Andrew Scott plays Scottish actor Ian Charleson in the new film “Elsinore.” The film tells the story of the final months of Charleson’s life, when, in 1989, despite being seriously ill with AIDS, he took to the stage at the National Theatre to play Hamlet.
Charleson was known for the films “Chariots of Fire” and “Gandhi.” He died in 1990 at the age of 40. His final performances in “Hamlet” later became one of the best-known chapters of his stage career.
For openly gay actor Andrew Scott, the role proved especially personal. He says he did not want to turn Charleson’s story into yet another tragedy solely about AIDS: it was more important to him to portray a man who continued to work, joke, and live, even while understanding the severity of his condition.
There is also an obvious parallel between generations. Charleson built his career in British theatre in the 1980s, when coming out publicly could seriously affect an actor’s work. Scott came out in 2013 and now not only plays Charleson but also serves as a producer on the film.
“Elsinore” will open the London Film Festival on October 7. The film also stars Olivia Colman, Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, and Joe Locke.
This is more than just a story about one gay actor playing another. Nearly forty years separate them—and their stories offer a vivid illustration of how the position of openly queer actors has changed over that time.
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