Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Actor known for Trainspotting, Shallow Grave, Star Wars, and Moulin Rouge.
On the island
Eight records
Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat major, K. 495: II. Romanza (Andante cantabile)
Dennis Brain with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan
I don't know that I can now believe that I was once that good to be able to do that. Also I'd like to play it for my old horn teacher George Annan who's in Perth because I haven't seen him for very many years.
Requiem, Op. 48: I. Introitus and Kyrie
Union Chorale de la Tour-de-Peilz & Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Ernest Ansermet
It reminds me of my mum always when I listen to it. My mum and my dad eventually used to sing in the Crieff Choral Society... we were taken to this little church and my mum was singing in the choir singing Fauré's Requiem and I'd just never forgotten it.
This is because this is the tune that opened the play I was in two or three years ago in London. I hadn't been on stage for seven years... Little Malcolm and his struggle against the eunuchs. I can't tell you how frightened I was the first night when you were standing in the wings.
Eddie Vedder & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
This is from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack and it's a tune I've enjoyed very, very much. So it'd be nice out there.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
All my this flat I had in Primrose Hill really became it's where I met Jude Law and Johnny Lee Miller and Sean Pertwee and we kind of became this... flat where all parties would end. And they'll all remember this song because I used to play it every time.
This is a friend of mine singing Tony Ashton who died in May. He was a great drinker and a I suppose a drinking buddy of mine really... He died in May and it was just awful... when I listen to his music he kind of is here, you know.
Dark Loch NagarFavourite
This is for the moments when I'm missing them, I guess, on my desert island. And in a way, you know, this is this is for my very melancholy moments on the island.
Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
My last record comes from an album that I've had in all my life. This is obviously my dad's record. I now have it. It's Amazing Grace and it used to make me cry as a wee boy to sit listen to it and weep.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:15Do you mean isolates you just on set when you're filming, or do you mean in life in general?
I think in terms of your work... it's a big danger that you suddenly you're in a big hit film like Moulin Rouge and then suddenly you're getting lots of scripts that are absolute garbage. There's a sense that now you've done Moulin Rouge, now you've really got to be a big star in America, which is something I've never ever been particularly interested in.
Presenter asks
9:19Where did you go, and why [when you ran away from home]?
I went up the knock. Crieff's kind of built on the side of a hill called the Knock. I can't remember why I was running away, but I'd I was fed up and I'd had enough... I went to the kitchen and very politely, I suppose, told my mum that I was leaving home and running away. So she made me some sandwiches and gave me a little bottle of milk, and the dog... and said, Well, off you go
Presenter asks
10:05Your dad was a teacher at the school you and your brother went to. That must have been difficult.
Well, it wasn't really. I mean he was a PE teacher and later a careers master also and very, very liked by all the pupils. So because he was so liked it was fine really.
The keepsakes
The book
Marcel Proust
I just love it, but God, it takes some time, you know. You need ... I mean, I'm almost looking forward to my old age, so I can sit and read them properly. But if I'm going to be on my own with lots of time, then I think the Proust would do.'Cause there's six volumes as well, which is quite tr quite sneaky, isn't it?
The luxury
I like a chromatic harmonica'cause I can stick it in my bandanna or wherever I've got to stick it and take it with me wherever I am on the island and play music, you see.
Presenter asks
19:50Was there a moment during all of that when you suddenly stood there or walked up the street or whatever and said 'I've done it'?
Yes. When I moved into Primrose Hill, into Regents Park Road, I walked up one night on to the top of the hill. You can see all the lights of London round you. And I felt like I'd I'd arrived, you know.
Presenter asks
26:52Do you think about death much?
No no, not particularly... There can be great beauty in it, I think. There's... something that that's very beautiful about being someone while they're passing away, I don't know, that will stay with you forever, that are very important moments that are shared between the person who's dying and the person who's with them, you know.
“I've said in the past that my life suddenly went into widescreen. Their possibilities were endless.”
“I had a very high horse, which I still do have, but I had occasionally jump off.”
“My drive is to be successful because I'm good at my job. So my drive is to be as good at my job as I can be. I want to keep it real... I don't want to lose what made me good in train spotting, what made me good in shallow grave. I want to hold on to that.”