Brian Cox on Labour's first year, Farage and his new play on 2008 financial crash
Like Logan, Cox grew up in Dundee, and he's back in the city to star in Make it Happen, a new play about the Royal Bank of Scotland's role in the 2008 financial crash.
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The National
8 hours ago
- The National
'Bollocks': Brian Cox pans historically inaccurate Braveheart
The Succession actor said the 1995 film, which features Mel Gibson in the starring role of William Wallace, was historically inaccurate and had a 'crap' script. According to Telegraph reports, the 79-year-old said during an appearance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival: 'The film is just bollocks. It doesn't make any sense.' READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon says monarchy 'should end soon' at official book launch Cox appeared in Braveheart as Argyle Wallace, William Wallace's uncle, after initially rejecting the role to star in an eponymously titled film about Rob Roy, which also premiered in 1995. He said Gibson urged him to join the Braveheart cast. 'I said, 'Well, there is a very good part at the beginning, a guy called Argyle but I'm wrong for him because he should be cadaverous and thin',' Cox said. 'And he said: 'No, you can play it'.' Despite winning five Academy Awards, the film has been widely criticised for its historically inaccurate depiction of the Scottish Wars of Independence. It contained a romance between Wallace and Isabella of France, starting after the Battle of Falkirk. In reality, Isabella was a child and still living in France at the time. The childhood backstory given to Wallace is fictional as little to nothing is known about his younger years. The inclusion of Robert the Bruce has also been panned as inaccurate due to there being no evidence the pair ever interacted with one another. Characters are also seen wearing tartan, which was yet to be invented. READ MORE: 'Kiss my a**': TV star hits out at BBC over 'disgraceful' Strictly Come Dancing snub Cox added: 'I just didn't want to be in a kilt. Of course, they didn't have kilts in those days, but they had to have kilts [in Braveheart] because that is what it is about.' The actor went on to defend Gibson, calling him 'wonderful to work with'. 'He gets a bad rap but actually he is a really good man. I saw him deal with some lads [on the film] who were alcoholically inclined and he used to deal with them absolutely beautifully', Cox said. Gibson has repeatedly come under fire for racist, antisemitic, homophobic and misogynistic comments, as well as charges received for driving under the influence and investigations over domestic violence.
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
British acting legend new frontrunner to play Voldemort in Harry Potter reboot
A new name has emerged as the favourite to play Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter TV reboot. HBO has already revealed the three young actors who will play Harry, Hermione and Ron, following in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Meanwhile, John Lithgow is set to play headmaster Albus Dumbledore, I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu will be Severus Snape, and Nick Frost has been cast as Hagrid. But Potterheads are still waiting to find out who will star as the new Voldemort. The current favourite to take on the role is Matthew Macfadyen, according to Online Betting Guide. They put the Succession star at 1/1 odds, in news that comes shortly after the acclaimed actor was cast to play Voldemort in a new Harry Potter audiobook series. The first of the seven full-cast audiobooks, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will be released by Audible on November 4, followed by Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on December 16. Meanwhile, former Doctor Who star Matt Smith and Marvel alum Paul Bettany are also tipped for the role of Voldemort in HBO's Harry Potter, both of whom enjoy 3/1 odds. Coming in behind them is Peaky Blinders' Cillian Murphy at 4/1, who previously had something of an edge after the original Voldemort actor, Ralph Fiennes, gave him his blessing. During an interview on Watch What Happens Live, Fiennes said: 'Cillian is a fantastic actor. That's a wonderful suggestion. I would be all in favour of Cillian. Yeah.' Who do you think would be the best Voldemort? Tom Hiddleston is also in the running, with odds of 5/1 — though he was previously the favourite for the role. No stranger to playing a baddie, Hiddleston is probably best known as Marvel's impish Loki. Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook shares her take… Tom Hiddleston's tenure as Loki in the Marvel franchise is riddled (get it) with moments proving he has a strong Voldemort performance in him. Think back to when he went full panto villain at Comic-Con in 2013, emerging from the dark with the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. He's certainly capable of playing a charismatic villain – but there's the risk his charm may soften Voldemort's edges. After all, who didn't end up secretly loving Loki, even before we were meant to? We want someone who's truly terrifying to play Voldemort. Hairs upright on the back of your neck type of thing. Perhaps an actor like Idris Elba would be a better fit, admittedly not currently in the conversation, but with a commanding presence and The Wire's Stringer Bell as proof he knows how to play a complicated villain. The show's confirmed cast, which includes Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, and Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, have been subject to immense scrutiny already. Especially as Harry Potter creator (and the new HBO series' executive producer) JK Rowling's comments about the trans community have caused backlash from some groups. In a recent interview, The Crown's Bertie Carvel, who will star as Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, declined to discuss the author but did reflect on his future in the show. 'I am coming at it with a really open mind. Whether I come back [after the first series] probably depends on what the fans think. I mean, I'll be furious if it's not an amazing part.' More Trending Meanwhile, Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the original Harry Potter films, has defended the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Snape after he faced racist backlash on social media. 'I've seen some people online who are being rude about him. What they're being is racist,' he said in an interview with Collider. The Harry Potter TV show will stream exclusively on Max in 2027. View More » This article was originally published on May 30, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Netflix unveils major return for Peaky Blinders legend in 'stressful' new film MORE: The new Lego Harry Potter set is a very Christmassy looking Hogsmeade MORE: Dame Emma Thompson shares surprising reality of her iconic Harry Potter appearance
Telegraph
18 hours ago
- Telegraph
Brian Cox: Braveheart is a lie
Braveheart is 'a lie', Brian Cox has said. The Scottish actor, who starred in Succession, said the Mel Gibson film about William Wallace had a 'crap' script and was historically inaccurate. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, he said: 'The film is just bollocks. It doesn't make any sense.' Cox, 79, appeared in the 1995 historical epic despite initially turning the role down to appear in a film about Rob Roy, the 17th century outlaw. He said Gibson pleaded with him to take a role in Braveheart. 'I said, 'Well, there is a very good part at the beginning, a guy called Argyle but I'm wrong for him because he should be cadaverous and thin',' Cox said. 'And he said: 'No, you can play it'.' Cox played Argyle Wallace, the uncle of the main character, in the film about the Scottish wars of independence in the 13th and 14th centuries. He added: 'I just didn't want to be in a kilt. Of course they didn't have kilts in those days but they had to have kilts [in the film] because that is what it is about.' Braveheart, which won five Academy Awards, has been criticised for not strictly following historical fact. It contained an invented romance between Wallace and Isabella of France, depicted Scots wearing tartan before it was invented and showed them using tactics in the set piece battle against the English army that they did not use. The script was based on a 15th century poem called The Wallace, written by a minstrel called Blind Harry. 'Mel is wonderful to work with,' Cox said. 'He gets a bad rap but actually he is a really good man. I saw him deal with some lads [on the film] who were alcoholically inclined and he used to deal with them absolutely beautifully.' Sharon L. Krossa, a medieval historian and Braveheart detractor, has previously said: 'The events aren't accurate, the dates aren't accurate, the characters aren't accurate, the names aren't accurate, the clothes aren't accurate – in short, just about nothing is accurate.' The film was blamed in the run up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum for a rise in anti-British sentiment. Stanley Baxter, the comedian, said it was 'to do with these dreadful films they've made, anti-English films and that wretched Australian [Mel Gibson] – Braveheart – it's not even correct historically'.
