Philip Glenister

Philip Glenister was born on February 10, 1963 in London, England. He is an actor, known for Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Life on Mars (2006) and Ashes to Ashes (2008). He has been married to Beth Goddard since 2006. They have two children.

Movies

Calendar Girls

Middle aged Chris Harper (Dame Helen Mirren) and Annie Clarke (Dame Julie Walters) are best friends. They spend much of their time at their local Knapely, Yorkshire County chapter of the Women’s Institute (WI), whose motto is “enlightenment, fun, and friendship”. Although they like most of the women at the…

More about this movie

Fun Facts

I say it's a Western. It's got everything that a great Western has: the frontier

Quotes

If I was 10 years younger, or didn't have children, I might like to go to Hollywood, but it's never been a burning desire, and I can't be arsed now to start at the bottom of the pile. I'm too old and cynical to go cap in hand.

There are some very good people in television, but a lot of fools running it. They put fame ahead of talent and think someone from EastEnders (1985) will put bums on seats. Bollocks. If anything they'll be exposed. When I have school fees to pay you might read 'soap star Philip Glenister'. From DCI Hunt to The Bill (1984) - God, no.

It seems the better the quality, the more you're penalised. If we bring Life on Mars (2006) in on time and perhaps under budget, they say you can do it for less next time. If you said to a heart surgeon, 'Love your work - cut your surgery time', he'd say, 'the patient will die'. It's very frustrating when they want to hurry you up to save money. I tell them, 'I didn't sign up for The Bill (1984). Let's do it properly.'

There's so much cheapness with all this reality stuff. Someone makes big bucks at someone else's expense and it's the sadistic element of shows like Big Brother (2000) I find so cruel. We're so screwed up with our principles. We used to mock Japanese game shows where they ate bugs. Now we're doing the same, if not worse. It's terrifying.

There's so much dumbing down on television. I'm pissed off that every awards ceremony has a special soap category. I don't want to be a snob, but they only do it to satisfy market forces. Soaps are a separate industry, churned out on a treadmill with no time for any creative process, so nobody gives a shit. I have a soft spot for Coronation Street (1960), it doesn't take itself too seriously. But EastEnders (1985) is up its own arse.

(On his character "Gene Hunt"" in Life on Mars (2006)) He's Wyatt Earp; he's the Sheriff who wears the badge. When I've been asked what genre you would put ""Life On Mars"" in