Best
of Rupert Everett
Rupert
James Hector Everett has become something of a national treasure in
the last decade, with his wit, outspokenness and refusal to conform
winning him legions of admirers. To celebrate the release of his
latest (A Royal Night Out, out on Blu-ray, DVD
and On Demand from 7th Sept 2015 and EST from 4th Sept 2015, courtesy
of Lionsgate Home Entertainment), we look
back on some of his best films to date.
A
Royal Night Out (2015)
Inspired
by true events, this heart-warming, wonderfully nostalgic romantic
comedy tells the riotous tale of a beloved future monarch
experiencing the energy and spirit of VE Day, 1945. Across Europe,
people are celebrating the end of the war and London overflows with
celebration. After pleading their case to their parents, two young
girls are allowed to leave their house and join the party. Nothing
particularly unusual about that... except, in this case, home is
Buckingham Palace, and the two young girls are Princess Margaret (Bel
Powley) and the future Queen of England,
Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon).
Everett and Emily
Watson take the roles of the King and Queen,
who reluctantly allow their daughters out to celebrate.
The
Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
One of
Everett’s many roles
in Oscar Wilde adaptations, this take on one of his funniest plays
sees Everett star
alongside Colin Firth
and Dame Judi Dench,
as well as an irrepressible Reese Witherspoon.
Firth and Everett
play two young gentlemen living in 1890's England, who both use the
same pseudonym (Ernest) for their on-the-sly activities. Everything
seems to be ticking along nicely, until they both fall for women
using that name, leading to all manner of complications and mistaken
identities...
St
Trinians (2007)
Everett
steals the show in this remake of the 60’s classic, which follows
the exploits of the wayward students of St Trinian’s girl’s
school, lead by their irrepressible headmistress Camilla Fritton
(Everett). When the
new Minister of Education (Colin Firth,
hamming it up gloriously) announces he will personally revamp the
school, he has no idea what’s in store. Meanwhile, the school is
threatened with closure by their bank, and the girls (including Gemma
Arterton and Tallulah
Riley) realise it’s up to them to save the
day.
An
Ideal Husband (1999)
This
adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic stars Everett alongside Jeremy
Northam, Julianne Moore, Minnie Driver and
Cate Blanchett. It
tells the story of
Sir Robert Chiltern (Northam)
a successful and happily married Government minister. All this is
threatened when Mrs Cheveley (Moore)
appears in London with damning evidence of past misdemeanours. Sir
Robert turns to his friend Lord Goring (Everett),
a witty, idle philanderer who knows Mrs Cheveley, and takes it upon
himself to solve the matter once and for all.
My
Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Everett
revived his career in spectacular form in this classic romantic
comedy which also stars Julia Roberts, Cameron
Diaz and Dermot
Mulroney. He plays George, the effortlessly
sophisticated editor and friend of Julianne (Roberts),
who offers a great deal of sage advice (which falls on deaf ears)
when she decides she is in love with her best friend Michael
(Mulroney). As
Julianne attempts to sabotage Michael’s upcoming wedding to Kimmy
(Diaz), she finds
herself stooping to outrageous tactics... but is she really in love
with him, or just the idea of him?
Dunston
Checks In (1996)
This
classic crime caper stars Everett
alongside Jason Alexander, Faye Dunaway, and
a very cute orang-utan. Alexander
plays Robert, a
beleaguered concierge of the luxury hotel owned by Mrs. Dubrow
(Dunaway).
She informs Robert that an undercover reviewer is visiting, and if he
impresses he might get a promotion and some time off to take his sons
on vacation. But when the notorious jewel-thief ‘Lord’ Rutledge
(Everett)
checks in with his trained orangutan, Dunston all manner of chaos
ensues.
The
Madness of King George (1994)
Nicholas
Hytner directed this screenplay by Alan
Bennett, which tells the sometimes funny, but
mostly tragic tale of King George III, his descent into insanity, and
the political and royal back stabbing which resulted from his
incapacitation. The film offers a fascinating insight into medical
practices in the late 18th
century, as well as an insight into the life of royalty; Everett
plays the Prince of Wales, alongside Nigel
Hawthorne as the king, and Dame
Helen Mirren as Queen
Charlotte.
Shrek
2 (2004)
This
sequel to the smash hit animation introduced Everett
as the not-so charming Prince Charming, alongside the original voice
cast including Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and
Cameron Diaz. Jennifer Saunders also voices
the brilliantly villainous Fairy Godmother. The sequel focuses on the
exploits of Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey when they set off to Far, Far
Away to meet Fiona's mother and father. Prince Charming returns from
a failed attempt at rescuing Fiona, and works alongside his mother,
the Fairy Godmother, to try and find a way to break up the happy
couple.
A
ROYAL NIGHT OUT arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand from 7th Sept
2015 and EST from 4th Sept 2015, courtesy of Lionsgate Home
Entertainment