Downton Abbey has been somewhat depressing after they (spoiler) killed off Cousin Matthew, who married and impregnated Lady Mary Crawley. Cousin Matthew was played by actor Dan Stevens, and the whole reason Matthew had to die so suddenly was because he had no interest in continuing his contract with Downton for any reason. Dan wanted to be a movie star. He wanted to work in America. And this is the greatest sin for English actors, at least according to the British press. Dan’s hometown press went hard on him for having the audacity to want to work in America and become a movie star! HOW DARE HE.
Well, Dan is trying. He scored a decent part in The Fifth Estate (with his friend Benedict Cumberbatch) and he did a Broadway play with Jessica Chastain. And he filmed two major American movies, The Guest and A Walk Among the Tombstones (with Liam Neeson). Over the next few months, we’ll find out if Dan is ready to be a movie star. My take? I liked his pale English looks, and I’m somewhat disturbed by his weight loss and attempt to look… I don’t know, grimy? Anyway, these are some photos of Dan and Liam Neeson at Wednesday night’s NYC screening/premiere of A Walk Among the Tombstones. Would you hit it? I thought he was handsome as Cousin Matthew, but I can’t with this version of Dan.
Dan also has several new interviews… let’s see. I really like this one with The Big Issue. I learned some new things about him… in 2012, he co-judged the Man Booker Prize and read 147 novels within the span of a few months. He’s a Cambridge graduate. He loves cricket and plays the violin. He’s a political lefty. What does he miss most about Britain, now that he’s spending so much time in America? The Indian food. He misses cricket, but he says: “I still follow ‘soccer’ and enjoyed watching the World Cup with Americans. The USA did fairly well and considerably better than England. I’ve been trying to get my head around their sports. I’ve sat down with American friends and they’ve allowed my stupid-question sessions. The hockey play-offs this year were particularly exciting and I followed the New York Rangers.” He also talks a bit about his friendship with Cumby. Go here to read the full piece.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
The Guest is supposed to be absolutely nuts, in a good way.
It IS stupidly nuts in a good way for the first hour. And then it’s just stupid.
I see you mentioned a shower scene as well?
*throws 401K at movie screen*
Hoping this link will work for those outside of the UK…
This is for Abbott!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OQpNMWlflI
Thank you, CM! It does indeed work.
I want to bake cookies on his stomach…
I loved The Guest. I laughed a lot and I truly enjoyed the retro feeling of the movie, not to mention the killer soundtrack and, in my opinion, the very good acting. It was smart and funny. I was also very grateful to not be bombarded with CGIs.
Ronia – I enjoyed it too (yes – great soundtrack!). And then the Feds/whoever-they-were showed up. (In the movie; not, like, in my real life or anything…)
I’m quite sad no place is playing it within 20 miles of me.
Please gain 20 lbs.
And stop with the tanning/fake tanning. I do love the darker hair, though, brings out his blue eyes more. I do hope he succeeds in his efforts, and as long as he avoid getting too much of an enlarged ego he should be fine.
Also, about Downton Abbey… although I loved cousin Matthew, I feel like Mary’s new single life promises to be really exciting (for a pre WWII British lady, of course): she has, what? Three suitors now? And they all are kind of hot and romantic and interesting, so… Maybe it was all for the best?
Agree – I’m fine with the career aspirations, but he lost everything that made him adorable along with the weight.
This. He looks ill.
Not loving buttony button Dan. Too skinny. Too buttony. However, I’m interested to see him act in something other than DA.
I feel the need to feed him pancakes.
Homestly, I cant recognise him like this. Its like Jennifer Grey with the nose job. His charm is gone for me. What a shame.. I liked him so much in DA.
So basically, what you are saying is that he’d look hot in beige booty (bootie sp?) shorts.
You always read my mind. Gah!
He looks like someone let the air out of his body.
I find him very likeable and hope he does well for himself.
This.
Exactly
I saw him on an interview yesterday and he seemed really nice. He loves NYC and is living in Brooklyn now (he has a good American accent ). Hope he does well here.
Couldn’t stand him in the AWFUL Downton Abbey, but he is HOT in The Guest! Not the best movie but the whole thing was worth it for the moment he stepped out of the shower… unnfffgghhh!
I didn’t love him in DA either but I blamed the writing and not him. I do think he was better looking, though, back then compared to now. I read that his weight loss was partially for a role but partially because he was always getting grief for his “double chin” or some such nonsense. Sad.
While I don’t find him hot, necessarily, I find him likeable, and hope he does well.
I would advise seeing the shower scene in The Guest before deciding when and if you find him hot!!
(not that I’m… err… obsessed or anything, you understand…)
CM, I watched the clip and he does look good. I don’t think I would have recognized him as the guy who played Matthew Crawley if I didn’t know!
Yeah – thank god he’s nothing like Matthew Crawley! (Sorry – I, like many Brits I know, love to hate DA! Do NOT get the worldwide appeal or all the awards it’s nominated for in the States. It’s kind of regarded as an average Sunday evening snore-fest over here!)
No apologies necessary re DA. I don’t watch it for its writing — and I agree that whenever it gets nominated for awards, it always feel like it’s a joke — but more for its setting and amazing costumes. It’s good escapist TV, like a soap opera, for this American.
Dan is an incredible actor. His American accent is perfect. He can do it all, stage -film-tv-web casts.
I’m not so sure this look is about “going H-wood”. He changes his look per production, so I’ll give him a pass – he’s probably in something that required the darker hair. I like him better blonde – really quite a good looking guy.
I like him with the extra weight off. I think that soft, “Toff” look that we are so used to seeing is a product of the fact that he is constantly getting cast as landed aristocracy in British drama. Which he plays exceeding well, I will admit, but I for one would like to see him in more stuff.
Do I give a hoot is he becomes a “movie star” in the US ? Absolutely not. They call that “cracking America” over here in the UK, and as an American expat, I find it odd. When you look at most of the top billed shows these days on TV and film, the biggest male stars (Cumberbatch, hiddleston…sigh, etc), they are all Brits. So this American movie star thing….. who cares? Let the work speak for itself. If anything, it gives them more cred to not care about such things.
It’s always risky to leave a popular show, but I’m surprised to hear he’s worked so much, so maybe it was the right move.
Yes, me too. I think some people were genuinely rooting for him to fail when he left DA. Ugh.
The second season of downton was such a mess so who can fault him for bailing? Its a soap opera with a better wardrobe dept. Which was charming the first season but so cringe-y the second. Ugh that deathbed scene, oh wait not that one but the other one, where shes sooo compassionate that he is in love with someone else. Horrendous writing for such a pretty show. Good luck to him and would like to see him get some nice roles.
I was really mad at him for leaving Downton like that, but then I checked his twitter and saw how funny he was and how far left he goes and decided I could forgive him. He does look a little strange here, but it’s just different than what I’m used to, he looks good, and I wish him the best here in America!
Ha, as I am reading this post a review of The Guest just came on and the reviewer named it as the worst movie of 2014 thus far and gave it an F.
And our local newspaper reviewed Walk Among the Tombstones today and deemed him a bit light-weight to be a drug lord but hoping here that he gets some good roles that showcase his talents.
That reviewer clearly hasn’t seen a lot of movies this year because while The Guest wouldn’t make my Top 10 of the year, it’s certainly far, FAR from the worst of the year. Also, Dan’s pretty good in the film. It was smart to move so far away from the Matthew Crawley character if he’s aiming to be a movie actor.
I think liking the The Guest entirely depends on whether or not you’re a genre fan. I am and I thought it was a fun throwback to ’80s thrillers. The writer/director team have made two of the best horror films of the last few years, A Horrible Way To Die and You’re Next. I’d highly recommend all of their films if you’re into that sort of thing.
almost critics LOVE ‘The Guest’: rottentomatoe rating is now 93%
Wow! I have heard a few really good reviews today, so that surprises me.
It is always intriguing when something is so polarizing.
He seems like a nice guy – and simpatico to me in his interests, even. I can’t get on board with him as an actor, though – he’s so um… I dunno, beige?
You can accessorize beige with splashes of color.
Haha. I guess. Getting to judge the Booker as the luvvie panelist is the only reason I’ve ever wanted to be famous. I’m jealous of that.
That would be so much fun. I always wanted to be on the Caldecott Award panel.
I’d hit it as my granddaughter would say……but then I have always had a thing for the long and lean types…not into beefcake or buns of steel…..and he has that old fashion Robert Taylor twinkling eyes…Robert Taylor was about the most handsome man who ever came out of Hollywoods…a thoroughly nice guy…. married twice once as a young actor to cover a leading lady reputation , she was a secret lesbian…and later when he got out of that mess to his true love and stayed married for almost 60 yrs…My mother loved him..and I rediscovered him in classic movies…..this guy has the same appeal….yes as my granddaughter would say I would hit it….LOL
He’ll work, but I don’t see him becoming all that big. If that’s all he wants he’ll do fine. He just lacks that certain something that puts you on the next level. I could see him sort of like Johnny Lee Miller or Simon Baker, some good, not amazing, film work, then a solid if not super acclaimed network TV show. Not a movie star though.
I like Dan a lot – as a person and as an actor. I don’t think he ahs ever been after being “a big star in America”, he simply likes to be challenged and had issues with the often ridiculous writing Fellowes produced for his character Matthew on DA. And rightly so. No person should be judged on their choices to be heavier or lighter, in my opinion. If he wishes to lose weight, that’s his right, just like it’s mine or anyone else’s. But the truth is this same home press in England and the comments were very harsh on his weight while he was on DA and there were numerous who were after his “double chin”, etc. Overall, they are the last ones to critisize him on his weight loss now.
I don’t know anything about him other than when I watched him on Downton- but what I do know, is if there ever (heaven forbid) is a Kardashian biopic produced, he’s got the part for Scott Disick in the bag.
I’m a huge “Downton Abbey” fan, saw “The Heiress” and have read and watched many interviews that Dan has given. His biggest appeal for me was his “Britishness,.” the Cambridge-educated wit and charm, similar to a young Hugh Grant. “Hollywood Dan” seems to be trying much too hard to change that image. I understand his desire to not be typecast and to stretch as an actor, and while I have no interest in seeing him play an American accented drug dealer or sociopath, I don’t fault him for doing that. But in recent interviews he’s mentioned “nutritionists,” and “personal trainers,” sounding shallow and trying a little too hard to play the Hollywood game (this past Sunday the” New York Times” ran an interview that was done in a restaurant and he rejected something because it contained glutin). When he first moved to Brooklyn he obviously hired a publicist, as he was turning up at every C-list PR event and having his photo or Page Six item show up in the press. Other UK actors who’ve succeeded here…Cumby, Fassbender, Redmayne, McAvoy, etc…don’t do that; they seem more comfortable being themselves and letting their work speak for itself. I hope Dan will eventually do the same, and also hope he’ll put on a few pounds!
To be fair , the comments re: nutritionists and trainers are in response to interviewers asking him how he was able to shed the weight and bulk up for The Guest’s soldier-like physique… it makes sense in context, he was pretty much just responding to their Q.
I remember Fassy being asked exactly the same non-ending round of questions when he was doing press for Hunger, back in 2009!
He could have a gluten intolerance as well. I know a few people who do, and when they eat gluten containing food, it’s not pretty. Sometimes, people get diagnosed later in life.
McAvoy isn’t nearly as popular in the USA as he was when he appeared in Wanted and King of Scotland. He made a huge mistake being in Penelope, that film was awful.
He has the right to avoid glutin, no? I know quite a few parents and their children in my environment who do. And he didn’t hire a publicist – the agency representing him now (he changed representation once decided to move to USA) has the publicists who do his PR now – I am in the field, I know who is represented by whom. While he is pursuing the American market he will have to play by the American rules. As simple as that. Just like Cumberbatch is not popping out only from my fridge, yet. That’s the game.
You’re right about his appeal being in his “Britishness” – at least for me. He’s losing that and he seems quite determined about it.
Meh. We’ve got so many sexy brits already – Michael Fassbender (Irish I know…but based in London), Cumbersexy, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston….he doesn’t have the charisma to break through that
I’m glad people seem cool about him. I have never gotten the hate for this guy that so many people seemed to have. Honestly, his biggest crime seemed to be that he wasn’t tearing his heart out over leaving the show and way too many people seemed to interpret that as him thinking he was too good for DA and that he thought he was going to be a big movie star. The only thing I have ever heard him say was that he was glad people liked the show, but at the end of the day, it is just a TV show and he wanted to try different things, not necessarily be famous. The US just happens to be a better market for it, and that is something I have heard many Brit actors say, even if they don’t move here.
Exactly.
pretty much
I never liked him in Downton. I thought his “I’m shocked” scenes were funny–him standing there with his mouth hanging open like a bird waiting for a worm to be dropped in. But I saw him in Summer in February, and thought he was good. Just from the trailer for The Guest, he seems good in that role. At least he had the American accent down. He seems like a decent guy and a good actor, so I wish him well.
The more I’m reading about his side of the story, the more I’m willing to forgive him for killing off Matthew… But skinny or not, it will never be the same between us 😉
I really enjoyed whatever interview it was where he was cracking up over the interviewer’s incorrect use of “beating off” other actors for a part- he was so funny! That being said, he’s too gaunt right now, and the dark hair accentuates that. Have Summer in February now, so will be see in movie Dan soon!
His eyes are gorgeous.
He needs to put his weight back on though.
Rumours in the British press recently were that he is being approached as the next Bond in a few years and will be made to beef and muscle up if he gets the role.
I’ve never seen DA (should I?) so never heard of him, but googling his images he strikes me as a new Jude Law of sorts. Recon he’s got a great voice since he’s been busy working as audio books narrator and even got listed for some awards in that department. Not bad, but yes, too skinny at the moment, looks tiny 😀
He has a wonderful voice.
NO. I am an American and I have NOT forgiven him yet. Maybe I never will.
Its mostly because I wanted to see Lady Mary become Countess of Grantham.
Also, Michelle Dockery has already done a movie with Liam Neeson, and she didn’t have to leave DA to do it.
Yeah but Michelle’s part was not integral to the Non-Stop storyline… Any of the actors from the show could book a side gig between season, be it theater, movie, tv cameo – if people simply want to experience something different, it’s hard to personally fault them for it, right? Go Dan, Go!
Be as it may: I also would have loved to see Lord Matthew and Lady Dockers become Count and Countess of Grantham!
He looks like Calvin Harris!
No, I don’t love him as an American movie star yet. I’m still sad with him for leaving Downton.
The Guest is hysterical. He was really good and the rest of the cast too. The daughter was great.
I miss his chubbiness.
Listen, I think Dan is a decent actor. I don’t see anything wrong with his desire to change the route of his career. It’s fine. But I have to admit I wasn’t amused at the way he decided to go on about it. Maybe it wasn’t his intention but the way he left DA really gave off the impression that he felt he was too big to stay there. Which isn’t entirely true and I say that as someone who isn’t even a fan of the show.
Shortly after his departure he lost all those pounds and got a fake tan. He was probably aiming for Brad Pitt but it’s more Ryan Reynolds. You know, bland. And that becomes noticeable when you look at the other british actors taking over Hollywood at the moment.
There’s no way our Dan here will take juicy parts from the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hardy, Matthew Goode, Michael Fassbender (irish, i know) and James McAvoy (scottish), just to name some.
I understand typecasting can be a bitch but if he doesn’t watch out he will be begging for those stuffy periods parts sooner than he thinks. One can’t be waxed and tanned California Barbie forever.
Hey, Scottish is still British you know.
*rim shot*
I would definitely look forward to seeing him succeed on the big screen. He’s lost too much weight, however, and I hope it was for a role and not just to look like some stereotype of a gritty American. It isn’t working well.
i saw dan at the screening for The Guest at TIFF. he is so skinny. it’s a bit jarring. he’s still handsome, but i’d prefer him physically if he put a few more pounds on.
the movie is supposed to be camp and fun, and it was. the audience loved it, but then again it was the Midnight Madness screening, which is full of genre fans who ‘get’ this kind of movie. i’m not sure casual movie fans would like it. i guess we’ll see.
I am so over Downton Abbey and bored by it that I don’t plan to see new season. Because I simply don’t care about those people anymore. I didn’t even watch Christmas Special. I forgot it was even on.
Dan Stevens is too thin and needs more weight. Poppr thing – he can never find right shape. In first season he was too bloated. And it was distracting. Because he was hot and had pretty eyes but was bloated. Now he is way too thin.
Also he can never be movie star. He may score lead role in some small budget indie. Or he can score small supporting role in big movie. Like really small. But Lead role in big movie will not come. He is not movie star.
He looked so much better with some weight on him. Now he looks generic.
Nah. Too calculating, IMO. Its one thing to be about your career, but one can’t be that OBVIOUS about it. I’ve never watched Downton, but I thought the narrative that he thought he was too big for the show was true. He seemed to be all that people were talking about, so perhaps it bloated his head as much as his body at the time. Gonna pass on his movie as it seems just like the new Idris movie.
OK, I’m probably going to get blasted for this but here goes: I don’t think this new slim-line version of Dan looks “gritty”. I think it makes him look gay.
There, I said it. Yes, I know he is married with kids but, honestly, if I was looking at a picture of him now and didn’t know anything about his personal life, I would think gay, gay, gay!!
Yep, I get a whiff of that, too. Gritty he is not.
Beating off actors clip – Hope this works.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/watch-susanna-reid-ask-dan-4162816
Oh, I’m being judgmental here (sorry) but I’m quite put off by the way he quit the show. I don’t think it worked AT ALL for the Downton storyline to have Matthew killed off and I’m sure it irked the writers to have invested in this guy as a LEAD actor, presumably for the long haul, and then to have to adjust the storyline because he wanted to make it big elsewhere. That sucks. He has the right to go for what he wants – of course he does and I could see that being tied to that one role could be stifling. It’s just that he wasn’t behind that show the way it was behind him and that leaves a bitter aftertaste, at least for me.