“Sing, muse, of that resourceful man who wandered far and wide after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy. Many were the men whose cities he saw and whose ways he learnt. Yay, and many the woes he suffered in his heart upon the seas striding to preserve his life and bring his companions home. But those he desired it sore, his companions he saved not.” The War Doctor, Doctor Who: A Thing Of Guile, 2016.
If acting was an art form, then only a few actors can claim to be a painter. This small list is one that's probably debatable for weeks, with many names suggestible and many names argued over. It would be almost impossible to come up with a definitive list. But one of the names that would be consistent across most, if not all, lists would be John Hurt. It's impossible to accurately describe the breadth of roles that Hurt has played: he's been the outcast, the despondent, the downtrodden, the dictator, the mentor, the warrior and more. He's played every role you can think of, and has lived and breathed every single one of the characters he has played. He isn't simply one role: he isn't just Ollivander, the magical wand seller and expert of the Harry Potter films. He isn't just Adam Sutler from V For Vendetta, who brings a massive amount of charisma and power to what could have been just a standard dictator type character. He isn't just Winston Smith, taking George Orwell's character in print and bringing him to life with aplomb. He isn't just Quentin Crisp, a role which gained him a tremendous amount of respect and helped further the awareness and understanding of the LBGT community more than anyone else in the 1970's. And he isn't just the War Doctor, a mystical one-off incarnation of the Doctor, who was battle-scared from fighting in the Time War. Hurt was, truly, all of these, and so much more. Every time he is seen on screen, he captivates and holds the audience's attention with carefully rounded performances that totally believe in what he is selling. Never, in any role, does Hurt look like he's 'phoning it in'.
"Feels like somebody's been beating me with a stick for about six years... God, I'm hungry." Kane, Alien, 1979.
His filmography is so vast that it's difficult to know where to begin. When people talk of John Hurt, however, one role that will always be mentioned, regardless of whether or not people have seen the film, will be as Kane in Alien. While the part itself is relatively small in comparison to much of Hurt's other work, the scene where the alien bursts from Hurt's chest has been forever ingrained into pop culture. And, of course, Hurt sells it with complete conviction - like with every other part he has played. The legendary story that goes with the scene is that only Hurt, along with director Ridley Scott and a few effects people, knew exactly what was going to happen, and that makes the reactions 100% genuine. You buy into it, and that extends to the world that is created. Hurt is definitely a part of that: his earthly realism comes across. He helps to ground the world in the familiar: he isn't some intangible futuristic character, but rather an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary events. In 1979, that was rare to see in cinema, and even on TV it was relatively unlikely. While Hurt himself may not have been the main draw about the movie, his contribution is vital to that movie's success, and has led to the Alien franchise continuing to this day (Hurt himself returned to the role of Kane in the 1987 film Spaceballs, which was a direct parody of the chest scene from Alien). No small feat for an actor who's only had a limited connection with the franchise.
"Any film, even the worst, is better than real life." Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, 1975.
Possibly the role that launched him into the public eye for the first time was as Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant, a revolutionary TV film that is still talked about today, and still has a huge influence on LGBT culture. Taking on the lead part of the flamboyant and eccentric Quentin Crisp, Hurt broke through the so-called 'glass ceiling' on a number of levels with this production, but I think the greatest thing that can ever be said about Hurt in this role was that it was unlike anything seen on screen before. While the 1970's is littered with provocative movies and ground-breaking scenes, television was a lot more sedate and much less controversial. Hurt takes the character of Crisp, and, while maintaining the flamboyant nature of the character, makes him truly sympathetic. The rampant homophobia of Britain in the 20th century is well-documented, and the experiences that he goes through would make most feel sympathy for him. With Hurt's iconic portrayal, it's impossible not to. To do something that brave, to make a statement like that, on TV, in the 1970's, is commendable. The Naked Civil Servant still, to this day, stands as a watershed for the British televisual industry: a depiction of a transgender male not as a freak or an eccentric queer, but as a genuinely sympathetic character. And that is in no small part thanks to Hurt, who captures the light and shade of the character perfectly, allowing you to really buy into the character.
"Russia, China, the Congo, oh, I have travelled among unknown people in lands beyond the seas. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for this godforsaken hole!" Jellon Lamb, The Proposition, 2005.
Hurt's versatility was his greatest asset: he could turn his hand to any role, inhabit any character and make it work fantastically. And his appearance as Jellon Lamb in The Proposition is captivating, Hurt completely holding the audience's attention throughout. In particular, the scene where Lamb meets Guy Pearce's character Charlie Burns is one of the most captivating and interesting scenes Hurt has ever appeared in. He inhabits the world of Lamb completely, and you are rapped by the fact that, despite him being an utter drunk and most of the stuff he's saying is complete nonsense, you know that, on a sixpence, he can change and immediately become a dangerous individual once again. Like the bleak outback of Australia, the audience's senses are slowly dulled as to the power of the character, so, when he does pull out the knife on Burns, you are left with no doubt as to whether or not he'd use it. While I don't suspect it's one that will make many tributes, it's a role that Hurt nailed, and brought so much gravitas to.
"I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!" John Merrick, The Elephant Man, 1980.
Possibly his most sensitive and engaging role, Hurt takes on the fictionalised account to Joseph Merrick, a man with a terrible disfigurement. The make-up and prosthetics may have taken about 12 hours to apply, but they help transform Hurt into a completely different individual. And while the make-up work is first rate, what really engages the audience to his character is Hurt's portrayal. He owns the role, and while I say that a lot about his work, that's because it's true. But here, in the form of a man who has been outcast by society and trapped in a body that leaves him deformed, Hurt sells it. Completely and utterly. While I have to confess to never having seen The Elephant Man, the clips that I have seen show Hurt utterly in command of the role, and creating a fully developed, fully rounded character. The story goes that it was one of Hurt's most difficult performances, mostly because of the heavy prosthetics which took seven to eight hours to apply. But he sold it, completely and utterly, and, coupled with the film's surreal look and noir tone, Hurt helped create a piece of history. If I hadn't wanted to check out The Elephant Man before seeing Hurt in it, I do now.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow." Winston Smith, Nineteen-Eighty Four, 1984.
One of the most famous books of all time has had many adaptions into many different forms. But the one that's had the most cultural impact is the version Hurt stared in in 1984. Hurt was a natural choice for Winston: he had the right earthliness for the part, and he absolutely inhabits the character of Winston. The ending scenes, where we see Hurt's character broken and damaged by the torture of Big Brother is utterly harrowing, and Hurt absolutely sells it. While another movie that I haven't see, it's certainly one I'd love to check out, based on the few clips I've seen, mostly for Hurt's stellar performance.
"Don't look at me. If I decide to doctor your food, you won't have to wait until morning to find out." Caligula, I Claudius: Hail Who?, 1976.
Caligula has become a little bit of a joke in recent times, you only have to watch the season four finale of Red Dwarf, Meltdown, to appreciate that. But what John Hurt does with the character in the 1970's BBC mini-series I, Claudius takes him back to the powerful figure he was, before all the post-history piss taking took place. Hurt is completely in command, even more so perhaps than in any of his other roles. He keeps him menacing, but isn't afraid to make him out to be insane. He walks a very careful line between the two, so we're never quite sure what his motivation is for anything. I, Claudius, for those not in the know, is pretty much the 1970's BBC equivalent of Game Of Thrones, though I might add with possibly more restraint. It was certainly as provocative, with one of the most talked about scenes being Hurt's character cutting out his own child from the womb of his sister and lover, and then eating said child! Game Of Thrones has nothing on this by comparison. And Hurt sells every moment, completely in command, and completely the imperial figure that he should be. I, Claudius stands out as one of the BBC's most successful programmes of the 70's, and I suspect that is mostly due to Hurt's amazing performance, and fantastic chemistry with the other actors, particularly fellow knighthood Sir Derek Jacobi.
"I want this country to realize that we stand on the edge of oblivion. I want every man, woman and child to understand how close we are to chaos. I want everyone to remember why they need us!" Adam Sutler, V For Vendetta, 2005.
In a complete contrast to his work on Nineteen-Eighty Four, in V For Vendetta Hurt plays the face of tyranny - the dictator behind the oppressed. And Hurt is utterly spellbinding. He captures the personality, the ruthlessness, the tyrannical nature (I suspect a bit of Caligula coming through there), the fear of the system breaking down due to the force of ideas. Sutler seems, on the page at least, a bit of a one-dimensional dictator. After all, in work like this, we often focus upon the protagonists, not the villainous system. However, Hurt really brings this character to life with great subtly and power, to the point where you wish he actually has more screen time. V For Vendetta is a powerful movie, and it's themes (like those in Nineteen-Eighty Four) resonate more strongly than ever. And I suspect that's not just down to it's clever script and sublime dialogue, but also because Hurt plays Sutler with such power and ferocity that you can't help but believe in him.
"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why. But I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you." Mr Ollivander, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, 2001.
Of course, one of Hurt's greatest roles will always be his appearances in the Harry Potter franchise. Taking on the small part of Ollivander the wand maker could have allowed Hurt the chance to phone in his performance, but, being the professional that he is, he fills that role completely. To be honest, he would have been an amazing Dumbledore, but, as Ollivander, John Hurt creates this slightly senile, but very wise and very calculating man, who's knowledge of wand lore and the skilled mastery of the wand is fantastic to watch. He many only appear in a couple of scenes, but, watching those scenes back, Hurt creates an amazing character who embodies the best bits about the franchise: it's slight wackiness, it's complete absurdity and it's utter magic. Not many actors command their craft so well that they can do that.
"Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame." The War Doctor, Doctor Who: The Day Of The Doctor, 2013.
Of course, the one role for which he will almost certainly be remembered for, especially by me, is his star turn in the 50th anniversary Doctor Who episode, The Day Of The Doctor. For a man who knew very little of the franchise, he slots into the role of the War Doctor fantastically. Of course, we all know that Hurt's Doctor was nothing but a stand-in for Christopher Eccleston, but, over the course of 70 minutes, Hurt creates a believable, sympathetic yet grumpy character who manages to convey the horrors of the Time War and the effect it's had on him. He's very much like the Doctor's of the past: so much so that I cheered when he pointed out that he didn't recognise the tenth or eleventh Doctors. But he also brings that earthliness that he brought to so much of his work: that while his Doctor may be fighting in this cosmic war that's beyond our comprehension, he grounds the character in the everyday. The War Doctor is essentially a man tired of war, tired of fighting the Daleks and sick of what the Time Lords have become. He gets that: completely. By the end of the episode, you're not thinking how great this would have been had Paul McGann or Christopher Eccleston been in it, you think what an amazing job Hurt has done. He's hands down the best thing about a very strong anniversary story. But, of course, Hurt's Doctor Who story doesn't end there, because last year, Big Finish Productions started releasing box sets starring John Hurt as the Doctor once more. Not only did a silly, geeky show like ours get one of the busiest actors in the business to play the leading role for one special, we got him to do some audios made by a small, independent production company as well. If you haven't listened to them, go and do it immediately, because Hurt is even better in them than in Day Of The Doctor. He owns every scene, with every line, even with every syllable. In fact, if I'm being honest, I'd probably say that Hurt was my third favourite Doctor, behind Tom Baker and Colin Baker, I really do. Hurt's legacy will barely encompass Doctor Who, but I think it should, because he did some of his finest work for this franchise.
And I've barely scratched the surface with regards to his roles. Max in Midnight Express, the voice of the Dragon in Merlin, Professor Broom in Hellboy, his voiceover work in Watership Down and the original animation of The Lord Of The Rings, his upcoming appearance in Big Finish adaptation of The Invisible Man and his many appearances on stage. But that was John Hurt. Not one role, but many. Not one will eclipse any other. He was as versatile as he was real. He is one of the great actors of our time, an actor with the power to touch so many people, an actor with the power to paint a thousand pictures, each as good as the last. All I can say is thank you. Thank you, Sir John Hurt, for all those amazing characters.
Rest In Peace, and my thoughts are with John's family and friends.
"We are all racing towards death. No matter how many great, intellectual conclusions we draw during our lives, we know they're all only man-made, like God. I begin to wonder where it all leads. What can you do, except do what you can do as best you know how."
If acting was an art form, then only a few actors can claim to be a painter. This small list is one that's probably debatable for weeks, with many names suggestible and many names argued over. It would be almost impossible to come up with a definitive list. But one of the names that would be consistent across most, if not all, lists would be John Hurt. It's impossible to accurately describe the breadth of roles that Hurt has played: he's been the outcast, the despondent, the downtrodden, the dictator, the mentor, the warrior and more. He's played every role you can think of, and has lived and breathed every single one of the characters he has played. He isn't simply one role: he isn't just Ollivander, the magical wand seller and expert of the Harry Potter films. He isn't just Adam Sutler from V For Vendetta, who brings a massive amount of charisma and power to what could have been just a standard dictator type character. He isn't just Winston Smith, taking George Orwell's character in print and bringing him to life with aplomb. He isn't just Quentin Crisp, a role which gained him a tremendous amount of respect and helped further the awareness and understanding of the LBGT community more than anyone else in the 1970's. And he isn't just the War Doctor, a mystical one-off incarnation of the Doctor, who was battle-scared from fighting in the Time War. Hurt was, truly, all of these, and so much more. Every time he is seen on screen, he captivates and holds the audience's attention with carefully rounded performances that totally believe in what he is selling. Never, in any role, does Hurt look like he's 'phoning it in'.
"Feels like somebody's been beating me with a stick for about six years... God, I'm hungry." Kane, Alien, 1979.
His filmography is so vast that it's difficult to know where to begin. When people talk of John Hurt, however, one role that will always be mentioned, regardless of whether or not people have seen the film, will be as Kane in Alien. While the part itself is relatively small in comparison to much of Hurt's other work, the scene where the alien bursts from Hurt's chest has been forever ingrained into pop culture. And, of course, Hurt sells it with complete conviction - like with every other part he has played. The legendary story that goes with the scene is that only Hurt, along with director Ridley Scott and a few effects people, knew exactly what was going to happen, and that makes the reactions 100% genuine. You buy into it, and that extends to the world that is created. Hurt is definitely a part of that: his earthly realism comes across. He helps to ground the world in the familiar: he isn't some intangible futuristic character, but rather an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary events. In 1979, that was rare to see in cinema, and even on TV it was relatively unlikely. While Hurt himself may not have been the main draw about the movie, his contribution is vital to that movie's success, and has led to the Alien franchise continuing to this day (Hurt himself returned to the role of Kane in the 1987 film Spaceballs, which was a direct parody of the chest scene from Alien). No small feat for an actor who's only had a limited connection with the franchise.
"Any film, even the worst, is better than real life." Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, 1975.
Possibly the role that launched him into the public eye for the first time was as Quentin Crisp in The Naked Civil Servant, a revolutionary TV film that is still talked about today, and still has a huge influence on LGBT culture. Taking on the lead part of the flamboyant and eccentric Quentin Crisp, Hurt broke through the so-called 'glass ceiling' on a number of levels with this production, but I think the greatest thing that can ever be said about Hurt in this role was that it was unlike anything seen on screen before. While the 1970's is littered with provocative movies and ground-breaking scenes, television was a lot more sedate and much less controversial. Hurt takes the character of Crisp, and, while maintaining the flamboyant nature of the character, makes him truly sympathetic. The rampant homophobia of Britain in the 20th century is well-documented, and the experiences that he goes through would make most feel sympathy for him. With Hurt's iconic portrayal, it's impossible not to. To do something that brave, to make a statement like that, on TV, in the 1970's, is commendable. The Naked Civil Servant still, to this day, stands as a watershed for the British televisual industry: a depiction of a transgender male not as a freak or an eccentric queer, but as a genuinely sympathetic character. And that is in no small part thanks to Hurt, who captures the light and shade of the character perfectly, allowing you to really buy into the character.
"Russia, China, the Congo, oh, I have travelled among unknown people in lands beyond the seas. But nothing, nothing could have prepared me for this godforsaken hole!" Jellon Lamb, The Proposition, 2005.
Hurt's versatility was his greatest asset: he could turn his hand to any role, inhabit any character and make it work fantastically. And his appearance as Jellon Lamb in The Proposition is captivating, Hurt completely holding the audience's attention throughout. In particular, the scene where Lamb meets Guy Pearce's character Charlie Burns is one of the most captivating and interesting scenes Hurt has ever appeared in. He inhabits the world of Lamb completely, and you are rapped by the fact that, despite him being an utter drunk and most of the stuff he's saying is complete nonsense, you know that, on a sixpence, he can change and immediately become a dangerous individual once again. Like the bleak outback of Australia, the audience's senses are slowly dulled as to the power of the character, so, when he does pull out the knife on Burns, you are left with no doubt as to whether or not he'd use it. While I don't suspect it's one that will make many tributes, it's a role that Hurt nailed, and brought so much gravitas to.
"I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!" John Merrick, The Elephant Man, 1980.
Possibly his most sensitive and engaging role, Hurt takes on the fictionalised account to Joseph Merrick, a man with a terrible disfigurement. The make-up and prosthetics may have taken about 12 hours to apply, but they help transform Hurt into a completely different individual. And while the make-up work is first rate, what really engages the audience to his character is Hurt's portrayal. He owns the role, and while I say that a lot about his work, that's because it's true. But here, in the form of a man who has been outcast by society and trapped in a body that leaves him deformed, Hurt sells it. Completely and utterly. While I have to confess to never having seen The Elephant Man, the clips that I have seen show Hurt utterly in command of the role, and creating a fully developed, fully rounded character. The story goes that it was one of Hurt's most difficult performances, mostly because of the heavy prosthetics which took seven to eight hours to apply. But he sold it, completely and utterly, and, coupled with the film's surreal look and noir tone, Hurt helped create a piece of history. If I hadn't wanted to check out The Elephant Man before seeing Hurt in it, I do now.
"Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two equals four. If that is granted all else will follow." Winston Smith, Nineteen-Eighty Four, 1984.
One of the most famous books of all time has had many adaptions into many different forms. But the one that's had the most cultural impact is the version Hurt stared in in 1984. Hurt was a natural choice for Winston: he had the right earthliness for the part, and he absolutely inhabits the character of Winston. The ending scenes, where we see Hurt's character broken and damaged by the torture of Big Brother is utterly harrowing, and Hurt absolutely sells it. While another movie that I haven't see, it's certainly one I'd love to check out, based on the few clips I've seen, mostly for Hurt's stellar performance.
"Don't look at me. If I decide to doctor your food, you won't have to wait until morning to find out." Caligula, I Claudius: Hail Who?, 1976.
Caligula has become a little bit of a joke in recent times, you only have to watch the season four finale of Red Dwarf, Meltdown, to appreciate that. But what John Hurt does with the character in the 1970's BBC mini-series I, Claudius takes him back to the powerful figure he was, before all the post-history piss taking took place. Hurt is completely in command, even more so perhaps than in any of his other roles. He keeps him menacing, but isn't afraid to make him out to be insane. He walks a very careful line between the two, so we're never quite sure what his motivation is for anything. I, Claudius, for those not in the know, is pretty much the 1970's BBC equivalent of Game Of Thrones, though I might add with possibly more restraint. It was certainly as provocative, with one of the most talked about scenes being Hurt's character cutting out his own child from the womb of his sister and lover, and then eating said child! Game Of Thrones has nothing on this by comparison. And Hurt sells every moment, completely in command, and completely the imperial figure that he should be. I, Claudius stands out as one of the BBC's most successful programmes of the 70's, and I suspect that is mostly due to Hurt's amazing performance, and fantastic chemistry with the other actors, particularly fellow knighthood Sir Derek Jacobi.
"I want this country to realize that we stand on the edge of oblivion. I want every man, woman and child to understand how close we are to chaos. I want everyone to remember why they need us!" Adam Sutler, V For Vendetta, 2005.
In a complete contrast to his work on Nineteen-Eighty Four, in V For Vendetta Hurt plays the face of tyranny - the dictator behind the oppressed. And Hurt is utterly spellbinding. He captures the personality, the ruthlessness, the tyrannical nature (I suspect a bit of Caligula coming through there), the fear of the system breaking down due to the force of ideas. Sutler seems, on the page at least, a bit of a one-dimensional dictator. After all, in work like this, we often focus upon the protagonists, not the villainous system. However, Hurt really brings this character to life with great subtly and power, to the point where you wish he actually has more screen time. V For Vendetta is a powerful movie, and it's themes (like those in Nineteen-Eighty Four) resonate more strongly than ever. And I suspect that's not just down to it's clever script and sublime dialogue, but also because Hurt plays Sutler with such power and ferocity that you can't help but believe in him.
"The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Potter. It's not always clear why. But I think it is clear that we can expect great things from you." Mr Ollivander, Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, 2001.
Of course, one of Hurt's greatest roles will always be his appearances in the Harry Potter franchise. Taking on the small part of Ollivander the wand maker could have allowed Hurt the chance to phone in his performance, but, being the professional that he is, he fills that role completely. To be honest, he would have been an amazing Dumbledore, but, as Ollivander, John Hurt creates this slightly senile, but very wise and very calculating man, who's knowledge of wand lore and the skilled mastery of the wand is fantastic to watch. He many only appear in a couple of scenes, but, watching those scenes back, Hurt creates an amazing character who embodies the best bits about the franchise: it's slight wackiness, it's complete absurdity and it's utter magic. Not many actors command their craft so well that they can do that.
"Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame." The War Doctor, Doctor Who: The Day Of The Doctor, 2013.
Of course, the one role for which he will almost certainly be remembered for, especially by me, is his star turn in the 50th anniversary Doctor Who episode, The Day Of The Doctor. For a man who knew very little of the franchise, he slots into the role of the War Doctor fantastically. Of course, we all know that Hurt's Doctor was nothing but a stand-in for Christopher Eccleston, but, over the course of 70 minutes, Hurt creates a believable, sympathetic yet grumpy character who manages to convey the horrors of the Time War and the effect it's had on him. He's very much like the Doctor's of the past: so much so that I cheered when he pointed out that he didn't recognise the tenth or eleventh Doctors. But he also brings that earthliness that he brought to so much of his work: that while his Doctor may be fighting in this cosmic war that's beyond our comprehension, he grounds the character in the everyday. The War Doctor is essentially a man tired of war, tired of fighting the Daleks and sick of what the Time Lords have become. He gets that: completely. By the end of the episode, you're not thinking how great this would have been had Paul McGann or Christopher Eccleston been in it, you think what an amazing job Hurt has done. He's hands down the best thing about a very strong anniversary story. But, of course, Hurt's Doctor Who story doesn't end there, because last year, Big Finish Productions started releasing box sets starring John Hurt as the Doctor once more. Not only did a silly, geeky show like ours get one of the busiest actors in the business to play the leading role for one special, we got him to do some audios made by a small, independent production company as well. If you haven't listened to them, go and do it immediately, because Hurt is even better in them than in Day Of The Doctor. He owns every scene, with every line, even with every syllable. In fact, if I'm being honest, I'd probably say that Hurt was my third favourite Doctor, behind Tom Baker and Colin Baker, I really do. Hurt's legacy will barely encompass Doctor Who, but I think it should, because he did some of his finest work for this franchise.
And I've barely scratched the surface with regards to his roles. Max in Midnight Express, the voice of the Dragon in Merlin, Professor Broom in Hellboy, his voiceover work in Watership Down and the original animation of The Lord Of The Rings, his upcoming appearance in Big Finish adaptation of The Invisible Man and his many appearances on stage. But that was John Hurt. Not one role, but many. Not one will eclipse any other. He was as versatile as he was real. He is one of the great actors of our time, an actor with the power to touch so many people, an actor with the power to paint a thousand pictures, each as good as the last. All I can say is thank you. Thank you, Sir John Hurt, for all those amazing characters.
Rest In Peace, and my thoughts are with John's family and friends.
"We are all racing towards death. No matter how many great, intellectual conclusions we draw during our lives, we know they're all only man-made, like God. I begin to wonder where it all leads. What can you do, except do what you can do as best you know how."
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