By Jordan Hynson
“I don't see a difference between playing a performance capture role and a live action role,’ actor Andy Serkis once stated, “they're just characters to me at the end of the day and I'm an actor who wants to explore those characters in fantastically written scripts.”
“I don't see a difference between playing a performance capture role and a live action role,’ actor Andy Serkis once stated, “they're just characters to me at the end of the day and I'm an actor who wants to explore those characters in fantastically written scripts.”
For most actors it’s about the money and fame, but for British actor Andy Serkis its more than that, it’s about the thrill and enjoyment of playing the role, “Whether I'm a good or a bad actor, I know why I do it.”
Serkis was born on the 20th of April 1964 in Middlesex, England, to a social worker and a gynaecologist. In 2002, Serkis married actress Lorraine Ashbourne and together they have had 3 children.
He first began acting in his first year at college, appearing in several plays put on by the University of Lancaster, where he was studying. His first professional on-screen appearance was not until 1989 when he appeared on the TV series, The New Statesman.
Since then Serkis has played some of films most iconic characters of the 90’s and 00’s. Some of his roles include Gollum in Lord of the Rings, King Kong in King Kong and Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
However despite landing these famous roles, Serkis himself is hardly known, mainly due to him mostly using motion capture, “Everybody thinks performance capture is about thrashing around and doing a lots of movement, but it's actually about being able to contain and think and be believed in a close-up, as much as anything else.”.
This however may soon be about to change. In the next few years Serkis has some key roles lined up in widely known enterprises. He is cast to play one of the main villains in Star Wars: The force awakens which is to be released December this year and has also been cast as the main villain for the 2018 film Black Panther.
As well as these roles Serkis will be directing his first film, a remake of the beloved kids film the Jungle Book, and has recently said, “I'm definitely moving more towards directing now.”
Though he may not be well known himself, his work certainly does not go unappreciated, and with all his upcoming roles he may just start to be a little better known. So if you’ve ever considered being an actor why not try doing it in a way that’s a little different, and as Andy Serkis himself once said, “Be magnificent. Life's short. Get out there. You can do it. Everyone can do it. Everyone.”
Any actors you think go unnoticed or are under-appreciated? Why not share below, and share your favourite actors with fellow movie lovers.
Serkis was born on the 20th of April 1964 in Middlesex, England, to a social worker and a gynaecologist. In 2002, Serkis married actress Lorraine Ashbourne and together they have had 3 children.
He first began acting in his first year at college, appearing in several plays put on by the University of Lancaster, where he was studying. His first professional on-screen appearance was not until 1989 when he appeared on the TV series, The New Statesman.
Since then Serkis has played some of films most iconic characters of the 90’s and 00’s. Some of his roles include Gollum in Lord of the Rings, King Kong in King Kong and Caesar in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
However despite landing these famous roles, Serkis himself is hardly known, mainly due to him mostly using motion capture, “Everybody thinks performance capture is about thrashing around and doing a lots of movement, but it's actually about being able to contain and think and be believed in a close-up, as much as anything else.”.
This however may soon be about to change. In the next few years Serkis has some key roles lined up in widely known enterprises. He is cast to play one of the main villains in Star Wars: The force awakens which is to be released December this year and has also been cast as the main villain for the 2018 film Black Panther.
As well as these roles Serkis will be directing his first film, a remake of the beloved kids film the Jungle Book, and has recently said, “I'm definitely moving more towards directing now.”
Though he may not be well known himself, his work certainly does not go unappreciated, and with all his upcoming roles he may just start to be a little better known. So if you’ve ever considered being an actor why not try doing it in a way that’s a little different, and as Andy Serkis himself once said, “Be magnificent. Life's short. Get out there. You can do it. Everyone can do it. Everyone.”
Any actors you think go unnoticed or are under-appreciated? Why not share below, and share your favourite actors with fellow movie lovers.