An A-Z of Actors: N

~ beetleypete

Don’t forget, it is surnames beginning with ‘N’. Please add your own favourites in the comments. As usual, I have mostly avoided the most popular choices.

Edward Norton is an American actor, writer, and director who always seems to take his work very seriously, delivering memorable performances as a result. Still under 50, his career has already made him a household name, and a familiar face on cinema screens. He became known to most of us in 1996, when he appeared in three films that year, including a remarkable performance in ‘Primal Fear’, acting Richard Gere off the screen. Two years later, another outstanding role in ‘American History X’ cemented his talent in my mind, and I began to look for his next work. ‘Fight Club’ (1999) made him a star, and this was followed by ‘The Score’ (2001), then ‘Frida’ and ‘Red Dragon’, both in 2002. He has not stopped working since, and has been nominated for numerous awards along the way. Other notable roles include ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ (2005), and ‘The Illusionist’ (2006).

British actor Jeremy Northam has had a long career on stage, television, and screen, often featuring in historical dramas, and adaptations of classics. He played a marvellous Captain Stanhope, in ‘Journey’s End’ (1988), and featured in the 1992 remake of ‘Wuthering Heights’. Hollywood beckoned, and he starred opposite Sandra Bullock, as the heartless villain, in ‘The Net’ (1995). This was followed by parts in ‘Mimic’ and ‘Amistad, both in 1997, before his superb portrayal of Sir Robert Morton, in the remake of ‘The Winslow Boy’, in 1999. In 2001, he shone as Ivor Novello, in ‘Gosford Park’, later delivering a powerful Thomas More, in the long running TV serial, ‘The Tudors’. Most recently, he appeared in the hit series ‘The Crown’, playing former Prime Minister, Anthony Eden.

American Nick Nolte (double ‘N’!) is a man known for playing tough, no-nonsense roles. Coming to notice in 1970, in the popular TV series, ‘Rich Man, Poor Man’, he soon moved into mainstream films, starring alongside the distinguished Robert Shaw, in ‘The Deep’ (1977). Since then, his gravel-like voice and rugged appearance have guaranteed him no end of work, with starring roles in ’48 Hours’ (1982), ‘Under Fire’ (1983), and ‘Down And Out In Beverley Hills’ (1986). The corrupt cop in ‘Q&A’ (1990) was one of the high spots of his long career, and his powerful portrayal of Lt Col Tall in ‘The Thin Red Line’ (1998) was outstanding, and never to be forgotten. Since then, he has appeared in more than forty other films. Not always great films, admittedly, but he is never less than a real presence on screen.

English actor Robert Newton was a hard-drinking, hard-living star of stage and screen, who started out on stage in 1921. After an early career in London’s West End, he began working in films, with the famous director Alexander Korda. At that time, he was usually a featured supporting actor, with roles in ‘Jamaica Inn’ (1939), ‘Hell’s Cargo’ (1939), and ‘Gaslight’ (1940). After serving in WW2, he returned to acting, starring in the wonderful ‘This Happy Breed’ (1944), directed by David Lean, and in Olivier’s Henry V, also 1944. In 1948, he showed amazing power as Bill Sykes, in Lean’s film adaptation of ‘Oliver Twist’. A move to Hollywood gave him the role of Long John Silver, in Disney’s 1950 production of ‘Treasure Island’, and he claimed that character for all time. He died in 1956, aged just 50, as a result of his excessive lifestyle.

My last choice today is the attractive, and often underrated, Kim Novak. She began as a ‘starlet’ in 1954, with her obvious talent soon projecting her into starring roles opposite some of the most famous lead actors of the day. In the film ‘Picnic’ (1995), she starred with William Holden, and won a Golden Globe for her performance, going on to be one of the best things in the Frank Sinatra film, ‘The Man With The Golden Arm’, that same year. She starred with Sinatra again, in the musical ‘Pal Joey’ (1957), before her role with James Stewart, in Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’, the following year. She delighted in her lighthearted role as a witch, in ‘Bell, Book, and Candle’ (1958), again opposite James Stewart. However, by the late 1960s, she had become disillusioned with fame, and though she still occasionally appeared in films, she lived a mostly secluded life, raising horses on her farm. She is still alive, now aged 85.

35 thoughts on “An A-Z of Actors: N”

  3. Pete, I know you avoid the obvious, but Paul Newman is a legend across a number of genres, so I have to include him here…and Jack. Jack. One of the greatest Actors of all time – from “Chinatown” to “Batman” and everything in between, before and after…I will share a link to one of his most raucous roles – in “The Last Detail”, when he says – “No $@%!$!! Navy’s Going To Give Some Poor *!%@!$!! Kid Eight Years In The $%!^#!! Brig Without Me Taking Him Out For The Time Of His ^%&^%$ Life.” Here’s a look at the film:

    “The Last Detail!” Jack Nicholson’s *#@!!#* Monkees “Head” Trip! Classic Cult 70’s Cinema!

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    1. I obviously omitted him to allow others to choose,. John. Despite annoying me in ‘The Shining’, and ‘The Departed’, he has had a stellar career. Thanks as always for the link too.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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      1. Pete, I can tell when you avoid the more well known and give us great insight on lesser known or now forgotten…unfortunately there s very little film history being embraced by the masses these days!

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  5. Well, I have to mention Paul Newman, though his name has already popped up here a few times, because not only do I enjoy his films, I got to see him twice in 1989 when he was filming “Mr. and Mrs. Bridge” in Kansas City, Missouri. The first time was outside the Savoy Grille (accidental encounter), and the second time was at a house in Brush Creek (planned encounter). In both instances, he was mingling with the film crew.

    I also have to mention Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura of “Star Trek” fame) because in ApriI 1984, I attended Tiffany’s Attic (a small dinner playhouse in Kansas City, Missouri) where she performed in “Horowitz and Mrs. Washington.” (At the end, she shouted, “Beam me up, Scotty!”).

    Finally, I have to mention Olivia Newton-John (“Grease”), whose concert I attended in March 1976. ONJ introduced Paul Williams at the concert.

    But with respect to N-folks who I haven’t seen in person, I’ll go with your choice of Kim Novak (“Vertigo”), Sam Neill (“Dead Calm” / “Sirens” / “Jurassic Park”), Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”), and Liam Neeson (“Schindler’s List” / “Taken”).

    Has anyone mentioned Leslie Nielsen? I heard he landed an airplane on a forbidden planet and shot a Shakespearean monster with a naked gun.

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    1. Leslie was mentioned by Maddy, lower down. But it gave you the chance for that overview of some of his best known films! 🙂 Good personal connections with your choices too, David, as well as Liam Neeson, so good in Schindler’s List’, and ‘Rob Roy’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  6. I may not be the first, but I may be the most devoted Paul Newman fan. When he still lived in Westport Connecticut, I always yelled hello when we drove by on the highway in the general direction of where I figured he lived. Now I have to content myself with Newman salad dressing, Newman popcorn and Newman mints. His daughter Nell took over this not for profit company which gives all the earnings from its products to charity. Hard to say my favorite, but sure got hooked with “Cool Hand Luke.”

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  12. Ooh now, Neeson, Newman and Nicholson all bound to make a showing I should think. Wonder if anyone will mention the quintessential Englishman David Niven, one of my younger-year favourites. I’m going for one of our current quintessential English actresses, Thandi Newton. She is wonderful in the bonkers Westworld series, and you may remember her from the movie “Crash” for which she won a load of awards, or maybe the TV series The Thin Line.

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    1. I do know Thandie from ‘Line of Duty’, she was good as a villainous bad cop in that series. Also ‘Crash’, which I think worked so well as an ensemble piece. David Niven got a mention from Maddy, lower down. Thanks for all your selections, FR.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. My favorite movie with Nick Nolte is Prince of Tides, he co-stars with the wonderful Babra Streisand. It is a story about a guy who is rather tough outside, but has been deeply hurt in his childhood days, and has tried to conceil this for many years. When his twin sister tried to commit suicide in New York her psychiatrist – Babra Streisand – slowly breaks up his shell. 😉

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  14. I’m a big fan of Jeremy Northam. He deserved to become a much bigger star than he did.

    I also love Sam Neill, Jack Nicholson, Leslie Nielson and David Niven.

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    1. Thanks for adding your choices, Maddy. I thought Northam was amazing in ‘The Winslow Boy’, and also that he would have made a fitting Sherlock Holmes.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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