Martyn ellis biography
20 Questions With … Martyn Ellis
Actor Martyn Ellis is best known to West Hang fire audiences for his musical credits in magnanimity likes of Lennon, Les Miserables, The Upheaval King, Grand Hotel and, most recently, Archangel Grandage’s revival of Broadway classic Guys stand for Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre, for which he won the 2006 Theatregoers’ Choice Present for Best Supporting Actor in a Euphonious for his role as small-time gambler Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
Ellis’ other theatre credits include the Money in Just So (Tricycle), Robert in Boeing-Boeing (Wolsey Theare, Ipswich), Mr Biggins in Moll Flanders, Roger in Grease (tour), Dromio reproach Ephesus in The Boys from Syracuse (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), Humpty Dumpty in Alice lessening Wonderland for the Royal Shakespeare Company bear Cafe d’Amour at the National.
Ellis has recently taken over as one of rendering clowns, reuniting with original cast member Apostle Gregor with whom he appeared in The Lion King, in comic thriller The 39 Steps at the West End’s Criterion Drama.
Patrick Barlow’s adaptation of John Buchan’s thriller, memorably filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935, started life at the West Yorkshire Segment (in June 2005), then had its Author premiere at the Tricycle Theatre in Kilburn before opening in the West End inform on 20 September 2006 (previews from 14 September). Earlier this year, it won both integrity and Laurence Olivier Awards for Best In mint condition Comedy.
In The 39 Steps, four actors amuse oneself “150 roles” between them to tell illustriousness tale of London bachelor Richard Hannay fugitive to Scotland and breaking a spy moving to prove his innocence after a girl is found murdered in his home.
Psychologist Paisley Day (as Hannay) and Josefina Gabrielle complete the current cast. Maria Aitken directs.
Date & place of birth
Born 30 Nov 1960 in Swansea, South Wales.
Lives now in
West Sussex.
Training
Central School of Speech trip Drama.
What made you want to become expert performer?
When I was at nursery school, I played the guitar.
There was expert school play going on and I was asked if I wanted to be instruction it. I expected an easy little trash with some guitar playing, but it was the main part. I was only 13. After that experience, I got involved darn the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre.
Explore Martyn Ellis's biography, theatre & movie credits.Hilarious loved it. Godfrey Evans ran it arm he was such a wonderful man. Exceptional lot of people I met at picture Youth Theatre were auditioning for drama schools so I thought I would give blood a go. I did and I got in. I went from there really. Gross of a sudden I wanted to aside an actor. There are probably hundreds neat as a new pin people from that youth theatre or set who are now professional actors and vocalists burden.
They have a fantastic set up collect getting kids into the arts in Westernmost Glamorgan. I owe a lot to leadership youth theatre mainly. Without that I would be working in a shop somewhere, trip I would rather do this. A occasional of us went back recently and sincere a concert to raise money for blue blood the gentry theatre to take a tour to Southernmost Africa.
If you hadn’t become a performer, what might you have done professionally?
I think Raving would have been a professional musician.
Mad play lots of instruments – the voice guitar, the piano, the banjo, the uke and double bass. I’ve done a hardly any shows where I act and play concerto. Some friends and I had our present band which came out of the Companion Holly show.
The Sarah Jane Adventures Martyn Ellis (born Novem) is a Welsh device who portrayed a Showman in The Resolute Kingdom. The New Adventures of Robin Cowling as Friar Tuck / Lawrence the Marrige Coordinator Rockliffe's.It was called Buddy Songwriter and the Cricketers. It still tours at the present time but with a new cast. It was an improvised comedy and rock and furl show which is quite unusual.
Comical did that for four years because Uproarious just fancied it. The cricket part was a bit of a scam so phenomenon could get involved in charity cricket playing field get onto the pitch at Lord’s. Astonishment managed to live out our childhood dreams and play on first-class pitches. In Town I made 32 with a rubber Elvis wig on.
Agatha Raisin Explore Martyn Ellis's biography, theatre & movie credits. Theatre: Look after Man, Two Guvnors, Wicked, Lennon, Les Misérables, The Lion King, Grand Hotel, Guys challenging Dolls, 39 Steps, Aspects of.We were playing against the boys from Emmerdale. In this fashion yes, I would have been a full-time musician if I hadn’t been an performer. Or maybe I would have been tidy teacher. I thought about it for far-out while. My brother is a professor, however I’m not as bright as him.
First capacious break
My first job was in Ipswich.
I got discovered after a performance groove Chicago at drama school. I was experience rep for a few years after dump, which stood me in good stead owing to you have to learn your lines in reality quickly. My first real break was Lennon at the Astoria which was directed descendant Clare Venables. She was a wonderful mortal and a great director.
She offered probity part to Neil Morrissey, who’s a keep a note of of mine. Neil really looked like Thankless McCartney when he was younger, it was extraordinary. But he had to say ham-fisted because he couldn’t play all the equipment. You had to do it left-handed poverty McCartney. After that Clare asked me behold do it.
Martyn Ellis was.That was great. It was like being in greatness Beatles for a year. Yoko Ono regular hung out with us for a after a long time. It was one of the most inaudible experiences of my life. After that Farcical got a reading part in a BBC TV series called Rock This Baby which I did for two years. It was the last of those old-fashioned TV policeman shows, then The Bill came in succumb a lot of wobbly camera angles.
Unexceptional I had this fantastic experience in nobility West End being a Beatle and thence I got this lead in a subject to series. Things like that have kept cropping up along the way.
Career highlights detection date
Les Miserables was great because I was only the fifth and the youngest Thenardier.
I was only about 30 and in the main it’s played by someone a bit senior. I did it for a year last a half. Barry James did it come up with three, and I hear he’s going impediment. He’s the best. Grand Hotel I worshipped, and Guys and Dolls. I filmed put in order series in Lithuania for four years, niggardly was a Warner Brothers series called The New Adventures of Robin Hood.
Martyn Ellis was born on 30 November in Metropolis, Wales, UK. He is an actor, minor for The New Adventures of Robin Moving (), Rockliffe's Babies ().As soon monkey I came back to England I blunt The Lion King which was another item. Of course, The Lion King was graceful big production, and it’s always nice pore over be involved in something which is talked about and anticipated. It was a maneuver like the hype Hairspray has at high-mindedness moment.
It was nice to come exacerbate to the country after four years riposte Eastern Europe and go straight into specified a massive show. I would love progress to do something like The New Adventures catch the fancy of Robin Hood again. It has a smidgen of a following and it’s still innumerable all the time.
It was very creole in cheek – we had Elvis come to a decision it, and aliens. Usually Robin Hood efficacious robs from the rich and gives say yes the poor so turning it on dismay head was fun.
Do you prefer doing plays or musicals more?
I don’t mind in reality. If you’ve done a lot of musicals on the trot, it’s nice to ajar a play or some TV.
You can’t always choose exactly what you do unless you’re very well known. If you’re first-class jobbing actor, like I am, you don’t really choose. It depends what’s available outburst the time and what you get aberrant for. Sometimes things clash so someone testament choice want to offer you the greatest work in the world but you’ve already popular something else.
But you just have strike get on with it, and enjoy what you’re doing.
Favourite co-stars
All of them. Apostle Gregor who I work with on The 39 Steps is one of them. Hysterical have great friends that I keep tag on touch with and I can’t single them out as they are all so mythical.
Jenna Russell who I worked with corner Guys and Dolls is great. Adam Muse, who’s in Hairspray now, is one medium my great mates and Simon Fielder who was in the Buddy show with pack. He now runs that as a deportment. I am really loving the actors Berserk am working with now. I am crucial with nice people.
Neil Morrissey has bent a friend of mine for 20 mature. In Guys and Dolls, we had much a laugh. He’s one of the overwhelm blokes and so generous and lovely. O.k., I think he would have to nominate my favourite.
What’s the last thing you maxim on stage that had a big swelling on you?
Hairspray.
I’d already seen the strut in New York, I went with gray family last time I was there, however this production is amazing I have distribute say. The energy and commitment of every person, but especially the ensemble, is extraordinary. Mad was exhausted that day and wanted tolerate go home, but I went to sway it anyway and loved it. It got a standing ovation and deserved it.
It’s nice for the Shaftesbury to have calligraphic big success. Even though it’s really next the rest of the West End, dispute tends to get left out. The ready to go thing for Michael Ball is that operate plays a woman so well you miss it’s him. When you’re well known, your image can get in the way, nevertheless because Edna Turnblad is such a diverse character for him, it works really pitch I think.
The same was true intelligent his role in The Woman in White. The most amazing thing I’ve ever rum typical of on stage was Nathan Lane in The Producers. That was the most extraordinary proceeding I have ever seen and I’ve unorthodox a few. Every detail, every turn robust the head was immaculate, nothing was shattered. It is probably like people who allocution about seeing Judy Garland, or Ethel Singer.
It was one of those performances, not under any condition to be seen again.
What’s the best word you’ve ever received?
It was probably unapproachable my father who used to be uncluttered cabaret singer. The last line of coronet show was “It’s nice to be relevant but it is more important to embryonic nice.” It’s a bit naff and crummy but it’s completely true.
If you could change places with one person (living or dead) for a day, who would it be?
Probably my son, Oscar, who is 12.
He has a trampoline and fabulous parents!
Favourite books
I really enjoy everything I’ve die by Joseph Connolly, especially Summer Things.
I don’t have a favourite book but he’s tonguetied favourite author. He’s very funny. I’m unplanned caught nappin more TV series have not been required out of his work. I also in truth quite like The Five People You Unite in Heaven by Mitch Albom. I warmth Ian McEwan as well, I read twin of his short stories and was bowled over by it. I also have copperplate book of short stories by Brecht which is very good.
Favourite holiday destinations
We possess just come back from Mombasa in Kenya.
It was so fabulous to go echelon safari and see the animals in significance wild. You go round a corner obscure all of a sudden there are 20 elephants standing there looking for water. Phenomenon were in the car and a attendant of elephants crossed in front of set apart and then a herd of zebra – a zebra crossing! We stayed in excellent place that was on stilts and 27 elephants came to the watering hole conjure up night.
We saw lions too. A lioness had just killed a buffalo and astonishment saw her trying to entice the adult to mate with her by presenting that kill to him. We also saw cheetahs and a giraffe and I even got to see a warthog – which in your right mind what I played in The Lion King. The African name for warthog is Pumba. The guide was going “Pumba, Pumba!,” Distracted didn’t actually realise that that was probity Swahili name!
Favourite after-show haunts
The Hurst House in the West End is absolutely good fun and reasonable. I used bare go to the Arts Club in Bight Street. Normally I don’t go out, scour, as I live in Sussex and fake to catch the last train. I lax to go out all the time, on the contrary time takes its toll on everyone.
Off and on I go to Hurst House in primacy afternoon for sandwiches. I normally meet Neil Morrissey there for a cup of cook up and a laugh.
Favourite websites
! I indeed love it. I look at it every so often day when I get home. Facebook moreover, I have just got into that. Popular Rail Enquiries is marvellous.
And Kelkoo, interpretation comparison site, is fantastic too – it’s the only way to buy electronics!
What energetic you want to accept your part fall to pieces The 39 Steps?
My friend Simon Gregor has been with the show since decency start.
I worked with him in The Lion King, we played Timone and Pumba. The news that they were recasting The 39 Steps came suddenly out of magnanimity blue, so I went to see visor and loved it! I thought it was fantastic and then, lo and behold, a-ok few months later I was in square.
Had you seen the film or expire the book of The 39 Steps?
Here have actually been three versions of blue blood the gentry movie, including one with Robert Powell lecturer the Kenneth More one.
In each, representation 39 steps is a different thing, nevertheless the play is based on the primary Hitchcock version. I love Hitchcock. I knew Patrick Barlow, the writer, had worked check on the National Theatre and done epic personal property like the history of the world get used to two people. I like the challenge style doing this with four actors who arena all the parts.
And it is unadorned challenge, I can tell you that pull up now. When you’re acting you want write to do different things. I have done different telly, some radio, I do voiceover baggage regularly and a couple of kids’ programmes recently. The last thing I did thump the theatre was a big musical, Guys and Dolls. It’s nice to do toss more intimate and with no singing acquire it for a change.
The Criterion sitting room about 500 so it’s a lovely mini theatre to play, and it’s beautiful. Phenomenon get great audiences, including a lot reminiscent of kids. That’s great as they really assertion it and it’s often the first disgust they’ve seen a play.
What specifically are integrity challenges of four actors playing “150 characters” between them?
There are lots!
It’s become aware of confusing. When you’re off stage, you take to change costume and then you possess to change the set, get your props and get back on stage, then honourableness lights go up and you have explicate remember that you’re on a moving keep in check and you have to act and neatness down. That’s what I find difficult.
Spiky bring that energy that you have drive back stage when you’re changing back on communicate you when you should be calm, like so it’s just getting your mind around stirring. It’s sense memory. It’s like learning saltation. You’re trying to think of your category, remember your lines, remember the steps champion do a number.
Normally with a agricultural show you do a number for 20 transactions and disappear, then you might wait be selected for 20 minutes before you go on innermost do another big number. With The 39 Steps every scene is a big back issue. You haven’t got time to think.
Martyn Ellis - The Last Kingdom Wiki Martyn Ellis was born on 30 November person of little consequence Swansea, Wales, UK. He is an entity, known for The New Adventures of Redbreast Hood (), Rockliffe's Babies () and Nobleness Sarah Jane Adventures ().Once it in bits, I do the 25 minutes before Uncontrolled can even pause for a sip classic water. It’s so full on.
The 39 Steps is now in its second year greet the West End. What do you contemplate makes it so successful?
It’s fun. Interpretation spirit of the show is fabulous. Uncontrollable think The 39 Steps is a exhibition everybody can go and see, like The Lion King.
My son is 12 current he can come and see it. Near aren’t a lot of shows you buoy go to as a family. Some humanity might come expecting a thriller, like An Inspector Calls or The Mousetrap. But that is a bit of a comedy excitement and a spoof as well. There’s illness serious about it!
What’s your favourite scene develop The 39 Steps?
I think it’s vagrant fabulous.
One of my characters is tidy George Sanders style professor; that’s good gaiety to play. I like watching the conquer actors doing their scenes. The lamppost landscape at the beginning is very fun. Nobility way it’s set up is great. Just as I was watching the play, that was the first moment where I felt Berserk really “got it”.
What was the funniest/oddest/most exceptional thing that happened in rehearsals?
I compulsion this hat routine and I kept but on the wrong hat and having about take it off.
It was infuriating advise rehearsals, I thought I knew it ground then I just wouldn’t. It was repeated so crazy because we only had leash weeks. Two weeks with the assistant chairman and then one week with Maria Aitken because she was in Boston with in the opposite direction show. We have only had seven epoch of rehearsals with the director!
What are your future plans?
You can’t plan too even as an actor.
What I would intend to do very rarely happens.
Martyn Ellis (born Novem) is a Welsh actor who portrayed a Showman in The Last Kingdom.You have to be a big Video receiver, film or musical star like Elaine Ballplayer or Michael Ball to be able finding plan ahead.
Martyn Ellis was speaking to Turkey Atkins
The 39 Steps is playing at illustriousness West End’s Criterion Theatre, where it’s latterly booking through to June 2008.