Stuart Townsend
July 29, 2009 by Maura Reilly
Filed under Actors 2Watch4
The problem with Stuart Townsend is that he’s been the right guy at the wrong time, twice. The biggest role he never had was that of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Stuart had auditioned, been hired, went to New Zealand in August of 1999 for training and was replaced after less then a week of shooting. (The part that ultimately went to Viggo Mortensen.) It’s infamy like this that will probably follow Stuart around for a few years, kind of like how Kevin Costner was cut out of The Big Chill. Then Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned was supposed to be Stuart Townsend’s real big break. In so far as exposure and getting his name out there and on to the lips of the movie-going public – it was. Tragedy struck and the movie’s lead actress Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash before the film was released. It was rumored that Stuart canceled a press junket for Queen of the Damned, citing he didn’t want to exploit the death of his co-star. It’s rare that someone in Hollywood would give up a barrage of publicity so early in one’s career.
Stuart began his film career while attending the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin where he appeared in student films. He made money by boxing until he was cast in his feature film debut Trojan Eddie in 1996. Since then he’s done ten movies in five years. One of the quirkiest and most enjoyable to watch is About Adam (2000). In this sleeper, Stuart plays a devilish rogue who goes about seducing all the sisters in one family and even manages to turn the brother on with his lilting voice and seductive whisperings. I also recommend Shooting Fish (1997) with a baby Kate Beckinsale and Dan Futterman.
Here’s the thing about Stuart: He’s a “take lemons and make lemonade” kind of man. His personal life seems to be pretty awesome, his main squeeze is Charlize Theron. But professionally he’s had a string of misses in a row (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – 2003, failed remake of “Nightstalker”). He has incredible passion and vision so he went ahead and wrote, produced and directed his first feature in 2007, Battle in Seattle. The story centers around the protests at the 1999 WTO talks. It was an ambitious undertaking but I saw it and was suitably impressed. It’s very possible that Townsend can reinvent himself as a director.
We’re all about shamelessly promoting the ones we like here: new and not so new. Stuart has long been a favorite of mine and I’m glad to do a little free publicity for him if it will help him be the right guy and the right time.
Fansites:
Stuart Townsend dot Org
Official Sites:
Battle in Seattle
Gallery:
Rate this Actor:
(14 votes, average: 4.86 out of 5)
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I loved About Adam. Loved loved loved. I also thought he was completely adorable in Shooting Fish. I definitely think that Stuart deserves to be a much bigger star than he is but….I’m not gonna lie. Him playing Aragorn would have been a monumental mistake. How he even got cast in the first place when he’s was obviously too young for the part is beyond me. Its nothing to do with him, or his acting ability. He was just, unfortunately, too young.
Stuart is just great to me he is great actor, the way he play evil Victor in “Resurrection man” and shy Jez in “Shooting fish” is just brilliant.
I wish he can shoot more movies not blockbusters just simple great movies.. like Trojan Eddie and About Adam.
stuart is agreat actor ilove him very very much he is acharming man
After watching Queen of the Damned, I concluded that Stuart is the sexiest man alive! This man could give Brad Pitt a run for his money! Hot! Hot! Hot! I now want to watch every movie he has ever been in. Why is he not more famous? Love the long here…Love you Stuart!