Ken Stott profile
In the mid-50s, a Sicilian academic arrived in Edinburgh to lecture in Italian literature. She met and fell in love with a Scottish man, and the result of their union was the black-haired, dark-eyed Ken Stott – a man who could out-brood Darcy, Heathcliff and Phil Mitchell put together.
But would you believe this intense actor was an avid ballet dancer up to the age of 15? A real-life Billy Elliot, he had to overcome much mickey-taking to pursue his passion. “It was a hard thing to do for a lad growing up in Edinburgh,” he later recalled.
Once Ken made the decision to become an actor, progress was slow. His decidedly "un-luvvie" attitude meant his time at the Royal Shakespeare Company during his twenties was not a happy one. On top of this, recognition was extremely slow in coming and for seven years, Ken actually sold double-glazing to make ends meet. In fact, the first award he ever received was salesman of the month.
Since then, things have improved of course. Stott spent ten years doing repertory theatre before at last securing his first lead role in Through the Leaves at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1985. By 1986, he was playing at the National and in the next few years, gathered numerous awards, including an Olivier Award for his role in Broken Glass. However, it was perhaps his part in the original cast of West End hit Art (with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay) that really brought him into the limelight in 1996/97.
These days, of course, Stott is finally a star: not only of theatre, but TV and film too. Aside from winning legions of petrified fans in the Messiah series, he was a hit in Taking Over the Asylum and The Vice in the 90s and became an unlikely sex symbol in the process. Meanwhile, his film credits include Shallow Grave, King Arthur, Plunkett and Macleane and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
After moving on from Messiah in 2005, Ken was drawn to another dark-souled detective, taking over the role of Ian Rankin's hard-drinking Inspector Rebus from John Hannah.
Once Ken made the decision to become an actor, progress was slow. His decidedly "un-luvvie" attitude meant his time at the Royal Shakespeare Company during his twenties was not a happy one. On top of this, recognition was extremely slow in coming and for seven years, Ken actually sold double-glazing to make ends meet. In fact, the first award he ever received was salesman of the month.
Since then, things have improved of course. Stott spent ten years doing repertory theatre before at last securing his first lead role in Through the Leaves at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1985. By 1986, he was playing at the National and in the next few years, gathered numerous awards, including an Olivier Award for his role in Broken Glass. However, it was perhaps his part in the original cast of West End hit Art (with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay) that really brought him into the limelight in 1996/97.
These days, of course, Stott is finally a star: not only of theatre, but TV and film too. Aside from winning legions of petrified fans in the Messiah series, he was a hit in Taking Over the Asylum and The Vice in the 90s and became an unlikely sex symbol in the process. Meanwhile, his film credits include Shallow Grave, King Arthur, Plunkett and Macleane and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
After moving on from Messiah in 2005, Ken was drawn to another dark-souled detective, taking over the role of Ian Rankin's hard-drinking Inspector Rebus from John Hannah.
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