I’ll do a more detailed profile of Carlyle’s impressive body of work soon, but in the meantime, catch him in Once Upon a Time Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
I’ll do a more detailed profile of Carlyle’s impressive body of work soon, but in the meantime, catch him in Once Upon a Time Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.
Please visit "Let's Talk TV," Barbara's TV-only blog. And be sure to tune into "Let's Talk TV LIVE" on BlogTalk Radio airing live each week with news, analysis, interviews and lively discussion "Let's Talk TV LIVE"
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Anthon
I thought his work on SGU was great. Carlyle is one of the best actors when he is working in that grey space between good and what can be perceived as bad. Even on SGU is was hard to tell if any decision he made was for the greater good, or for himself. He was the only reason to watch SGU. Any episode that didn't feature Dr. Rush was a waste.
2 - sara
THANK YOU BARBARA!!
Great article! Robert is simply amazing.
I love all of them: Jennifer, Ginnifer, Lana, Raphael, Robert etc
Great show and great cast XD
3 - oldhousegeek
Thanks for the spot-on comments about Robert Carlyle. He is one of the great unappreciated actors. It was a tragedy that SyFy pulled the plug on SGU, where he did some extraordinarily nuanced work portraying a very complex character.
4 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks for your comments, all. I love "discovering" an actor I've never seen before. He bring an enormous intensity to the performance as well as lacing even unlikeable characters with humanity and even charm.
I'm an indie flick kind of girl, and it's fantastic to see someone (who could be a big star) be dedicated to cranking out some fantastic independent work (along with the more commercial endeavors that allow him to do it). Looking forward to seeing his new film when it's released.
5 - DebbieJ
Hi Barbara. Although fantasy/sci-fi is my least favorite genre of any medium but I decided to give OUAT a try due to word of mouth and positive previews. I've only seen the Pilot (my dvr crapped out on me for Episode 2 - I've got to catch it on imdb). I really want to give this a chance as I was intrigued by all of the dual characters.
Will you be doing reviews/analysis on it as you do with House?
I'm not very familiar with Robert Carlyle as I've only seen him in The Full Monty and Angela's Ashes. (Do yourself a favor and watch them both!) But I agree with your assessment (for as much I am familiar with him). He seems to capture your attention no matter how many other characters are in a scene all the while with subletly.
Jennifer Morrison does okay here, IMO. Much better than when she was on House. Don't know if it's because she's got a few years of acting under her belt and has improved or if this character is better suited for her.
6 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Debbie,
I'll probably be doing a regular column on OUAT, but I haven't quite yet figured out the angle I'll take with it.
I will have to check out Angela's Ashes and The Full Monty as I wend my through the stack of movies on my coffee table!
7 - Toni Roberts
Hi, Barbara. Thanks for the article on my favorite actor. He's amazing to watch, even in low budget movies where the film is too precious for multiple takes, no time to rehearse, etc. You want to see nuanced? Watch "To End All Wars" with Kiefer Sutherland. I have a dark and goofy place in my heart for "Ravenous" too. I am desperate to see "Summer" which he describes as some of his best work. Rush may be my all-time favorite character...and as for Rumplestilskin...PURE GOLD! (so to speak.)
8 - sara
''Jennifer Morrison does okay here, IMO. Much better than when she was on House. Don't know if it's because she's got a few years of acting under her belt and has improved or if this character is better suited for her.''
Sorry but I disagree, she was great in House, wacht again season 1, she is so intence, rich with expressions and emotions.
I hate many people hates Cameron /Jennifer just because she try to be good, good, compassionate, respectful of others, these are good quality. She sometimes did things wrong because they could not build because Pollyanna but she have a great heart, she is in pain with patiences and injustice, she is a moral compass of the show!
Hurt me all this hate about her!
Of course the real Cameron is Cameron on the series 1-3 because the real house md is the series 1-3, then it became, but everything was great in the golden years, the first three years.
9 - anja
youre gonna love him in the "still small voice" episode.
Man has
Panache. Artistry.
its rare these days with all these wooden straight up straight down actors,
give me some delightful complexity, fluidity!
10 - Liz Kimberlin
Barbara, was glad to read this piece. OUAT has kept me because of Robert Carlyle. Both characters creepy, repellent, utterly compelling, weirdly erotic. You can almost smell Rumpelstiltskin's fetid breath across the screen. I wonder what Mr. Gold's first name will be. I suspect after just a few episodes poor Robert is already suffering the same fate as Alan Rickman/Snape and become the new darling of Internet fan fic porn. James Marsters and Spike may now have a run for their money.
11 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Liz,
You may be right, but I think he's already got his share of fanfic from his tenure on Stargate Universe. I've got a new piece coming out tomorrow that's a more of a filmography--now that I've seen most of his movies :)
12 - Barry
I have to agree with that Carlyle is a perfect fight for the role of rumple.. I loved him in SGU. I did not even know he was on Once Upon A Time until I watch the first episode a week late. I have since been keeping up with the show. I since got my cousin to watch it with me. He also agrees that it is a fitting role for him.
13 - LadyKathryn
Did you miss him in Eragon? Oh, he was wonderful there also.
14 - Barbara Barnett
Lady Kathryn. I have not seen Eragon yet. I did however just see Antonia Bird's Face. It's a really good movie, and I loved RC in it. A lot.
15 - jansumi
I am distraught to hear how many people hear haven't seen or heard of Carlyle before. Loong one of my favourite actors I tuned in to this specially because I heard he was on it. Brilliant actor - I've tried never to miss an opportunity to see him. Even his recent bit part in the Stone of Scone...
16 - Erin Navan
I love your article.
For a while now, I am pondering over his role in OUT. I first thought he was evil, especially with the light that conversation between Evil Queen and Maleficent throws on him.
But lately, considering that without him, Henry would never come to the Storybrook, which would probably cause Emma never to come, even less stay, and also the fact that he gave the advice to the Charming and Snow...
I think he might be a balance, not good, not bad, just higher power, as he is more powerful than anyone else there. He always says "all magic comes with a price". Could he be sort of magical debt collector? In most supernatural movies and shows that include magic, it has always been made clear that all magic does come with a price.
Somehow, I got feeling that he is there to make sure that in the end everything will fall in its place.
And on top of everything, I really like Carlyle, saw him first time in the Full Monty over ten years ago and he got me there. He is amazing actor.
(and I do hope he, as no one else but him would be able for something like that, had anticipated Regina's actions in the 7th episode, and did something to protect Graham's heart/life or provided possibility to bring him back somehow... what else he did in the woods?)
17 - Brighid45
Robert's work in OUAT is wonderful. He's having fun with being a Trickster figure, playing both sides against the middle and enjoying the resulting clashes and chaos. Dark, creepy and compelling--what's not to like? :D
18 - Denise Baez
I am also captivated by Robert's work. He too has become my favorite character on the show and I am eager to see more of him. I have not been so captivated by an actor's performance (that is able to draw you so into the character) since Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn on Lost.
19 - Samantha
I loved him as Begbie in Trainspotting... such a darkly psychopathic and violent role.
He's strangely sexy too, in a very unconventional way.
20 - Barbara Barnett
Samantha--I know a lot of people loved his Begbie. He was fantastic (and incredibly frightening). I tend to like (which pretty much encompasses mostly everything else he's done) his more layered characters.
Having just seen Cracker, I am stunned by the degree to which I sympathize with Albie. RC makes us feel his anguish, even as he murders again and again.
21 - DebbieF
I've seen Robert Carlyle in so many things since the mid 90's. I see things just because he's in them. I love the Full Monty, but one of my absolute favorites is Hamish MacBeth. He's brilliant in that, and it was a series for at least three years. He's the biggest reason I watch OUAT (oh, and the biggest reason I watched SGU).
22 - Bonnie
I can't help but feel that Rumplestiltskin isn't evil at all, sure he's done some bad things, but heck who hasn't. And most of the bad he's done was because of what happened to his son. Rumple, as my sister and I call him, is by far both of our favorite character. Last night's episode was the BEST yet.
23 - Kerry Bartell
Caught middle of Once Upon A Time whilst flicking through tv channels in a hotel in Cancun. it left me wanting more! I have always been a fan of Robert Carlisle so will be watching him in this role back home here in England.
24 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Kerry, I understand that Once has been picked up in the U.K. for broadcast!
25 - Sonia Vining
Hi, Barbara -- thanks for the piece on RC! I, too, am captivated by Rumpel/Mr. Gold, and am using my week off to watch SGU. I've just finished the episode where he tags "Mandy" to come and help fix/bypass the FTL drive. So awesome to see the human side of Rush -- although I'll admit, I was primed to take his side anyway, since I'm watching the series because of Carlyle.