Andrew Scott opened the BFI London Film Festival with the premiere of Elsinore on Wednesday 7 October. The 49-year-old actor walked the red carpet with co-star Olivia Colman at the opening night gala at the Royal Festival Hall, starting what is expected to be a busy awards season for him. The opening night is traditionally one of the festival’s most prominent events. Colman’s presence beside him added further star power to the night.
Elsinore tells the true story of Ian Charleson, an actor confronting his own mortality. The film is directed by Simon Stone and written by Stephen Beresford, based on an idea by Ethan Silverman. Scott is regarded as one of the early frontrunners for best actor for his performance, and the London gala gave the film a high-profile launch on home ground. Charleson’s story is well known in British theatre circles. The film puts a British acting story at the centre of the festival’s first night.
A large cast turned out for the evening. Billie Piper, Johnny Flynn, Luke Thompson, David Dawson, Matthew Beard, Joe Locke, Sadie Soverall, Monica Dolan, Louis Healy, Kadiff Kirwan and Jamie Bogyo all attended. Piper was one of the standout arrivals, wearing an Emilia Wickstead dress with Paula Rowan gloves, Christian Louboutin shoes and David Morris earrings. The size of the turnout reflected the depth of the ensemble assembled for the film. The cast posed together for group photographs before the screening.
Scott has spoken openly about the prejudice he has faced as a gay actor. In comments reported by Variety, he said he had once worried audiences would not accept him as a straight love interest, and had been told he might miss out on such roles. He pointed to theatre fans at the stage door who “knew my sexuality and they did not care”, and argued that assuming audiences cannot accept this is itself a form of prejudice. His remarks came as he prepares for a long round of interviews and screenings.
He also compared the issue to superhero films, noting that nobody expects an actor to actually be Batman. Elsinore arrives in cinemas on 20 November. Its selection as the festival’s opening film puts it at the front of the awards conversation, and the gala gave Scott and Colman a prominent platform to begin promoting it in the weeks ahead. His comments gave the premiere a wider message about casting and audiences.
