Harry Potter star Timothy Spall reveals how losing weight has changed his career and shares the one diet change he made to shed the pounds
Harry Potter star Timothy Spall has revealed how losing weight has changed his career.
The actor, 68, has discussed his weight loss journey and told how he decided to shed the pounds for his role in 2015 horror The Enfield Haunting.
Timothy, who famously played Peter Pettigrew/Wormtail in the wizarding franchise, revealed he was suddenly considered for parts he wouldn't have been before.
Admitting it changed his career, Timothy also revealed the one major diet change he made in order to lose weight.
'I wanted to lose weight for a part in The Enfield Haunting, so I stopped drinking wine and that regulated my diet,' he told Saga magazine.
'The weight came off and I started to get parts I wouldn't have had before - funnily enough, I'm currently filming a Netflix movie directed by Kate Winslet called Goodbye June where I had to fatten up by wearing a strap-on belly.'
The actor, 68, has discussed his weight loss journey and revealed how he was suddenly considered for parts he wouldn't have been before (pictured left in 2022 and right in 2006)
Timothy also discussed his weight transformation back in 2019, revealing it felt 'liberating' to change his lifestyle.
'As a character actor, it's put me in a position where I'm not hobbled by being a certain shape. I'm no longer that avuncular round bloke,' he told The Radio Times.
In his wide-ranging interview with Saga, Timothy also discussed being diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia - a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells - at the age of 39.
He emotionally admitted he begged for God to 'spare him' and revealed there was a time when his family thought he wouldn't make it.
'The pain and the horror of what me dying would do to the people I loved was the only unbearable side of it, the rest I could take,' he bravely shared.
Timothy has been married to his wife Shane since 1981 and they share three children - famed actor Rafe, 42, and daughters Pascale, 49, and Mercedes, 40.
He has secured many major film credits throughout his career, including in 1996's Secrets and Lies, 2023's The Sixth Commandment and Wicked Little Letters.
Timothy also secured the role of betrayer and rat animagus Wormtail in the Harry Potter franchise, appearing in six of the eight popular movies.
He didn't appear in the first two instalments but made his debut appearance in The Prisoner of Azkaban, coinciding with the storyline of JK Rowling's novels.
He then appeared in the subsequent films - The Goblet of Fire, The Order of the Phoenix, the Half-Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows' Part 1 and Part 2.
Despite his decades-long career, Timothy was only awarded his first BAFTA last year when he took home the prestigious Best Actor gong.
He collected the accolade for his 'heart-wrenching' performance as murdered Peter Farquhar in The Sixth Commandment.
Receiving his award at the Royal Festival Hall with a beaming smile on his face, he told the audience: 'Acting's a stupid thing, it really is.
'It's a soppy old thing really. Standing up, pretending to be somebody, p****ing around in costumes. 67 and you think, is this me - am I still doing this?
'But, the reality is, sometimes you get the chance to play people that have had a terrible thing happen to them and all they wanted was love and it's a beautiful thing to be able to tell a story about something like that.
'This story is about many things, it's about a terrible crime but it is also about love. We're privileged, especially when telling real stories about real lives, that people give you permission to do this.
'We're just storytellers really, when we can tell stories that are really touching and really affect people and it makes a difference and we can all share in this human condition, some of it horrible, some of it beautiful and some of it both.
Admitting that he was overjoyed by the award, Peter, who was given the gong by Lashana Lynch, said: 'Even though acting is a silly, stupid thing, and the other actors in this are bl**dy brilliant and I am in owe of their talent.
'It's lovely, I've always wanted one of these - it's lovely to have one. I'll shut up now because I'm just drivelling on. But I'm just so pleased to be here, among you lot. We have quite a good life really don't we. Thank you very much.'
Timothy previously quipped that he was always 'a bridesmaid and never the bride at these awards'.
In 2014, after a win at Cannes Film Festival, he said: 'I've always been the bridesmaid at these awards. I've been nominated for BAFTA awards but never won.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Will there be a series four of Ginny and Georgia after huge plot twist finale
Series three of Ginny and Georgia left on a huge cliff-hanger- so will there be a series four? The third series of hit Netflix show Ginny and Georgia dropped onto the streaming platform on Thursday, June 5, and super fans have already finished binging all 10 episodes. But, after a cliff-hanger ending (spoilers ahead) viewers are on the edge of their seats, wondering if a fourth series has been confirmed. Series three of Sarah Lampert's comedy-drama, which focuses on teen Ginny and her 30-year-old mum Georgia, picked up after the jaw-dropping events of the series two finale, in which Georgia was arrested for the murder of Tom Fuller at her wedding to Wellsbury mayor Paul Randolph. Georgia's son Austin, who was playing hide-and-seek and hiding in the wardrobe of Tom's room, had witnessed the act as Georgia smothered Tom with a pillow. The third season primarily focuses on the murder trial, with Georgia facing a possible prison sentence. In a shocking turn of events, Austin frames his father, Gil, for the murder he knows was committed by his mum. But aside from this twisted crime and resulting trial, a huge plot twist that came at the end of the series was that both Ginny and Georgia discover that they are pregnant, after Georgia had faked a pregnancy earlier in series three. And what's more, we don't know the identity of the father of Georgia's baby. So, will fans be blessed with another series of this twist-after-twist comedy-drama? Luckily, the show was renewed for a fourth series at the same time its third series was confirmed, back in 2023. But viewers will have to wait until then to find out the aftermath of Ginny and Georgia's fast-paced series three finale. And its fourth series is planned to be its last ever. Showrunner Debra J. Fisher revealed to the Hollywood Reporter that the Netflix show was always planned to run for four series, and that they had already mapped out plans for Ginny and Georgia's final episode. The showrunner told the publication: "When Sarah [Lampert] and I pitched the show to Netflix, we did pitch four seasons, so we know what we want the end game to be. 'We know what we want the last episode to be.' Although the fourth series of the beloved show is yet to receive a confirmed release date, fans can expect to wait around two years, as has been the norm for the previous series. Ginny and Georgia series one came out in 2021, series two in 2023, and series three in 2025. And fans are devastated to have to wait, expressing their eagerness for series four on social media. One fan said on X: "Just finished season 3 of Ginny and Georgia. An amazing season, I need season 4 on my desk tomorrow!" Another user wrote: "Just got done with season 3 and Georgia is still mother, Joe is still hot af, Paul DILF card got revoked, not any cringe worthy moments from Ginny, and Ellen still being Georgia best friend throughout every thing with that said give me season 4". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Netflix's Dept Q star had an ordinary job before landing life-changing role
Netflix star Alexej Manvelov who plays Akram in the streaming platforms latest thrilled Dept Q had a very normal job before coming into the spotlight. Netflix's Dept Q has quickly become a fan favourite, captivating viewers with its thrilling storyline and standout performances. While lead star Matthew Goode has earned widespread praise for his portrayal of troubled detective Carl Mørck, viewers have also been quick to praise his co-star, Alexej Manvelov, who plays Akram, hailing him as a scene stealer. The 43-year-old Swedish actor plays Akram, Detective Mørck's mysterious 'assistant'. A former member of the Syrian police, Akram is relentless in his pursuit of justice to uncover the truth. Alexej's portrayal of Akram has taken viewers by storm and they can't seem to get enough of him. Despite his growing fame and impressive appearances in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and the hit HBO show Chernobyl, his path to stardom was far from traditional. Before becoming a professional actor the star spent nearly a decade working in the construction industry - although he always wanted to be an actor. According to the Swedish publication Aftonbladet, Alexej worked as a sheet metal technician for eight years after relocating to Stockholm to chase his acting dreams. While holding down the physically demanding job, he got involved with several independent theatre groups and attended auditions whenever possible. His determination paid off, as he eventually went on to star in various Swedish productions including the thriller Before We Die and Stockholm Requiem. His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Garo in Chernobyl, which opened doors to international projects. In 2023 he went on to star as Alexei Petrov in Jack Ryan, before landing the role in Dept Q. Speaking to Netflix's Tudum, Matthew Goode praised the cast that writer and director Scott Frank assembled. He said: "Scott Frank assembled one of the finest casts I've ever gotten to work with. It's just an incredible playpen for an actor." "Leah Byrne is a stone-cold star. I felt like I've known Jamie [Sives] for a long time, we just get on so well… Alexej [Manvelov] is joy, pure joy, capital J," he continued. Dept Q is a gripping crime series revolving around the brilliant, but flawed, detective Carl Mørck, who is given a cold case assignment after being badly injured following a mysterious attack that left his partner paralysed and a young police officer dead. The show is based on the hit novels by Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen and has nine episodes, which dive into the cold case and explores the truth behind Mørck's attack. Speaking about the plot, Matthew said: "When we join the story, a 16-year-old case up in Aberdeen has been solved. The optics of that look really good, because right now they're lacking finance and crime figures are going up. "So Kate Dickie's character - the boss of the police force - her higher-ups say, 'Let's form a cold case unit.' She puts Carl in charge because she can keep an eye on him in the basement." All episodes of Dept Q are available to watch on Netflix now.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Holly Willoughby's future plans as she's left without telly show for first time in years
IT has been an incredibly testing few years for former ITV treasure Holly Willoughby, with her work life as she knew it crumbling around her. For the first time in years the 44-year-old has been left without a TV show - and she's now at a serious crossroads and is poised to start a new chapter in her career. 10 Holly Willoughby is looking to the future now Credit: Getty 10 The star is currently not working with ITV - or Stephen Mulhern Credit: Rex 10 A second series of Bear Hunt will not be renewed Once the princess of ITV, she is currently 'showless' with her beloved ITV for the first time in 21 years. With her time on ITV's This Morning now a distant memory, Holly was looking likely to land a series of lucrative deals with the streamers. But in a further blow - her new Netflix show, Bear Hunt, with Bear Grylls, has been axed. The news comes just weeks after Dancing On Ice was axed and on top of that, she has made the decision to step down from You Bet!, leaving Stephen Mulhern to present alone. She is set to appear briefly in the next series, but will no longer be hosting it. It marks a huge shift in her work with ITV. One option for the star could be a reboot of Record Breakers, which Holly's husband Dan Baldwin is already working on. There is currently no channel attached to the show, which is in its very early stages but sources say it would be a "perfect fit". A telly insider said: "Record Breakers is likely to be a prime time hit and it would make perfect sense for Holly to take the reins. "She has worked alongside Dan before and the pair know what it takes to make great telly." Watch moment Holly Willoughby drops clue over Dancing on Ice's future after series 17 finale She has also been linked to a reboot of Cilla Black's best-known show, Blind Date. The Sun told this week how the ITV classic is being revived - and in a surprise twist will go to global streaming service Disney+. Producers want to keep the tradition of a top British female host, with a shortlist including Claudia Winkleman, Holly Willoughby and Davina McCall. Sources say Holly is also being looked at for a new Channel 4 talent show, currently dubbed Secret Singers, which is searching for raw, undiscovered singing talent. Love Productions - the creators of The Great British Bake Off and The Piano - have already put out a casting call. An insider said: "This is likely to be a heartwarming and hugely popular show for all the family. "They are looking for a the perfect host to make sure it's a huge success and it could be perfect timing with Holly's break in TV." 10 The star has had a difficult few years Credit: Rex 10 She is moving on from her days with Phillip Schofield Credit: Rex 10 Holly had been working on Netflix's Celebrity Bear Hunt Credit: Social media 10 Holly has turned to close friend Christine for support Credit: hollywilloughby/Instagram Holly returned to TV last year after 18 months - she had stepped down from presenting work entirely after discovering a plot to kidnap and murder her. Evil Gavin Plumb was given three life sentences for planning to break into her home, then sedate, abduct and kill her and her husband. It came just months after a very public falling out with her co-host Phillip Schofield, which ended with him leaving the show in May 2023. Changes are happening behind the scenes, too. Holly has a big decision to make with her media company Roxy after it was revealed she owes a huge amount to the tax man. Roxy was set up in 2008 by Holly with husband Dan Baldwin. But it wasn't until 2022 that Holly filed the first annual accounts for her all-female ran company after she made the decision to leave former talent agency YMU in 2020. Roxy Media deals with TV show 'production activities', according to its listing on Companies House. But just three years on, Roxy has now been slapped with a winding up order. 10 Holly and husband Dan are parents to three kids Credit: Refer to Caption 10 Holly is set to work alongside husband Dan more Credit: Getty Action against the company was launched in January and the court was told Holly's company has already settled a bill of £377,000 with the taxman, with an unknown amount still owed. In recent weeks Holly has turned to close friend Christine Lampard for support. Like Holly she has enjoyed long stints with ITV, but has also stepped away from them at times. Sources have said that Holly is inspired by Christine's career and her work-life balance and is hoping to emulate that herself. They said: 'Holly is ready for a rebrand and has definitely been looking at those around her for inspiration.' Addressing her incredibly difficult time, Holly recently told The Sunday Times Style Magazine: 'It's been tough. There's no way of sugar-coating it.' Discussing why she felt moving forward was her only option, Holly said: 'Sometimes things go wrong, but you have to keep going for it because that's all you can do.' And it looks like Holly is moving forward - but not before making some serious changes.
