Richard’s Spooky Hideaway
TV Quick Magazine – December 2002
The set where Stapleton’s study scenes were filmed couldn’t be more spooky. The Victorian farmhouse, surrounded by trees at the end of a long, driveway, is scary enough by day, but by night it’s positively terrifying.
The interior is cold and damp. A door creaks open to reveal a ghoulish collection of bones, fossils and stuffed animals – and nestling among them is the actor Richard E Grant.
The creepy surroundings became home from home for Richard, who plays eccentric archaeologist Stapleton. He invited TVQuick to have a rummage around and revealed how the macabre artifacts helped bring the character to life.
“Being surrounded by this stuff is quite helpful. It means you don’t have to imagine what Stapleton’s life was like,” says Richard. “Some Victorians were obsessed with collecting plants and animals and Stapleton is one of them. He’s genial and all smiles most of the time, but there is more to him.”
Sherlock Holmes is without a doubt Britain’s most famous fictional detective and made his first celluloid appearance in a silent film in 1908, but Richard doesn’t know much about him.
“Before doing The Hound of The Baskervilles I didn’t know any of the Sherlock Holmes stories. I only know of him because of Baker Street tube station.
“I grew up in Africa and read voraciously, but Sir Conan Doyle’s books just passed me by.
“Reading Agatha Christie books was my last foray into detective fiction, so I couldn’t say I’m a fan.”
Last time Richard, 45, was seen in a BBC drama he played Englishman Sir Percy Blakeney in the title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and recently appeared in the hit film Gosford Park.
Richard lives in London with his wife Joan, a voice coach, and their daughter Olivia, and keeps busy when he’s between jobs. “I write a lot and read. I never just loll about my house wondering what to do”’ he says.
And despite an established career, he still worries about the next job. “I know from speaking to older actors you do get troughs when there’s no employment, but that’s part of the job really.”
