Rupert Everett

RUPERT EVERETT

Date of Birth: May 29, 1959

In the 1996 edition of Baseline's Encyclopedia of Film, Rupert Everett was labeled "Handsome young lead of the 1980s" - indicating that his star had long ago burnt out.

But that was before he portrayed Julia Roberts' "real" best friend (the funny, gay one) in My Best Friend's Wedding. Rupert's performance- highlighted by his glorious rendition of Burt Bacharach's "I Say A Little Prayer" -- was such a showstopper that many people are still amazed he didn't get an Oscar nomination.

The dashing Brit was indeed a sensation in his homeland in the early '80s. A rebellious youth, he was turfed from London's Central School of Speech and Drama for his insolence. He honed his acting skills with Scotland's Glasgow Citizen's Theatre, touring in productions across the U.K.

In 1982 he appeared in the London Stage production of Another Country. When he reprised the role on the screen in 1984, Rupert became a media darling. He turned in a series of sterling performances in Dance With A Stranger, Duet For One, and the television movie Arthur The King.

Unfortunately, the love affair between the press and the outrageous actor was short lived. His fits of ego alienated reporters, the public and, worst of all, producers. By 1987 roles became scarce and, in 1989, Rupert openly acknowledged his homosexuality - an act that would have had more impact if the press still cared. His roles in the '90s were generally haughty, nasty-types, as in Ready To Wear and Dunston Checks In.

With his star back on the rise,Rupert has appeared in several other big films, like the voice of Prince charming in all of the Shrek movies, as Edmund St. John-Smythe in Hysteria, and as Monseñor in the true-story drama Finding Altamira (2016) starring Antonio Banderas. He also appeared in the fantasy adaptation Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016), starring Eva Green and Asa Butterfield.

Most recently, Rupert returned to theaters in the biographical drama The Happy Prince (2018) as Oscar Wilde. He also directed and wrote the script for the picture.

As Rupert says, "I'm putting myself up to be a major star. I want to conquer Hollywood by becoming the first openly gay leading man in films—it's time someone did that, without all the lying. Can't we all tell the truth about who we are?"

Filmography

The Happy Prince (2018)
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Finding Altamira (2016)
A Royal Night Out (2015)
Rosenn (2014)
Hysteria (2012)
Wild Target (2010)
St Trinian's II: The Legend of Fritton's Gold (2009)
St. Trinian's (2009)
Stardust (2007)
Shrek the Third (2007) (voice)
Quiet Flows the Don (2006)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) (voice)
Separate Lies (2005)
...and Quiet Flows the Don (2004)
A Different Loyalty (2004)
People (2004)
Stage Beauty (2004)
Shrek 2 (2004) (voice)
To Kill a King (2003)
The Wild Thornberrys (2002) (voice)
The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)
The Next Best Thing (2000)
An Ideal Husband (1999)
B. Monkey (1998)
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Dunston Checks In (1996)
Cemetery Man (1995)
Ready To Wear (1994)
The Madness Of King George (1994)
Inside Monkey Zetterland (1993)
Shooting Angels (1993)
The Comfort Of Strangers (1991)
Tolerance (1989)
Chronicle Of A Death Foretold (1987)
Duet For One (1987)
Hearts Of Fire (1987)
The Man With The Gold Rimmed Glasses (1987)
The Right Hand Man (1987)
Dance With A Stranger (1985)
Another Country (1984)