Life on Mars - John Simm/Sam Tyler (UK) Appreciation #1: He is made of win! - Page 5

**Lost in Translation** · 03-23-2009, 04:12 PM

With John Simm and Philip Glenister? I'd think so. Plus whatshisname is in it, he was in Hustle.

palegreen · 03-25-2009, 07:50 PM

Here are some pictures of John at a screening of his new film Skellig.

***Andie*** · 03-30-2009, 06:20 AM

Thanks for sharing those pictures with us

He looks lovely as usual

***Nad*** · 03-30-2009, 10:01 AM

Wonderful new pics, thanks for sharing

palegreen · 04-02-2009, 05:24 AM

Skellig airs next weekend in the UK!

Simm Spotting put up a bunch of John's quotes from the press pack. I've never read the book, but the comparisons to Roald Dahl & Pan's Labyrinth make me think I should check it out.

Character
I‘m playing a character called Dave who is Michael’s dad. He’s like a young - well, I wouldn’t say he was cool but he’s a really optimistic bubbly nice guy. He just finds himself in these circumstances where he’s trying to provide for his family and trying to do the right thing. And then tragedy hits with the sickness of his baby daughter. He kind of loses the plot a little bit but comes through the other end.

Taking the role
When I read the script I thought the story was a really lovely, charming modern day fairytale that wasn’t condescending in any way to children, it was quite dark in a way. I hadn’t read the book, so when I read the script, the story really stood out.

You’ve got to find a little bit of yourself in every part you play. I’m playing a dad of a young boy, and I am a dad of a young boy. It is playing yourself a little, you bring a large element of yourself to it. It makes it easier if it’s closer to home, acting wise it’s much easier. There’s a scene where I have to break down in the garden as I’m worried about the little girl, and so it helps being the father of a baby girl too.

Empathy
You have to make it real for yourself. If you’re supposed to be upset, you have to go to a fairly dark place and think how you’d feel if that happened to you, or if you had a similar experience. I had a similar experience where my boy was quite ill, it’s not very nice to remember but it helps, and it keeps you in a real moment.

His own kids
I’ve got a little boy, Ryan, who’s seven. He’d be really in to it. I’ve also got a young daughter. This is one of those things that they’re going to love when they get old enough to watch it, which is a lovely thing to be able to do as an actor. Tim Roth was saying last night that his kids are going to love it, too. Actually, I’ve got to get some brownie points back with my son because the last time he watched me in anything, I was the Master in Doctor Who. That was one of the main reasons I did Doctor Who in the first place, to please my son but it was funny – because the Master was an evil character my son just did a big semi-circle round me when I took him to school. So now I’ve got to try and be a good guy. Hopefully he’ll like Dave a little more.

Skellig
I don’t really see him in the film but I’ve seen drawings. He’s a tramp with wings really. Just grim, could be anybody - it could even be in Michael’s imagination. It’s quite dark this film. For a start a baby gets really ill and then Skellig, he’s not like this cuddly little man at the bottom of the garden - he’s not Stig of the Dump or anything like that. He’s like a horrible, trampy kind of cracked-skinned guy who’s really rude and not very nice at first. His wings are dirty, not fluffy and white. I just think it’s a really charming idea but it will also be quite gritty - it won’t be sugar-coated in any way. Kids tend to like that. It’s very similar to a Roald Dahl story, like a modern day fairytale.

His co-stars
Bill is great, he’s old before his time, he’s a good actor and he has it all naturally and instinctively. He’s a terrific little actor, his attitude is great, it’s a big part for him and he’s in pretty much every scene. I’ve worked with Kelly before, she’s a great actor and a wonderful person so it’s been a joy. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to do it, working with her makes things easier.

Pan’s Labyrinth
It’s a little bit like Pan’s Labyrinth. This guy could just be a tramp, and it could all be in the kid’s head. There’s a dark element, and it’s not a normal kid’s film, it’s got a bit of edge to it. The baby could die, which is really heavy. Like Pan’s Labyrinth, it’s got that gritty real life element going through it. Even the fantasy element is still pretty gritty, it’s not sugar coated in anyway which I really liked.

***Andie*** · 04-02-2009, 05:38 AM

Thanks for sharing

Btw has anyone watched The Devil's Whore?

palegreen · 04-02-2009, 05:40 AM

I've seen The Devil's Whore. I liked it a lot. John was amazing.

***Andie*** · 04-02-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palegreen (View Post)

I've seen The Devil's Whore. I liked it a lot. John was amazing.

That's waht I wanted to know

I gotta see if it's out on dvd and get my hands on it.

Btw what's your name?

palegreen · 04-02-2009, 10:16 AM

I'm Sam.

The Devil's Whore is out on DVD in the UK. No US release yet though. I think HBO has the rights to air it here, but who knows when they'll actually get around to it. I think it's worth buying the Region 2 DVD or tracking down through other means. Sexby's one of John's best roles, IMO, and the movie is absolutely gorgeous to watch.

Good stuff.

***Nad*** · 04-02-2009, 11:08 AM

Those caps are awesome, thanks so much for bringing them over Sam

Guess I'll have to check if there's a good deal for the Devil's Whore DVD

4N6 DNA · 04-02-2009, 07:51 PM

Was john from Dr. Who?

palegreen · 04-02-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4N6 DNA (View Post)

Was john from Dr. Who?

He was The Master, but that came after Life on Mars.

4N6 DNA · 04-02-2009, 08:43 PM

I thought that I recognized him, thanks for confirming that palegreen.

Do you have a fav Sam line or scene?

palegreen · 04-04-2009, 10:04 AM

Hmmmm, that's tough. John Simm is my favorite actor and with the exception of one episode he's in every single scene of the series. That's a lot of material to choose from.

And really great material at that. Choosing a favorite Sam moment for me is nearly impossible. But a few that immediately come to mind:

All of 1x01 - John hooked me from the very beginning. The scene beginning with him driving down the road crying and ending with him in 1973 CID is amazing. The scene where he hears the television talking to him for the first time and he hugs the television, crying, and begging the voice not to leave him there kills me. And for pure awesome, we have Sam & Gene jumping over the desk.

Finding Joanie Newton in 1x04 - The Wild Horses scene. It's really sad, and powerful, and I love it to death.

His Speech to Pete Bond in 1x05 - It's a really great speech and John delivers it brilliantly. Especially since he wasn't talking to another actor but an X on the camera man's forehead.

All of 1x08 - Especially his final scene with Vic Tyler. I desperately wanted Sam to be right about him.

He tells Tony Crane he's from the future/Tony Crane tells the rest of CID in 2x01 - I love the first scene because it was the first time in the series that I really thought Sam was starting to lose it. His face when he says, "Is this ringing any bells?" is pure crazy.

I love the second scene because of the looks exchanged between Sam & Gene. There's no doubt in my mind that Gene believed Crane was telling the truth, but he chose to stand by Sam.

The Camberwick Green cold open of 2x05 - And if I had to choose a favorite line it would probably be, "Stay out of Camberwick Green."

All of 2x08 - Especially the stuff with Frank Morgan in the graveyard/Gene's office, the "Over the Rainbow" montage, and the leap from the roof. Brilliant stuff.

4N6 DNA · 04-04-2009, 04:12 PM

He is your fav actor in all the shows that are on TV?

I haven't seen all the eps yet, but I loved when he got so pissed at Hunt for making him clean up June's blood off the floor. He did that scene really well.

For some reason her reminds me of the guy from nip tuck.