nathan and Charlotte Appleby: deeply in love with each other but put under extraordinary pressure, they will have to fight to save their marriage and their home.
Colin Morgan says: “The Living And The Dead is one of those scripts that you read and are instantly compelled and engaged by. It’s intelligent, chilling and engrossing. It’s going to be very special and I can’t wait to start working on it with the wonderful creative team.”
Charlotte Spencer says: “It’s always been a dream of mine to appear in a period drama and they don’t come better than this – fantastic, original scripts and, in Charlotte Appleby, a superb character who’s strong, passionate and gutsy. Couple this with an incredible director, crew and cast, I can’t wait to get started!”
Ashley Pharoah adds: “I am completely thrilled that Colin and Charlotte are joining us on our adventure. The characters they play – Nathan and Charlotte Appleby – dominate the series and I couldn’t be more excited to see what they do with them.”
Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, says: “Colin Morgan and Charlotte Spencer are two of Britain’s most exciting and talented stars and I can’t think of anyone better to bring to life Nathan and Charlotte Appleby, the beautifully drawn couple at the heart of Ashley’s bold and brilliant new series for BBC One.”
The executive producers are Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham for Monastic Productions, Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, and Katie McAleese for BBC Wales Drama Production.
Eliza Mellor (Poldark, Death Comes To Pemberley) is producer and director Alice Troughton (Cucumber, In The Flesh) will launch the series.
Commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, previous Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, The Living And The Dead is a BBC Wales Drama production in association with Monastic Productions and co-produced with BBC America. It will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.
Colin Morgan to star with @CharSpencer in eerie BBC series The Living and the Dead. He looks wonderful in Period clothing! Very romantic ❤ Kinda takes our breath away! ❤
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