Duncan Meadows
Encyclopedia
Duncan Meadows is a British actor and street performer, noted for his performances as The Executioner in the Royal Opera House
production of Salome
. He will play the character of 'Elton' in the upcoming 2010 feature film The Perfect Burger
, directed by Todd Carty
. He also appeared in the 2009 short film Statuesque by Hollywood writer and director Neil Gaiman
.
, painting himself silver in a self designed 'Centurion' character. While performing as this in 2007, he was spotted by David McVicar
, the future director of Salome
at the nearby Royal Opera House
. McVicar thought he would be a natural fit for a part, as the role of 'The Executioner' often involved being still, yet able to engage an audience.
and Eastenders
star Todd Carty
was looking to cast 'Elton', in his 2010 directorial debut feature film, The Perfect Burger
.
He has since been sought out by Hollywood sci-fi writer and director Neil Gaiman
, famous for his work on Stardust
and Beowulf
. He chose him to play a key role in his short film, Statuesque, commissioned by British broadcaster Sky Movies
.
In 2010, he made his theatrical debut in Bonded by Blood
, and guest starred in the BBC fantasy adventure series Merlin
.
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
production of Salome
Salome
Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...
. He will play the character of 'Elton' in the upcoming 2010 feature film The Perfect Burger
The Perfect Burger
The Perfect Burger is the 2010 directorial debut feature film from former Grange Hill and Eastenders actor Todd Carty.The film stars Richard Brimblecombe, Duncan Meadows, Pauline Quirke and Joanna Bobin.-External links:* at The Leicester Mercury...
, directed by Todd Carty
Todd Carty
Todd Carty is an Irish actor and director, who has grown up on television screens in a variety of roles. His stage work has varied from pantomime to serious drama, as well as radio plays, voiceovers, commercials, narrations, and films...
. He also appeared in the 2009 short film Statuesque by Hollywood writer and director Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
.
Discovery on the street
As a means to financially support himself, the actor often performed as a street performer in London's busy Covent GardenCovent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
, painting himself silver in a self designed 'Centurion' character. While performing as this in 2007, he was spotted by David McVicar
David McVicar
David McVicar is a Scottish opera and theatre director. He attended Netherlee Primary School and then Williamwood High School. He studied as an actor at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1989...
, the future director of Salome
Salome
Salome , the Daughter of Herodias , is known from the New Testament...
at the nearby Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
. McVicar thought he would be a natural fit for a part, as the role of 'The Executioner' often involved being still, yet able to engage an audience.
Transition into acting
Although Meadows had previously performed in many commercial campaigns and minor walk on television roles, he had yet to work as a regular actor. This changed in 2009, when former Grange HillGrange Hill
Grange Hill is a British television drama series originally made by the BBC. The show began in 1978 on BBC1 and was one of the longest running programmes on British television...
and Eastenders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
star Todd Carty
Todd Carty
Todd Carty is an Irish actor and director, who has grown up on television screens in a variety of roles. His stage work has varied from pantomime to serious drama, as well as radio plays, voiceovers, commercials, narrations, and films...
was looking to cast 'Elton', in his 2010 directorial debut feature film, The Perfect Burger
The Perfect Burger
The Perfect Burger is the 2010 directorial debut feature film from former Grange Hill and Eastenders actor Todd Carty.The film stars Richard Brimblecombe, Duncan Meadows, Pauline Quirke and Joanna Bobin.-External links:* at The Leicester Mercury...
.
He has since been sought out by Hollywood sci-fi writer and director Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, famous for his work on Stardust
Stardust (novel)
Stardust is the first solo prose novel by Neil Gaiman. It is usually published as a novel with illustrations by Charles Vess. Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's prose fiction, being consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy, following in the...
and Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
. He chose him to play a key role in his short film, Statuesque, commissioned by British broadcaster Sky Movies
Sky Movies
Sky Movies is the collective name for the premium subscription television movie channels operated by Sky Television, and later British Sky Broadcasting. It has around 5 million subscribers, via satellite, cable and IPTV in the UK and Ireland...
.
In 2010, he made his theatrical debut in Bonded by Blood
Bonded by Blood (film)
Bonded by Blood is a 2010 film directed by Sacha Bennett which revolves around the same characters from Rise of the Footsoldier.-Plot:The film is set in 1995, drug suppliers and career criminals Tony Tucker, Patrick Tate and Craig Rolfe were blasted to death by a shot gun whilst waiting in a Range...
, and guest starred in the BBC fantasy adventure series Merlin
Merlin (TV series)
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure television programme by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. It began broadcasting on BBC One on 20 September 2008. The show is based on the Arthurian legends of the wizard Merlin and his relationship with Prince Arthur but differs from...
.
External links
- Busker to appear at Royal Opera House in Salome on Times Online
- Official Website