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Screen star enjoys glittering career

GOLD is the lure which his latest character hopes will lead to a new life out of the Highlands...... but it was talent and determination which saw Kevin McKidd (29) leave Moray and rise to fame on stage and screen.
Elgin-born Kevin headed to the Lossiemouth Christ-mas lights switch-on last Saturday night fresh from two weeks filming his latest role in “Bum’s Rush” alongside “Mission Imposs-ible II” star Dougray Scott, with Tomintoul forming the backdrop.
And the Lossie night out, where he appeared in the starring role of local-boy-made-good, was a brief respite in a hectic work schedule which will see him making numerous appearances on our screens over the coming months.
Despite having filmed extensively in Scotland, it’s the first time Kevin, who has featured in films as diverse as “Trainspotting”, “Topsy Turvy” and “Dog Soldiers”, has been able to work so close to home.
Speaking just prior to Saturday’s big event, Kevin said: “I’ve done lots of stuff in Scotland, but it has almost always been in the Central Belt. When I was offered the role in this film, I thought I just had to do it, and it is nice to be working in my home area.
“The film is about an old man who dies, and a piece of gold is found in his hand. Three friends think there is gold in the hills, and see it as their ticket out of their quiet, boring existence.
“I can relate to it in some ways. I always felt a bit of an outsider, and like a lot of folk wanted to do something with my life. I have gone out and done the things I wanted to do. There’s nothing wrong with staying in Elgin all your life, but I knew it wasn’t for me.”
Kevin’s acting talent was first recognised during school shows, and during his time with Moray Youth Theatre, when he appeared in productions such as “Bugsy Malone”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Anne of Green Gables”.
After he told his family that he wanted to be an actor, his parents gave their backing, but pleaded with him to get some form of qualification in case he could not break into what is a tough and competitive profession.
Kevin hated life at university, where he studied engineering, and secretly auditioned for a place on a drama course at Queen Margaret’s College, Edin-burgh, breaking the news to his family after being accepted. His first professional role was in the Wildcat Theatre Group production of “Silver Dar-lings”, and he fully expec- ted to spend his career touring and appearing in rep in places like Dundee and Pitlochry.
Kevin’s ability was recognised by agent Mr Duncan Heath, who happened to see the play in Glasgow and signed him up to his agency, International Creative Management, which also boasts clients such as Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman.
“I was 21 at the time, and that was a big leap forward for me. I have been very lucky,” added Kevin.
“Roles are stacking up now, but I still don’t feel I am that well-known by the public, although I am gaining a bit of recognition in the business. When I was approached to do the Lossie lights switch-on, I thought that I would never be able to top the year they had Ewan MacGregor, but I was happy to come along.”
Kevin and his wife, Jane, have two children – Joseph, aged two and a half, and eight-month-old Iona. Although away from home for long spells during filming, Kevin returns to spend weeks at a time with his family.
He left Moray after the weekend to continue filming “Bum’s Rush” in Glasgow, and was pleased by the boost the production was able to give to the Tomintoul area.
He hopes to do more theatre work in the future, but has an impressive list of forthcoming credits on the big and small screen to add to his already impressive CV.
He recently finished filming a three-part BBC drama, “The Key”, which follows the life of a Glasgow woman from 1910 to the present day, and will also star in Richard Jobson’s “16 Years on Alcohol”, another Scottish film.
Next year promises to be equally busy. He starts filming a reworking of “Grey-friars Bobby”, and a Hollywood version of “Nicholas Nickelby”, with a cast including Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent.

Northern Scot 6 December 2002

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