Drawing: Matt Smith in American Psycho

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of actor Matt Smith in American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre

British actor Matt Smith made his name on the stage before becoming the youngest and eleventh incarnation of the Doctor (2010-2014) in the long-running BBC television series DOCTOR WHO, winning two National TV Awards and a BAFTA nomination. He has returned to the London boards in the revival of LUNGS alongside his THE CROWN co-star Claire Foy at the Old Vic. They play a nameless couple wrestling with the planet’s biggest dilemmas. While shopping in Ikea, he mentions the idea of having a baby which unleashes an absurd hour of verbal fireworks.

He made his West End debut playing Guy in the world premiere of the stage adaption of the dark comedy-drama SWIMMING WITH SHARKS at the Vaudeville Theatre in October 2007 opposite Christian Slater. A year later he won acclaim and an Evening Standard Award for his performance as Henry, an aspiring artist who left school to care for his mother in Polly Stenham’s THAT FACE at the Royal Court Theatre, before a West End transfer. The cast were nominated for an Olivier Award.

After leaving DOCTOR WHO, Matt returned to the stage in another world premiere. He played the sociopathic investment banker Patrick Bateman who embarks on a deadly journey as a Manhattan serial killer in Rupert Goold’s musical adaption of the 2000 film AMERICAN PSYCHO in the winter of 2013. The season sold out and was extended.

Matt kindly signed my drawing of him as Patrick Bateman, which I had been carrying around in my folder for the past six years, after a LUNGS rehearsal session at the Old Vic stage door.

Drawing: Claire Foy

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of actor Claire Foy

Claire Foy has returned to the London stage for the first time after her acclaimed portrayal of Lady Macbeth opposite James McAvoy’s MACBETH at the Trafalgar Studios in 2013. She reunites with her THE CROWN on-screen husband Matt Smith in Matthew Warchus’s revival of Duncan MacMillian’s hilarious two-hander LUNGS at the Old Vic for a short run, which ends this Saturday. They play an unnamed couple freaking out over what to do with their lives in the face of imminent climate catastrophe.

After being nominated for a BAFTA for her performance as the ill-fated queen Anne Boleyn in the BBC television serial WOLF HALL (2015), Claire received further international recognition for her role as the young Queen Elizabeth II in the first two seasons of Peter Morgan’s Netflix series THE CROWN opposite Matt, who played her consort, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, winning a Golden Globe, an Emmy and two SAG Awards. She was also BAFTA nominated as she was for her performance as Neil Armstrong’s wife Janet in Damien Chazelle’s 2018 biopic FIRST MAN.

In his TimeOut review, Andrzej Lukowski wrote, “Claire Foy and Matt Smith are magnetic in this big stage outing.”

Claire kindly signed this sketch for me during rehearsals at the Old Vic.

Drawing: Annette Bening

Posted on November 5, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of actor Anette Bening

Annette Bening has received four Academy Award nominations. Her first was for her supporting role as Myra Langtry in the new-noir crime drama THE GRIFTERS (1990). She also received a BAFTA nomination. Nine years later, she appeared as Carolyn Burnham in the Best Picture winner, AMERICAN BEAUTY, earning her second nom and first for Best Actress. She did win two SAG awards-one as Best Actress and the other as a member of the cast and collected the Best Actress BAFTA. Her third Oscar nomination was for her portrayal as the popular, but disillusioned theatre actress Julia Lambert in BEING JULIA (2004), winning a Golden Globe. Her last Academy recognition was for the 2010 comedy drama about a same-sex couple raising two teenagers, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Once again she won a Globe.

Many Marvel fans will know her as Supreme Intelligence and Mar-vell/Wendy Lawson in the CAPTAIN MARVEL films and was a guest at this years BFI London Film Festival, attending the Gala screening of her latest movie about the CIA’s post 9/11 detention and interrogation Programme, THE REPORT, in which she plays Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Annette has also been nominated for an Emmy for her portrayal of Jean Harris in the 2005 TV movie MRS HARRIS. She began her acting career on the stage and earlier this year returned to Broadway after a 32 year absence as Kate Keller in Arthur Miller’s ALL MY SONS, receiving a Tony Award nomination, to go with the her first in 1987, as photographer Holly Dancer in COASTAL DISTURBANCES.
Annette kindly signed my portrait montage I sent to the American Airlines Theatre in New York, during the ALL MY SONS run in May this year.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Al Pacino

Posted on November 4, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

Autographed drawing of actor Al Pacino

Al Pacino joined Robert DeNiro and director Martin Scorsese on Sunday 13 October at the Closing Night Gala screenings of THE IRISHMAN, an epic saga of organised crime in America, at both the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and the Embankment Garden Cinema. While it’s not the first time the bona fide acting legends have worked together it is, surprisingly, the first movie Al has done with Marty. He has known Robert since 1968, appearing together in a handful of memorable films, beginning with the second instalment of Francis Ford Coppola’s THE GODFATHER trilogy in 1974.

THE IRISHMAN centres on Robert’s title character, a reminiscing geriatric union official and New York hitman Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran and his involvement in the disappearance of powerful Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa played by Al.

Accolades have been frequent during Al’s five decade career. In a 2003 Channel 4 poll, British TV viewers voted him the greatest film star of all time. He is one of the few to win the triple crown of acting-a competitive Oscar, Emmy and Tony. His single Oscar win (from eight nominations) was for his portrayal of blind and medically retired Army Officer Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in SCENT OF A WOMAN (1993). He also received the Best Actor BAFTA in 1976 for his roles as bank robber Sonny Wortzik in DOG DAY AFTERNOON and Michael Corleone, the crime family’s Don in THE GODFTHER PART II.

His two Emmys were for his portrayal of lawyer Roy Cohn in ANGELS IN AMERICA (2004) , which also won him a Golden Globe and Dr Jack Kevorkian in YOU DON’T KNOW JACK (2010) collecting a SAG Award as well. His double Tony wins were for his role as Bickham, a teenage drug addict in DOES A TIGER WEAR A NECKTIE (1969) and eight years later for the title role as a Vietnam soldier in THE BASIC TRAINING OF PAVLO HUMMEL. Al also received a Director’s Guild Award for the documentary LOOKING FOR RICHARD in 1997.

If critical response is any indication, his portrayal of Jimmy Hoffa will see additions to his trophy collection. The first was collected last night for Best Supporting Actor at the Hollywood Film Awards in Santa Monica.

Al signed for me as he was leaving the Corinthia Hotel in London on his way to the Gala screenings.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Adam Driver

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Adam Driver

Adam Driver had two films in this years BFI London Film Festival. He plays a report writer in THE REPORT investigating the CIA’s use of torture following the 9/11 attacks. Written and directed by Scott Z. Burns, it screened in the ‘Debate’ themed category at the Embankment Garden cinema on Saturday 5 October. Adam also starred in the comedy-drama MARRIAGE STORY as Charlie, a New York-based theatre director and his California-based wife Nicole (Scarlett Johansson), described as “vintage cinema about breaking up, while trying to keep it together.”

It had two Gala Screenings at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and the Embankment Garden cinema on Sunday 6 October. Adam played the role of Adam Sackler in the HBO comedy-drama series GIRLS from 2012-2017, receiving three Emmy nominations, before achieving wider recognition as Kylo Ren in the STAR WARS sequel trilogy THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015), THE LAST JEDI (2017) and soon to be released, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER.

Last year he earned an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Dect. Philip ‘Flip’ Zimmerman in Spike Lee’s BLACKkKLANSMAN. He also returned to Broadway this year in BURN THIS at the Hudson Theatre, receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance as Pale.

Adam signed my sketch at the Embankment Garden cinema before THE REPORT screening.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Ray Liotta

Posted on October 29, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Ray Liotta

Ray Liotta has had many memorable screen roles including criminal and FBI informant Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s GOODFELLAS (1990) and as Charlie Metcalf in the TV medical drama ER, for which he won a Primetime Emmy. He has also collected a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as ex-con Ray Sinclair in Jonathan Demme’s cult action comedy SOMETHING WILD (1986).

His portrayal of Frank Sinatra in the 1998 TV movie THE RAT PACK and Alamo survivor Lorca / Tom Mitchell in the 2015 TV miniseries TEXAS RISING received SAG Award nominations.

Ray plays divorce lawyer Jay in the comedy-drama MARRIAGE STORY, which had its Gala Screening at both the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and the Embankment Garden cinema on Sunday 6 October. He signed my sketch at Corinthia Hotel when he arrived for the Festival the day before.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Laura Dern

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Laura Dern

Double Oscar nominee, Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy winner Laura Dern plays divorce lawyer Nora Fanshaw in Noah Baumbach’s comedy-drama MARRIAGE STORY, which had its Gala Screening at this years festival on Sunday 6 October at both the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and the Embankment Garden cinema.

Her two Oscar nominations were for her roles as orphan Rose in 1992’s RAMBLING ROSE (Best Actress) and as Bobbi Grey in the 2015 biographical drama WILD (Best Supporting Actress). She has won four Golden Globe Awards including one for her portrayal as Renata Klein in the HBO series BIG LITTLE LIES (2017-19) for which she also received a Primetime Emmy. She has already won the Best Supporting Actress award at this years Hollywood Film Awards for her performance in MARRIAGE STORY, which could be the first of many accolades.

Laura signed my sketch at the Ham Yard Hotel on Saturday 5 October, before she attended the MARRIAGE STORY Gala screenings the following day.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Steve Coogan

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan “dazzles as the ‘da Vinci of deal-making’ in Michael Winterbottom’s sharp-tongued satire on corporate greed.” He plays Sir Richard McCreadie, the king of High Street in GREED, which had its Headline Gala Screenings at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square and the Embankment Garden Cinemas on Wednesday 9 October.

In 2013 he co-wrote, produced and starred in the comedy-drama PHILOMENA, which earned him Golden Globe, BAFTA and two Academy Award nominations. Last year his performance as English comedian Stan Laurel in the film biopic STAN & LAUREL, opposite John C.Reilly as Oliver Hardy, earned him a Best Actor BAFTA nomination. It premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.

Steve signed my Stan sketch for me at the Embankment Garden cinema after the screening of GREED.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Lily-Rose Depp

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Lily-Rose Depp

With Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis for parents, an acting career was a given for 20 year-old Lily-Rose Depp. She plays Catherine of Valois, the future Queen of England and wife of Henry V in the historical drama THE KING, which screened at this year’s Festival. Writing in ‘The Film Stage’, Rory O’Connor described her performance as “a excellent cameo”.

It’s her second period drama, after her 2016 role as Kate Barlow alongside Natalie Portman in PLANETARIUM. Her upcoming projects include the thriller DREAMLAND with Gary Oldman and Arnie Hammer and the sci-fi film VOYAGERS alongside Colin Farrell, both in post-production.

She signed my portrait sketch at the Gala Screening of THE KING at the Embankment Garden Cinema on Thursday 3 October.

BFI London Film Festival Guests: Joel Edgerton

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Mark Winter / Chicane

This year’s BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL has just concluded. Here is one of the guests whom I met at the event:

Autographed drawing of actor Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton demonstrates that he is a gifted and versatile an actor as he is a writer playing the soulful, tragic-heroic John Falstaff in THE KING and co-writing the screenplay with director David Michôd, adapted from Shakespeare’s HENRY IV, PARTS 1 + 2 and HENRY V texts. Familiar with the material from his involvement with the Sydney-based Bell Shakespeare Company’s stage productions in the late 1990’s, playing Prince Hal in HENRY IV and the title role in HENRY V.

Film followers will know him as Owen Lars in STAR WARS: EPISODE II-ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002) and EPISODE III-REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005) with other appearances in such notable films such as THE GREAT GADSBY (2013), BLACK MASS (2015) and LOVING (2016) for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. In 2018 he wrote, directed and starred in BOY ERASED, about gay conversion therapy.

Joel signed my sketch at the Embankment Garden Cinema before THE KING’s Gala Screening on Thursday 3 October.