December 31, 2000
Sunday Express
Soundtrack: DOUGRAY'S ROCK AND ROLES
by Henry Fitzherbert

Don't tell the Queen but a big-budget historical epic about Oliver Cromwell is to be made next year.  The hard-working Dougray Scott has agreed to play the Puritan revolutionary's great friend and rival Thomas Fairfax, and Ray Winstone is in talks to play the man himself.  It will be the first film about England's protector since Richard Harris hammed it up in the 1970 film Cromwell.

The focus will be on Cromwell's relationship with Fairfax, who was set to become commander-in-chief in the Civil War but was ousted by Cromwell after he refused to march against the Scots for backing Charles II.

Scott will make the movie after completing Ripley's Game, the sequel to The Talented Mr. Ripley, which I revealed last month.

"Cromwell was more radical, the revolutionary.  He took Puritanism to the extreme.  Fairfax was more of the liberal", he tells me.

"They were great friends, on the same side.  They were both striving for the republic - which they achieved - but ultimately they had different views on how to achieve that."

The film is to be directed by Mike Barker, who made the quirky thriller Best Laid Plans, and Winstone is near to confirming his involvement.

Scott, meanwhile hasn't stopped working sinced he finished Mission: Impossible 2.  He can be seen in the New Year opposite Kate Winslet in Enigma, based on Robert Harris's wartime thriller.

"I've been lucky because the roles I have been passionate about doing have all been very different," he adds.  "The character in M:I2 was so different from the character I am playing in Ripley and also in Enigma."

The producer of Enigma is one Mick Jagger.  "Sometimes between shots we'd get out our guitars and sing Rolling Stones numbers," says Scott.  "I loved singing with Mick.  Ruby Tuesday is one of my favourite songs of all time."

© 2000 Sunday Express

- Thanks to Lorna for the find!