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: 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: 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.

Drawing: Scarlett Johansson

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Scarlett Ingrid Johansson has twice appeared on the Broadway boards. Her debut in Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge garnered her a Tony Award in 2010. A hard act to follow, but follow it she did with another acclaimed stage performance, as Maggie ‘the cat’ in Tennessee Williams 1955 Pulitzer Prize winning classic Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Richard Rodgers Theatre for a 15 week engagement in late 2012.

Scarlett signed my sketch of her in her role as Maggie last night at the UK premiere of Captain America: The Winter Soldiers at London’s Westfield Vue Cinema.

Drawing: Meera Syal in Shirley Valentine at Trafalgar Studios

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

British actress,comedian,writer,singer and producer Meera Syal transformed herself into SHIRLEY VALENTINE at London’s Trafalgar Studios in July 2010. Written by Willy Russell,it follows the monologue of a middle aged Liverpool housewife who finds herself talking to walls as she prepares her husband’s egg’n chips,wondering where her life has gone. Critic Peter Brown said her performance was ” totally absorbing..keeping the entire audience rivited throughout.” Meera signed my sketch on 29.7.10 at the stage door.

Drawing: Natalie Casey in 9 to 5

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Natalie Casey was three when she recorded the single ‘Chick, Chick, Chick’, which reached number 72 on the UK charts, making her the youngest person to do so. She appeared on the BBC and asked Boy George to take her to the toilet!

But, Natalie is probably better known for her long-running roles in the TV series Hollyoaks (from 1995-2000) and playing Donna Henshaw in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps (2001-2011).

I met Natalie at Wyndham’s Theatre in 2012 after a performance in the revival of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party. She was really friendly and great to talk to. She signed this sketch at The Mayflower Theatre in Southampton during the UK Tour of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 in May last year.

Drawing: Jennifer Tilly

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Jennifer Tilly divides her time between acting and playing professional poker. Winning a number of awards in both careers. She received an Academy Award nomination in 1994 for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Bullets Over Broadway.

Jennifer signed this sketch at the Royal Court Theatre in London in June 2009 during her run in Grasses of a Thousand Colours.

Drawing: Miranda Raison

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Here’s another quick sketch of one of my fave actresses, Miranda Raison. Most may know her as Jo Portman in the British TV series Spooks, she is also in the third series of the BBC legal drama Silk. Miranda has just finished the theatrical version of Strangers on a Train at the Gielgud Theatre in London’s Shaftesbury Ave.

When not gracing the screens or treading the boards, Miranda walks the fairways and greens as a keen and very able golfer. She happily signed my drawing at the Donmar Warehouse during the season of The Physicists: A Comedy in Two Acts directed by Josie Rourke in July 2012