Drawing: Francesca Annis in Versailles

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The respected English actress Francesca Annis has a career spanning 7 decades, starting in her teens in the 1950s. Her distinguished career covers the complete spectrum from stage and screen winning a BAFTA (1979) for her portrayal of celebrated actress Lillie Langtry in he miniseries Lillie.

In the 1970s she became a schoolboy object of desire with her trademark voluptuous figure and deep, sultry voice. While attending Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin, New Zealand, the junior school went to a screening of Roman Polanski’s film adaption of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, financed by Hugh Hefner. Giveaway clue. Francesca played Lady Macbeth, who delivers the notorious sleep walking soliloquy… naked. One of my more memorable educational ventures. Say no more.

Francesca has just completed her run in Peter Gill’s Versailles marking a centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. I met her at the stage door after a performance in the final week and she was delightful. A handful of collectors, coincidentally about the same vintage as I, were there.

Clothes did come into the conversation, but only after I asked her what project she planned to do next. “A lot of washing,” she laughed, and signed my sketch.

Drawing: Imogen Poots

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Fast rising British star, Imogen Poots, must be the busiest actress on the planet at the moment. At the tender age of 24, she has featured in 19 films over the past 8 years. Since her break in the zombie horror flick 28 Weeks Later, Imogen has appeared in such productions as Filth with James McAvoy, A Long Way Down with Pierce Brosnan and The Look of Love, for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the British Independent Film Awards last year.

Drawing: Frances Ruffelle

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Frances Ruffelle’s name must appear near the top of a list of great people in British Musical Theatre.

She originated the role of Eponine in both the West End and Broadway productions of the blockbuster musical Les Misérables, winning the Tony award in 1987. Frances also represented the UK in the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 10th singing Lonely Symphony (We Will Be Free). She also the original Dinah in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original London production of Starlight Express in 1984 at the age of 16. Frances played the female lead Roxie Hart in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre in London from September 2003 to June 2004. She reprised the role for the show’s 10th anniversary in 2007 and continued in the production into 2008.

Frances returned to the London stage recently to play the deranged but vulnerable mum of London mapmaker Phyllis Pearsall in The A to Z of Mrs P at the Southwark Playhouse where she signed my sketch.

Drawing: Cameron Diaz

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

A dilemma presented itself at the Gala Screening of The Other Woman at London’s Curzon Mayfair this week, when Cameron Diaz walked the carpet. I drew two sketches of her to get ‘graphed. The close up was over worked. The more I worked the 4B, the more it became apparent it just wasn’t to be. You can spend too much time on a drawing and lose your reference. It didn’t seem to me to resemble the subject. Everything was there – the clear eyes, lip shape and dimples, but somehow it was lost in translation, and too static – like a statue.

I quickly sketched another – minimal lines, with more energy in order to capture her ‘being’ and not just an anatomical copy. But, which one to give her to sign? Since, of course, the PAs insist, “only one”. Most people around me loved the close up, more dramatic and it was certainly her. There’s always the fear that the subject will reject. I could present both and let Cameron decide? Too awkward, holding both and filming while the adoring multitude press over the top of you.

In the end I looked at her. She was bouncy, laughing, animated and seemed genuinely happy with the world and where she was in it that balmy Spring evening. So I opted for number 2 because it best represented her at the time. She was happy to sign it and thanked me. Everyone said I should have got the portrait signed. Oh well, maybe next time…

Drawing: Isy Suttie

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Isobel ‘Isy’ Suttie does stand up, acts, writes, sings, composes and plays music. Probably easier to list what she doesn’t do, which isn’t much. She’s won plenty of awards to show that what she does, she does well, including Loaded Magazine’s Funniest Female, British Comedy Awards, Songwriting and Jazz Awards and recently a Gold Radio Academy Award for her radio show Pearl and Dave.

Best known for her role as Dobby in the British TV sitcom Peep Show, she has just finished a season of The A-Z of Mrs P at the Southwark Playhouse in London. She played the title character in a retelling of the myth and even more remarkable reality behind the handy, all-purpose pocket sized A-Z Street Guide of 23,000 Streets. Isy signed this sketch at the theatre.

Drawing: Emma Watson

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Without a doubt, the biggest attraction at Monday’s UK premiere of Darren Aronofsky’s biblical epic Noah was Emma Watson, judging by the volume of ovations when her name was mentioned (several times) and the number of teenage girls in the crowd, of biblical proportions. There was, of course, a sizeable share of male admirers.

As usual Emma signed for as much of the line as her other commitments allowed her, I drew this sketch about a year ago, when Emma had her post-Potter pixie crop, and carried it around but kept missing her at the odd event she attended in London.

She looked genuinely amazed with it, “what a beautiful drawing,” and took time to chat. Judging by the inscription I felt pretty pleased with my day.

Cartoon: Russell Crowe

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

The Gladiator himself Russell Crowe was in fine form at the Noah premiere in Leicester Square yesterday. He spent more time than usual walking amongst the gathered throng.

This cartoon I did for The Southland Times – relating to his failed attempt to get Pope Francis to see the film – brought a smile to his face and the Sharpie to paper.