Post by Jay Rambo on Mar 22, 2008 7:19:29 GMT -5
From the Sun Newspaper:
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article948800.ece
LIFE after Coronation Street usually peaks with the odd role in Sunday night TV dramas before relegation to the celebrity Z-list.
But for one-time cast member Matthew Marsden, quitting the soap led to a dream coming true – when he got to save the life of movie hardman Rambo in a Hollywood blockbuster.
The actor was hand-picked by Sylvester Stallone to play heroic sniper School Boy in the first Rambo film for 20 years.
And Matthew’s scene-stealing performances look set to win him his big break in America.
The young actor, originally from Walsall, is still pinching himself about appearing in one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.
He admits: “On the way to the set I would say to the guys, ‘I’m in a Rambo movie.’ I couldn’t believe it.
“I’m proud to play a British soldier who saved the life of Rambo.”
Despite appearing in a string of well-known films, 25-year-old Matthew is still best remembered as handsome mechanic Chris Collins in the ITV1 soap.
The role led to the 6ft 3in heart-throb dating a string of beautiful women including Dannii Minogue – and he once famously turned down a date with Madonna.
But in an exclusive interview, Matthew insists he has settled down since his early party days. In fact, he is now married and devotes as much time as possible to his new family in Los Angeles.
He says: “When I first went out to America I hung out a lot with Robbie Williams, but I haven’t seen him for a little while. I don’t feel the need to go partying any more.
“I pretty much keep myself to myself, spend time with my family and do my own thing. I am married to a lady called Nadine and we have a two-year-old son called Finn.
“I live like a hermit. In the insanity that can be Hollywood it is great to have your own little castle. There is nothing more important than your family.” Matthew tied the knot with Nadine, 26, a former ballerina from Malta, three years ago. The wedding and Finn’s arrival were private affairs – unlike the birth of his first son Connor in 1998 by insurance clerk Rachel John.
The pair split just before Connor was born but stayed good friends and appeared together in a glossy photoshoot in OK! magazine.
“I was a bit naive back then,” Matthew admits. “But I see Connor whenever I come back to England. I love both my sons very much.”
Six years in the States have changed the star in other ways too.
At the start of our chat over lunch there is no sign of his West Midlands accent.
Instead, it has been replaced by a soft mid-Atlantic tone.
However, by the end of the conversation, as Matthew becomes more relaxed and enthusiastic, the old Midlands lilt returns. In the fourth Rambo movie – simply called Rambo and out at cinemas now – he gets the chance to use his natural accent on film for the first time in years.
Matthew explains: “My character School Boy was originally meant to be an American. But Sly wanted me to speak in my British accent.
“I have played so many Americans now that it is strange to be playing a Brit. I have lost my Walsall accent, but it was easy to get it back.”
Originally there were plans for School Boy to take over from Rambo and get a movie of his own – and with Matthew’s impressive performance it might still happen.
He says: “In the original script School Boy was to take over from Rambo in the next film. He was very much a protege of Rambo, so obviously I was very excited. After Sly, I was the next person cast.
“At the end of the first script they were meant to do another mission.
“But I think it now has an appropriate end, so who knows what will happen with School Boy now?”
Many former soap stars including Martine McCutcheon, Sean Maguire and Michelle Ryan, have tried their luck in Hollywood – but none have come close to Matthew’s success.
In addition to Rambo he also starred in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down and alongside Michael Caine in Shiner. Other films on his CV include Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid, DOA: Dead Or Alive and Resident Evil: Extinction.
Now Matthew says he is happy to wait for the right role, explaining: “I have turned down a lot of parts recently and was waiting for this film to come out, because you are only as good as your last movie.
“I am also concentrating on writing a script about the SAS in Northern Ireland in the Seventies.”
While he no longer parties with the stars, he does attend the same church as Stallone’s former tough guy rival Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He says: “I met Arnie at the Rambo premiere and he said, ‘Congratulations on your movie’.” Matthew has come a long way from his humble beginnings.
He recalls: “I came from a working class council estate, a single-parent family, my mum was amazing. I still miss the football back home – I’m a massive West Brom fan.”
Matthew’s father David walked out when his son was ten and the actor no longer has any contact with him. He says: “I have no need to speak to him again and it’s not like I am toiling over it.
“He was never really in my life and while I wish him all the best in his life, he’s not in mine.”
The man that Matthew now seems to look up to is Stallone.
During our interview he often praises the screen legend and Matthew admits the well-built 61-year-old was more than a match for him in strength.
“Sly is a workaholic and a perfectionist,” Matthew reveals. “At one point he came running down a hill and ran straight into me.
“I’m 6ft 3in but it was like being hit by a truck, he is so solid.”
Matthew goes on to defend the huge body count in Rambo, which sees the ageing Vietnam war veteran taking on Burma’s brutal army.
The film touches on the plight of the Karen people – an ethnic group who are oppressed by Burma’s military regime.
“Sly wanted to show what was really happening in Burma,” Matthew explains. “We met Karen freedom fighters and people who’d had their limbs blown off.
“I had no idea there was genocide going on there until we started making the film and I feel ashamed about that.”
While Matthew is proud of his work, he acknowledges the 18-certificate movie is strictly for grown-ups only.
“When I went to see Rambo on the opening night in LA there were kids aged about ten in there and I felt like going over and saying, ‘I think you should take those kids out.’
“I don’t want either of my boys to be watching Rambo for a while.”
www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article948800.ece
LIFE after Coronation Street usually peaks with the odd role in Sunday night TV dramas before relegation to the celebrity Z-list.
But for one-time cast member Matthew Marsden, quitting the soap led to a dream coming true – when he got to save the life of movie hardman Rambo in a Hollywood blockbuster.
The actor was hand-picked by Sylvester Stallone to play heroic sniper School Boy in the first Rambo film for 20 years.
And Matthew’s scene-stealing performances look set to win him his big break in America.
The young actor, originally from Walsall, is still pinching himself about appearing in one of the biggest movie franchises of all time.
He admits: “On the way to the set I would say to the guys, ‘I’m in a Rambo movie.’ I couldn’t believe it.
“I’m proud to play a British soldier who saved the life of Rambo.”
Despite appearing in a string of well-known films, 25-year-old Matthew is still best remembered as handsome mechanic Chris Collins in the ITV1 soap.
The role led to the 6ft 3in heart-throb dating a string of beautiful women including Dannii Minogue – and he once famously turned down a date with Madonna.
But in an exclusive interview, Matthew insists he has settled down since his early party days. In fact, he is now married and devotes as much time as possible to his new family in Los Angeles.
He says: “When I first went out to America I hung out a lot with Robbie Williams, but I haven’t seen him for a little while. I don’t feel the need to go partying any more.
“I pretty much keep myself to myself, spend time with my family and do my own thing. I am married to a lady called Nadine and we have a two-year-old son called Finn.
“I live like a hermit. In the insanity that can be Hollywood it is great to have your own little castle. There is nothing more important than your family.” Matthew tied the knot with Nadine, 26, a former ballerina from Malta, three years ago. The wedding and Finn’s arrival were private affairs – unlike the birth of his first son Connor in 1998 by insurance clerk Rachel John.
The pair split just before Connor was born but stayed good friends and appeared together in a glossy photoshoot in OK! magazine.
“I was a bit naive back then,” Matthew admits. “But I see Connor whenever I come back to England. I love both my sons very much.”
Six years in the States have changed the star in other ways too.
At the start of our chat over lunch there is no sign of his West Midlands accent.
Instead, it has been replaced by a soft mid-Atlantic tone.
However, by the end of the conversation, as Matthew becomes more relaxed and enthusiastic, the old Midlands lilt returns. In the fourth Rambo movie – simply called Rambo and out at cinemas now – he gets the chance to use his natural accent on film for the first time in years.
Matthew explains: “My character School Boy was originally meant to be an American. But Sly wanted me to speak in my British accent.
“I have played so many Americans now that it is strange to be playing a Brit. I have lost my Walsall accent, but it was easy to get it back.”
Originally there were plans for School Boy to take over from Rambo and get a movie of his own – and with Matthew’s impressive performance it might still happen.
He says: “In the original script School Boy was to take over from Rambo in the next film. He was very much a protege of Rambo, so obviously I was very excited. After Sly, I was the next person cast.
“At the end of the first script they were meant to do another mission.
“But I think it now has an appropriate end, so who knows what will happen with School Boy now?”
Many former soap stars including Martine McCutcheon, Sean Maguire and Michelle Ryan, have tried their luck in Hollywood – but none have come close to Matthew’s success.
In addition to Rambo he also starred in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down and alongside Michael Caine in Shiner. Other films on his CV include Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid, DOA: Dead Or Alive and Resident Evil: Extinction.
Now Matthew says he is happy to wait for the right role, explaining: “I have turned down a lot of parts recently and was waiting for this film to come out, because you are only as good as your last movie.
“I am also concentrating on writing a script about the SAS in Northern Ireland in the Seventies.”
While he no longer parties with the stars, he does attend the same church as Stallone’s former tough guy rival Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He says: “I met Arnie at the Rambo premiere and he said, ‘Congratulations on your movie’.” Matthew has come a long way from his humble beginnings.
He recalls: “I came from a working class council estate, a single-parent family, my mum was amazing. I still miss the football back home – I’m a massive West Brom fan.”
Matthew’s father David walked out when his son was ten and the actor no longer has any contact with him. He says: “I have no need to speak to him again and it’s not like I am toiling over it.
“He was never really in my life and while I wish him all the best in his life, he’s not in mine.”
The man that Matthew now seems to look up to is Stallone.
During our interview he often praises the screen legend and Matthew admits the well-built 61-year-old was more than a match for him in strength.
“Sly is a workaholic and a perfectionist,” Matthew reveals. “At one point he came running down a hill and ran straight into me.
“I’m 6ft 3in but it was like being hit by a truck, he is so solid.”
Matthew goes on to defend the huge body count in Rambo, which sees the ageing Vietnam war veteran taking on Burma’s brutal army.
The film touches on the plight of the Karen people – an ethnic group who are oppressed by Burma’s military regime.
“Sly wanted to show what was really happening in Burma,” Matthew explains. “We met Karen freedom fighters and people who’d had their limbs blown off.
“I had no idea there was genocide going on there until we started making the film and I feel ashamed about that.”
While Matthew is proud of his work, he acknowledges the 18-certificate movie is strictly for grown-ups only.
“When I went to see Rambo on the opening night in LA there were kids aged about ten in there and I felt like going over and saying, ‘I think you should take those kids out.’
“I don’t want either of my boys to be watching Rambo for a while.”
