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Gunpowder, Treason and Plot - Bothwell 听 Category : TV Drama Date : 27.02.2004 Printable version

Even catching up with this talented, young actor requires break neck speed these days, but as he arrives home from the gym he is more than happy to talk about his latest roles.

"I'm not really the work out type, but all these active roles mean I've got to at least try and stay in shape," he says.

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Certainly, his current schedule demands serious fitness. Later today he is off to Italy for talks about his leading role in the epic drama, Rome.

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This 12-part series, which chronicles the rise of ancient Roman through the eyes of two soldiers, is a major 大象传媒 and HBO co-production, which shoots in Rome's Cinecitta Studios, with additional location filming in Europe and North Africa.

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Yesterday McKidd arrived home from Spain, after completing work on the new Ridley Scott movie, Kingdom of Heaven.

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The film is set during the 12th century crusades and again called for physical prowess and emotional intensity.

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But for now, McKidd cheerfully explains why his earlier incarnation as the rough and ready Bothwell helped him as he rode alongside his Kingdom of Heaven co-stars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson and Jeremy Irons.

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It is all a matter of equestrian confidence, he confides.

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"To be honest, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot got me riding properly because we rode so much. Up until then I'd felt very unsure of horses and didn't see myself as a horse lover," he chortles.

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"My breakthrough came one particularly hot day; I hauled myself into the greasy saddle and could ride. It had become natural, second nature.

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"How those Romanian horses ever understood my Scots accent is anyone's guess, but I'm chuffed to say the experience set me up to ride their Spanish cousins with ease."

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Moving back to Jimmy McGovern's passionate and intense telling of the Mary Queen of Scots story, McKidd is full of enthusiasm.

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He immediately praises his young, French co-star Cl茅mence Po茅sy. "She did a brilliant job and is totally believable as Mary, who was a few years younger than Cl茅mence is now.

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"Mary was a big leap for this lovely, wee French actress.

"Initially, she was anxious about her English - which was ironic because it was better than most of us on set!

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"I was able to reassure her that her accent was accurate - if not perfect - as Mary's first language was French."

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Once work got underway McKidd says, "Cl茅mence just became the tender, intelligent 19 year old, who was thrown into becoming Mary Queen of Scots - in a land that was wild and dangerous and culturally alien to her.

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"I think it was a brave decision on the part of Gillies to cast young actors in many of the key roles," says McKidd who has worked with the director several times on his films Hideous Kinky, Regeneration and Small Faces.

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"A less creative and respected director wouldn't be able to inspire the performances he drew from us. There was a real energy and buzz within the production and everyone was up for giving it their best on every take.

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"I loved Jimmy's script, which moves from really full in-the-fire action to intimate love scenes between Bothwell and Mary.

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"Having such well-written drama means every day was a new challenge - interesting and engaging. I hope we pass that on to our audience."

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But, what does McKidd say to viewers who may not agree with McGovern's telling of history? There are those who say that Bothwell never loved Mary, and manipulated her when she was most vulnerable.

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"You know, we're not making a documentary or writing a history book here. I think it's too simple to say, 'No, no, that's wrong historically in my view, therefore this drama is invalidated'.

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"A dramatist of Jimmy's calibre will be inspired by history and then make it fly for the audience."

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As soon as the script landed in McKidd's hands he felt an affinity with Bothwell.

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"I've never felt so strongly about any character before. I thought I know this guy, I feel it in my heart. I was desperate to play him.

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"Bothell's part hero, part anti-hero, which makes him brutally honest. He'll do and say whatever it takes to protect his Queen and Scotland. His love for both is absolute and selfless.

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"The fact that Bothwell was a proud and noble Scot is irrefutable - he wasn't simply an ignorant hard guy.

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"For example he would have been able to speak French, but only does so as a concession to Mary during a couple of intimate scenes. Gillies' direction brings these moments through with subtlety and beauty."

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It seems ironic now that McKidd started acting because of athletic inadequacy.

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Before the age of 14 he was 'a big beefer' unable to play football. So he ended up in a school play, enjoyed the buzz, and knew acting was for him.

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However, his parents were less keen and he studied Engineering at Edinburgh University before switching to a drama course.

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Since then he hasn't looked back.

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He appeared with Robert Carlyle and Ewan McGregor in Trainspotting, was acclaimed for his role as Johnny in Acid House and was a very credible operetta singer in Mike Leigh's Topsy Turvy. Recently, he starred in Dog Soldiers.

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Television audiences will remember him as a passionate Count Vronsky opposite Helen McCrory in Anna Karenina, and as Duncan in The Key, 大象传媒 TWO's epic Scottish drama last year.

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Despite a strong work ethic, keeping a work-life balance is important to McKidd.

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After his imminent meeting in Italy, he is relishing three weeks at home with his wife, Jane, and their two young children.

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Then he heads off to do battle proper in Rome.

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