Cast and character
biographies
Kris Marshall plays Art (left of picture)
Kris' most recent big-screen role was that of sex-starved Colin Frissell
in the romantic comedy Love Actually. A young up-and-coming British
actor, Kris has also appeared in Iris, The Four Feathers and The Most
Fertile Man In Ireland.
He secured the role that really brought him recognition in 2000 as
Nick Harper in My Family which he has starred in for the last four series
and won an award for Best Newcomer at the 2002 British Comedy Awards.
Following his success, he achieved leading man status starring alongside
Amanda Donohoe as DS Luke Stone in Murder City.
TV credits include Dr Zhivago, Waiting For The Whistle and The Likely
Lads and other film credits include The Merchant Of Venice and Mexicano.
Art, Arthur Chapel, is a talented independent low-budget filmmaker.
And like so many great artists before him, the establishment fails to
recognise his genius. They don't even return his calls.
Not that he listens to criticism. No, Art carries on regardless, irrepressible
and indefatigable, working in a cinema by day and writing screenplays
by night.
He is so totally immersed in the world of film that he assumes real
life plays by the same rules. He mistakes the most trivial everyday
incidents for the most exciting celluloid adventures.
Not unlike Don Quixote tilting at windmills, thinking they're giants,
Art doesn't see a neighbour taking the bin bags out, he sees a man disposing
of his wife.
Everywhere he looks, he sees a story. And no matter what evidence there
is to the contrary, Art has the kind of fervent imagination to twist
the facts to fit the fiction.
Andrew Scott plays Jones (right of picture)
Andrew started his acting career in Dublin, where he was born. He has
acted extensively in Irish theatre and has been appearing in London
theatre since he moved there some years ago.
Andrew has had roles in a number of feature films including, Saving
Private Ryan, Longitude and Nora.
He was cast as the lead in Dead Bodies for which he was awarded an
Irish Film and Television Award as Best Actor this year.
Andrew has also appeared in a number of high-profile television productions
including The American, Band Of Brothers and This Is Dom Joly.
Other films include Cigarette Girl and Miracle at Midnight.
A quiet, sensitive small-town boy, Jones first met Art at a
college film club. They were made for each other: nobody else would
talk to Jones, and nobody else would listen to Art. Ten years later,
they still live together. They also work together.
A projectionist at the same cinema Art works front-of-house for, Jones
shares in his great love of filmmaking, but takes care of the more practical
side, like food and water. Although initially sceptical of Art's version
of events, Jones quickly gets caught up in the excitement.
He isn't so much gullible as very willing to understand. And Art is
only to happy to prey on this. He never fails to persuade Jones to follow
him into the lion's den. And often gets him to go first!
Not until Beth enters the frame is their friendship put under any strain.
This fledgling romance is the first glimpse of a serious relationship
in a long time. Unfortunately, Art despises her. And so Jones finds
himself squarely in the middle of a triangle.
Alice Lowe plays Beth (centre of picture)
Alice has played Liz in Garth Marenghi and Garth Marenghi's Dark Place
as well as Alice in the stage versions of Fright Knight and Netherhead.
Her film roles include Last Chancers and Post.
She has had other television roles in Black Books, Chambers and Orcadia,
which she also co-wrote.
Beth is a perfectly together veterinary assistant, smart and
pragmatic. There is absolutely no reason for Art to despise Beth the
way he does. She even likes Fellini! But hate her he does. And then
some. He's actually allergic to her, and sneezes every time she comes
near him.
Of course, Freud wouldn't have to delve too deeply into Art's subconscious
to reveal the very real threat Beth poses. The longer the relationship
with Jones lasts, the more likely Art will end up alone.
And he knows that he needs Jones more than Jones needs him. A more
unlikely alternative is for Beth to win Art over. She does seem to get
caught up in his adventures. And over time he does seem to sneeze less
often.