大象传媒

Cast and character biographies

Kris Marshall plays Art (left of picture)

Kris' most recent big-screen role was that of sex-starved Colin Frissell in the romantic comedy Love Actually. A young up-and-coming British actor, Kris has also appeared in Iris, The Four Feathers and The Most Fertile Man In Ireland.

He secured the role that really brought him recognition in 2000 as Nick Harper in My Family which he has starred in for the last four series and won an award for Best Newcomer at the 2002 British Comedy Awards.

Following his success, he achieved leading man status starring alongside Amanda Donohoe as DS Luke Stone in Murder City.

TV credits include Dr Zhivago, Waiting For The Whistle and The Likely Lads and other film credits include The Merchant Of Venice and Mexicano.

Art, Arthur Chapel, is a talented independent low-budget filmmaker. And like so many great artists before him, the establishment fails to recognise his genius. They don't even return his calls.

Not that he listens to criticism. No, Art carries on regardless, irrepressible and indefatigable, working in a cinema by day and writing screenplays by night.

He is so totally immersed in the world of film that he assumes real life plays by the same rules. He mistakes the most trivial everyday incidents for the most exciting celluloid adventures.

Not unlike Don Quixote tilting at windmills, thinking they're giants, Art doesn't see a neighbour taking the bin bags out, he sees a man disposing of his wife.

Everywhere he looks, he sees a story. And no matter what evidence there is to the contrary, Art has the kind of fervent imagination to twist the facts to fit the fiction.

Andrew Scott plays Jones (right of picture)

Andrew started his acting career in Dublin, where he was born. He has acted extensively in Irish theatre and has been appearing in London theatre since he moved there some years ago.

Andrew has had roles in a number of feature films including, Saving Private Ryan, Longitude and Nora.

He was cast as the lead in Dead Bodies for which he was awarded an Irish Film and Television Award as Best Actor this year.

Andrew has also appeared in a number of high-profile television productions including The American, Band Of Brothers and This Is Dom Joly.

Other films include Cigarette Girl and Miracle at Midnight.

A quiet, sensitive small-town boy, Jones first met Art at a college film club. They were made for each other: nobody else would talk to Jones, and nobody else would listen to Art. Ten years later, they still live together. They also work together.

A projectionist at the same cinema Art works front-of-house for, Jones shares in his great love of filmmaking, but takes care of the more practical side, like food and water. Although initially sceptical of Art's version of events, Jones quickly gets caught up in the excitement.

He isn't so much gullible as very willing to understand. And Art is only to happy to prey on this. He never fails to persuade Jones to follow him into the lion's den. And often gets him to go first!

Not until Beth enters the frame is their friendship put under any strain. This fledgling romance is the first glimpse of a serious relationship in a long time. Unfortunately, Art despises her. And so Jones finds himself squarely in the middle of a triangle.

Alice Lowe plays Beth (centre of picture)

Alice has played Liz in Garth Marenghi and Garth Marenghi's Dark Place as well as Alice in the stage versions of Fright Knight and Netherhead.

Her film roles include Last Chancers and Post.

She has had other television roles in Black Books, Chambers and Orcadia, which she also co-wrote.

Beth is a perfectly together veterinary assistant, smart and pragmatic. There is absolutely no reason for Art to despise Beth the way he does. She even likes Fellini! But hate her he does. And then some. He's actually allergic to her, and sneezes every time she comes near him.

Of course, Freud wouldn't have to delve too deeply into Art's subconscious to reveal the very real threat Beth poses. The longer the relationship with Jones lasts, the more likely Art will end up alone.

And he knows that he needs Jones more than Jones needs him. A more unlikely alternative is for Beth to win Art over. She does seem to get caught up in his adventures. And over time he does seem to sneeze less often.