Ray Winstone names the favourite roles from his career
The career of Ray Winstone stands as a marker of excellence in British cinema. Known and loved by several generations of fans for his frequent “hard man” character portrayals, Winstone has earned widespread admiration, even from the likes of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who have sought him out for their movies.
Among Winstone’s most impressive efforts is his remarkable turn in Gary Oldman’s 1997 drama film Nil by Mouth, in which he played an abusive, alcoholic husband and subsequently won a Bafta for ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’, proving the kind of intensity that he possesses as a star performer.
Still, like any actor, Winstone has his favourite roles of all time, the kind of efforts that have given him the biggest sense of pride. In an interview with the BBC, Winstone revealed his most cherished performances, which he admitted have arrived in varied circumstances, tones and genres.
First for Winstone is the 1999 British drama film The War Zone, written by Alexander Stuart based on his 1989 novel of the same name. The film serves as Tim Roth’s directorial debut and saw Tilda Swinton and Lara Belmont star alongside Winstone in a narrative that focuses on the incest and sexual violence of an English family in a truly unflinching manner.
Elsewhere, Winstone admits that Jonathan Glazer’s 2000 crime film Sexy Beast is a “fine film”. Certainly featuring one of Winstone’s most memorable performances as well as brilliance from Ben Kingsley and Ian McShane, Sexy Beast tells of a retired criminal living in Spain who is visited by a crazed gangster who tells him that he must return to his former life and take part in a bank robbery in London.
Alan Clarke’s 1979 prison drama Scum is another role that has a special place in Winstone’s heart. Originally produced as a TV play, the violence of Scum, which focuses on the brutal realities of a British borstal prison, including rape and suicide, was deemed too graphic for television, so it was eventually put out as a feature movie.
Finally, Winstone pointed out his effort as King Henry VIII in the ITV television serial from 2003. The serial told the story of Henry VIII from the end of his first marriage to his death in 1547. According to Winstone, Henry VIII is a familial favourite, with the actor noting, “My little girl loves watching that for ‘Daddy the king’, as she calls it.”
Discussing how he comes to take on his many acting roles, Winstone admitted, “I don’t actually look for anything. If I’m lucky enough to be sent a script and I like it, then I’ll do it. I’m not one of those people who likes to punt around a lot, I don’t build a career. I’ll wait until I find a script that I like.”
Winstone considers himself “lucky” in that he hasn’t had to try and forge a career path for himself but rather just took on the projects that he has been drawn to. Judging from the legendary British actor’s back catalogue, it’s clear to see that he’s always considered his offers based on their respective merit.
Considering the likes of Winstone’s favourite roles like Sexy Beast and Scum, the actor’s career has been defined by quality, but a quality that often details the harsh realities of British life.
