PAGE 15 Metro Life - Amazon S3 · 2018-08-05 · Four’. Before that though he charmed the world...

MetroLife ‘Dirty Harry’ star Clint

Eastwood was elected mayor

of Carmel, California on this

day in 1986. The salary -

just $200 a month

PAGE 15

April 8

Just be FantasticW

elsh actor Ioan Gruffudd is bestknown for playing iconic comic bookhero Mr Fantastic alongside JessicaAlba and Chris Evans in the ‘Fantastic

Four’. Before that though he charmed the world as Horatio Hornblower in the TV series ‘Hornblower’. Last weekend he was also busy charming thecrowds at the second annual Middle East Filmand Comic Con. The trip to Dubai (via Hollywood) was a longone for Gruffudd who began acting, as a youngboy, in the Welsh Valleys. “It really is incredible to think that I startedout as an 11-year-old on a Welshlanguage soap opera and a few yearsago I was playing an American icon inMr Fantastic,” he tells 7DAYS. If you too dream of stardom, Gruffuddwould have you starting early andtreating every acting gig, no matter howsmall, as a vital learning experience. Anopen mind has been key to his success. “What is amazing to me is that allthe work I did back home inWales gave me such a greatfoundation and experiencethat helped catapult meforward to the career I

have today,” he recalls. “I wouldn’t say I was agreat actor back then on ‘Pobol Y Cwm’ but Ilearned so much from my fellow actors and itspurred me on to go to London to study andtrain at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.” His time at RADA was tough and not enjoyablebut he feels it gave him the method acting skillsneeded to progress. To many fans Gruffudd will always be HoratioHornblower, the Royal Navy officer protagonistfrom the UK TV show centred around theNapoleonic Wars. Like ‘Downton Abbey’ today,the show gained popularity across the Atlanticand helped him land another nautical themed

part. This time he would have been forgivenfor feeling out of his depth, as top directorJames Cameron was at the helm. “Working on ‘Titanic’ was a baptism offire!” says Gruffudd, who played the sailorwho refuses to give up the search forsurvivors at the end of the movie. “I hadonly done a day’s work on a movie before

then so as you can imagine it was aneye-popping experience.”

“Being young and full ofconfidence and knowing thatCameron wanted me to playthis part it just made me feelon top of the world.

“Acting is all about confidence and when you’reyoung you think you can conquer the world, soif I were to part any advice to a young actor whois toying with making the leap to Hollywood, I’dsay ‘don’t hesitate. Come when you’re youngand most confident and don’t look back!’” Despite playing Mr Fantastic, Gruffudd admitshe would give anything to follow in thefootsteps of Evans. After playing Johnny Stormand alter ego Human Torch in 2007, Evans thentook on the role of Captain America.“I would kill to play another comic book herobut I’m afraid that nobody would buy me in a

different role to Mr Fantastic. I know my buddyChris went on to play Captain America but Ican’t see lightning striking twice for me. If I evergot the chance though, I’d love to play thevillain of the piece,” says Gruffudd. He’s not all career minded. His most recentproject is ‘Forever’, which also stars ‘True Blood’actress Deborah Ann Woll and is produced aspart of the charity organisation ‘Art of Elysium’.He explains: “The Art of Elysium encouragesactors, artists and musicians to voluntarilydedicate their time to children who are battlingserious illnesses.” julian.pletts@7days.ae

BEND TO IT:Ioan Gruffudd may havebeen seriously stretchyas Mr Fantastic but he

has proved pretty flexiblein his career as well

SUPER ROLES TO FIT THE STARSOf course the Comic Con celebs dream ofhaving superhero powers. But who wouldthey love to play?

SEAN ASTIN -The Goonies,Lord of theRings (Right)The Hulk! OrShazam. No, wait.Underdog.

ALAN TUDYK -Dodgeball (left)Green Arrow, I could maybe pull that off. He isa smart alec as well, he is not really a stand upor just guy. He has always got a wry commentto make which I like. Or Aquaman.

TARA PLATT - Naruto, Tales of SymphoniaI am going to cheat because I have alreadyplayed Wonder Woman.

WARWICKDAVIS -Willow, StarWars, HarryPotter There’sa couple. IronMan - is he asuperhero? Ilike the idea ofbeing in all ofthat gadgetry

and being able to fly around and stuff.Although I did come up with a superheromyself - Captain Shortass. His power is that hekind of arrives too late for everything.

Food, fashion, movies and more...

Follow your dreams, says boy from theValleys who became a Hollywood hero

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