Ray Winstone News

If you didn't know Ray Winstone before this year, you know him now.

The British actor scored a lead role in Beowulf and will soon star opposite Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The thespian spoke to IGN soon after picking up an Honorary Richard Harris Award at the recent British Independent Film Awards:

IGN: Congratulations! You sounded genuinely touched in your acceptance speech.
Ray Winstone: Well, it's a complete honour, isn't it? [Richard Harris] was someone I watched as a kid, and I was lucky enough to meet him. In fact one of the times I met him was the night before 9/11 in Toronto, sitting in a wine bar with Richard talking about films we'd just done. I'd watched him in This Sporting Life and it did quite honestly change my outlook.

It really opened the doors for people like me or people from Liverpool or Coventry or wherever. Probably I didn't even realise it at the time but those kind of films, Look Back in Anger, This Sporting Life, it's like a circle that's gone round. If you'd asked me twenty years ago, I'd have said 'Bollocks, awards what do they mean?' but I've got to be honest with you, it does give you a lot of confidence to go on and do what you want to do and it's a great thing when people in your industry say well done and you feel accepted.

I'm overwhelmed by it.

Continue Reading...

For someone who's been in the acting business for so many years, Ray Winstone experienced something new in Beowulf: special CGI.

He said the technology "kind of changes the game a little bit, because sometimes it's about the way you look, rather than the way you perform, so it's quite flattering, because it's about performance."

The actor added that "it does open doors for other things, as there are parts that you might have bypassed because you're too old."

At least partially, of course, Winstone was referring to his role in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He didn't reveal much about the flick, but did say:

"[Making that film] was everything it should be and more, and to be part of a franchise that you'd watched was extraordinary. It's a roller coaster and that is real fun all the way."

Winstone described director Spielberg as brilliant.

"You know, the people that are really good at what they do are the easiest people in the world, and they allow you to bring something to the table. You end up doing what they want you to do, but they make you feel that you're bringing something to the table and it's just a real pleasure to go to work every day."