Post by SheWolf on Jan 20, 2007 17:31:50 GMT 1
From the Oxford Mail
The mother of Oxfordshire actor Toby Jones said her son's Hollywood acting career began with a shy performance in a school play.
But Jennie Jones said it was clear that her son - who stars in acclaimed film Infamous as US author Truman Capote - had talent as he trod the boards.
Now that he is starring alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Hollywood star Sandra Bullock in a major film praised by critics, she could not be more proud.
Speaking at the family home in Charlbury, Mrs Jones, whose husband Freddie Jones stars in ITV soap opera Emmerdale, said: "We're very excited about the film coming out here.
"I have to say he's just a tremendous worker. He really had to do a lot of learning to do that distinctive Capote voice, but we're absolutely overjoyed."
Mrs Jones said her son's first theatrical performance was in a school play, as cartoon character Buster Brown, when he was five.
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She said: "He ran to the front of the stage, then he just ran to the back, he was so shy. But when he took part in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew at Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford, I thought: 'My God, he's got something.' Who would have thought that shy five-year-old boy would end up a Hollywood actor?"
Last week, the actor spoke to the Oxford Mail about the film, saying it had been well received and was looking forward to it coming to the UK.
He said: "I'll be keenly awaiting the verdict of my friends to see what they make of it - it's been a long wait for it to come out."
Acting is very much in the family genes.
His father, Freddie, is the veteran of numerous plays, television programmes and films, ranging from recent roles in The Libertine and Ladies in Lavender to appearances in Antony and Cleopatra and The Elephant Man, and is currently playing Sandy Thomas in Emmerdale.
His mother and youngest brother Caspar are also actors and his other brother, Rupert, is a television and film director.
Toby's sixth-form teacher at Abingdon School, Tom Ayling, said: "I have been following Toby's career with interest since he left the school in 1985.
"He was a leading figure in the school's drama scene where his forte was for comic roles - I particularly remember him playing Dromio in the Comedy of Errors."
And Paul Wavell, deputy headmaster at Christ Church Cathedral School, where the actor was a pupil until he was 11, also remembered his dramatic talents.
"I was very proud to see how well he has done. From early on, with his father being a fairly well-known actor himself, it was obvious he had talents but he was also pretty good all-round," he said.
"Then when he left us and went on to Abingdon, it became even more obvious - it was in the genes."
Mr Wavell said he had also shown some talent as a cricketer.
Toby Jones has said he would not want his two daughters, aged four and six, to follow him into acting. But they are showing "dangerous signs" of being interested in the
The mother of Oxfordshire actor Toby Jones said her son's Hollywood acting career began with a shy performance in a school play.
But Jennie Jones said it was clear that her son - who stars in acclaimed film Infamous as US author Truman Capote - had talent as he trod the boards.
Now that he is starring alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig and Hollywood star Sandra Bullock in a major film praised by critics, she could not be more proud.
Speaking at the family home in Charlbury, Mrs Jones, whose husband Freddie Jones stars in ITV soap opera Emmerdale, said: "We're very excited about the film coming out here.
"I have to say he's just a tremendous worker. He really had to do a lot of learning to do that distinctive Capote voice, but we're absolutely overjoyed."
Mrs Jones said her son's first theatrical performance was in a school play, as cartoon character Buster Brown, when he was five.
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She said: "He ran to the front of the stage, then he just ran to the back, he was so shy. But when he took part in The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew at Christ Church Cathedral School in Oxford, I thought: 'My God, he's got something.' Who would have thought that shy five-year-old boy would end up a Hollywood actor?"
Last week, the actor spoke to the Oxford Mail about the film, saying it had been well received and was looking forward to it coming to the UK.
He said: "I'll be keenly awaiting the verdict of my friends to see what they make of it - it's been a long wait for it to come out."
Acting is very much in the family genes.
His father, Freddie, is the veteran of numerous plays, television programmes and films, ranging from recent roles in The Libertine and Ladies in Lavender to appearances in Antony and Cleopatra and The Elephant Man, and is currently playing Sandy Thomas in Emmerdale.
His mother and youngest brother Caspar are also actors and his other brother, Rupert, is a television and film director.
Toby's sixth-form teacher at Abingdon School, Tom Ayling, said: "I have been following Toby's career with interest since he left the school in 1985.
"He was a leading figure in the school's drama scene where his forte was for comic roles - I particularly remember him playing Dromio in the Comedy of Errors."
And Paul Wavell, deputy headmaster at Christ Church Cathedral School, where the actor was a pupil until he was 11, also remembered his dramatic talents.
"I was very proud to see how well he has done. From early on, with his father being a fairly well-known actor himself, it was obvious he had talents but he was also pretty good all-round," he said.
"Then when he left us and went on to Abingdon, it became even more obvious - it was in the genes."
Mr Wavell said he had also shown some talent as a cricketer.
Toby Jones has said he would not want his two daughters, aged four and six, to follow him into acting. But they are showing "dangerous signs" of being interested in the