Actors with Oxfordshire connections star in Richard Burton movie
Two actors appearing in a new movie about Richard Burton both have strong Oxfordshire connections.
Mr Burton is the tale of schoolboy Richard Jenkins, and Philip Burton, the English teacher who recognised his talent and transformed him into Richard Burton, the world-famous star of stage and screen.
Toby Jones, fresh from his acclaimed performance in the TV series Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, is starring in the title role, with Oxford-born Harry Lawtey playing the young Richard Jenkins. The film opens in cinemas on Friday.
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While Mr Lawtey was born in Oxford, Mr Jones is a former pupil of Abingdon School.
Mr Lawtey made his name in the BBC series Industry, appearing in three seasons as Robert Spearing, but he won't be appearing in season 4.
He told The Telegraph: "Ultimately I feel like I'm in a place where I've said everything I had to say with a character, and I think both me and the writers felt mutually happy with where we left him."
Richard Jenkins dreamed of becoming an actor, but his ambitions were in danger of being derailed by a combination of family trouble, the pressure of war, and his own lack of discipline.
Mr Burton recognised the raw talent in his pupil, and made it his mission to fight for him, becoming his tutor, strict taskmaster and eventually his adoptive father.
Oscar nominee Lesley Manville plays 'Ma Smith', Philip Burton's landlady and close confidante, who acts as a watchful eye and guiding force over young Richard, while Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Aneurin Barnard play 'Cis' and 'Elfed', Richard's elder sister and brother-in-law who looked after him after the death of his mother.
Toby Jones (Image: Press Association) The film was financed by BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with Creative Wales, with Marc Evans, helming the movie as director.
Shooting finished on the movie last year, with Aneurin Barnard posting about the shoot on his Instagram page, while Mr Jones was snapped DJing at the wrap party.
Mr Burton is set for its early April release to coincide with the centenary of Richard Burton's birth.
Mr Lawtey told the Guardian he became 'mildly obsessed' with Burton after seeing Jack Thorne's The Motive and the Cue in 2023.
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The play revolves round a 1964 production of Hamlet starring Burton and directed by John Gielgud, and Harry Lawtey sought out footage of the original production on YouTube.
About a month later, by coincidence, he was sent a script for Mr Burton.
'It said it was about someone called Richard Jenkins,' he added.
'I didn't know that was Richard Burton until about halfway through. I just thought it was this lovely made-up story about this young Welsh kid who wanted to be an actor.'
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Oxford in 1963 (Image: Oxford Mail) Richard Burton was a student at Oxford University's Exeter College during the Second World War, part of a six-month scholarship programme offered by the RAF for qualified cadets prior to active service.
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor had strong links with Oxford in the 1960s.
One of the highlights of 1966 in the city was when the renowned actors turned up to star in Oxford University Dramatic Society's production of Dr Faustus in 1966 at the Playhouse.
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor visited Oxford on numerous occasions and had such strong links with the city that one of its theatres is named after them.
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