greatreporter.com, October 3rd, 2007
Rufus
Sewell
was born on October 29 1967 to a Welsh mother and an Australian father. A young tearaway, he grew up between Twickenham, Soho and Wales, regularly skipping school. Despite his waywardness, he would study at the prestigious Central School of Speech and Drama in
London
. The fruits of his studies first came in the form of the ‘Best Newcomer Award’ for his
London
stage debut as a bisexual Czech in the 1992 hit ‘Making It Better’.
The Big Break
Sewell
's role as
Patsy
Kensit
's drug addict boyfriend in the coming-of-age Brit flick ‘Twenty-One’ put him on the movie map in 1991. But it was in 1994 that he captured millions of female hearts bringing George Elliot's Will Ladislaw to life in the BBC's production of Middlemarch. Historical drama directors duly took note.
Career HighsReceiving an Olivier Award nomination for ‘Arcadia’ in 1994 and being honoured with the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut just one year on for his performance in
Brian
Friel
's play ‘Translations’ both sit favourably in
Sewell
's CV.
Career Lows
Sewell
's decision to accept the role of a loony tune cult leader in the 2000 film ‘Bless the Child’ was not his best. He might have been tempted by the prospect of co-starring with
Kim
Basinger
, but this film about a six-year old girl believed to be a mysterious prophet didn't cut the ice with movie critics and it flopped.
Did You Know?
Sewell
is an accomplished photographer whose passion lies in taking pictures of people unaware. He maintains personal photographic diaries for every acting job he does. His favourite reportage to date is of
Papua New Guinea
natives going about their lives, while filming ‘In a Savage Land’ in 1999.
The Final WordHaving voiced all the characters in 13 of
Ian
Fleming
's James Bond novels for audio books,
Sewell
admits he loves playing baddies best. "Villains were always my favourites," he says. "Bad guys are always fun. They always have so much more to say and can never resist revealing their evil plans, even though it would probably be more astute to button it."
