Only a Job

Dear reader,

I write the following as a film fan and yet in the belief that it is true. It's true that actors, as much as we like them or their role or the film: for them it's only a job. I have read from several actors that they have been approached by fans on the street saying keywords, which to fans are quite significant to a role they once played. At that moment it doesn't occur to us fans that the actors only learn their lines, film it and then walk on to the next role, the next lines. In fact there are a few actors who out of principle don't watch any films they're in. They haven't seen the film for the umpteenth time like we have. Someone once said that some fans know some of his lines better than the actor who said it did.

From several interviews with Benedict Cumberbatch I know that the role of Sherlock Holmes is a lot of fun to play for him. Especially learning the deductions and talking that fast when he speaks them. One wrong word or one wrong intonation and the whole deduction is messed up. And yet it's only a job. Benedict Cumberbatch is not Sherlock Holmes. Benedict Cumberbatch is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Some years back I read that Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, said in an interview words to the effect of: when the money is right, he'd play anything. The Hagrid actor would play anything for the right money?! And he's the one playing one of Harry Potter's best friends?! What a stupid actor for such a role! And yet it's only a job. Robbie Coltrane is not Hagrid. Robbie Coltrane is Robbie Coltrane.

In the film “State of Grace” Gary Oldman plays the younger brother of Ed Harris. Like probably many other Gary Oldman fans I rued the scene in which Ed Harris shot Gary Oldman to death in that film. Gary Oldman's character was somehow very likeable and didn't deserve dying that way. I needed a few weeks to calm down and not being angry with Ed Harris. Yes, I was angry with Ed Harris. I respect him as an actor and thought it stupid that he'd play such a role in which he'd kill another actor I like. But he only played a role and most of all only went with what the script said. I didn't think of being angry with the script writer. No. Instead I refused to watch any film with Ed Harris in it for weeks. And yet it's only a job. Ed Harris is not Frankie Flannery. Ed Harris is Ed Harris.

Matt Smith. The Eleventh Doctor. My Doctor. David Tennant was the one that got me started watching “Doctor Who” and later, even though it was totally out of order I also watched Christopher Eccleston and certainly some day I'll watch the earlier ones, too. But Matt Smith somehow is my Doctor anyway. He's only one year older than I am. The first actor I like, who's close to my age. From his point of view as an actor I absolutely understand that he wanted to leave. Especially “Doctor Who” is about change. Playing the Doctor requires much time for just this series and not much time for anything else. I'll have much fun watching him in new films. But last Christmas I couldn't help but repeatedly think that the Doctor will regenerate now. It helped me a bit that Matt Smith himself finished filming the last episode months ago already. For him it was over for some time already. Also the Doctor regenerates to a good actor who I like a lot! And yet: as much as I like Peter Capaldi, he's yet another actor, who is very much older than I am. He could be my father! He absolutely fits for the role. After Matt Smith, the youngest Doctor of all, it's the right decision to have a considerably older actor taking over. Especially since Peter Capaldi is a big fan himself. All of that is only fair comfort for the fact that my Doctor is gone now. And yet it's only a job. Matt Smith is not the Doctor. Matt Smith is Matt Smith.

Christopher Eccleston only had one season of playing the Doctor. He didn't want to be stereo-typed and only be seen as the Doctor with roles similar to that of the Doctor. I hardly know him and can't say how great that “danger” really was. I liked what I've seen from him as the Doctor and in other films, too. When David Tennant got offered the role of the Doctor, he thought a long time whether he should accept it or not. He was and still is a big “Doctor Who” fan, but what if fans didn't like him? Or what if he would only be seen as “the Doctor”? And yet it's only a job. Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant are not the Doctor. Christopher Eccleston is Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant is David Tennant.

Until next blog,

sarah