The "Brit a Day" series

What does a months-long parade of attractive British men have to do with fiction, you might well ask? These gentlemen have inspired some lovely scenes, part of the life I live in my head. Over time, some of these scenes reach out to one another and begin to form a story. For the present, each one of these pictures provides a writing prompt for me, a way to keep me writing with a sense of passion and narrative, even when the stories are not yet fully formed.



Thursday, June 28, 2012

A Brit a Day [#815]

My friend Mianne found this lovely photo of Henry Ian Cusick as Cassio in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2000 production of 'Othello'.  Yes, I know you can't really see his face, but who's going to complain about seeing a man in vintage uniform from this angle?

Ok, bye, I'm off to Anime Expo in LA with my daughter.  See you next week!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

A Brit a Day [#814]

Some talented soul got creative in Photoshop, posted this to Tumblr, and made my day.  The thought of these 3 acting together....it's something we should all visualize, like world peace, and maybe it will come true.  Perhaps there's a role for Matt alongside Ben and Tom in the version of  'Good Omens' we're all casting in our heads.

On a practical level, this picture also takes care of a little ABAD business...I'm going out of town after tomorrow's post and won't be back until after the 4th.  So here are 3 of the guys I would be posting in my absence.  Take small bites, chew completely before swallowing, and savor them until I come home.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Brit a Day [#813]

Eddie Argos, frontman of Art Brut and other bands, is enough of a fan of LA to have written 2 songs about it--'Moving to LA' and 'Moved to LA'--and to have devoted one of his post card diptychs to the very idea of relocating to it.  Now he lives in Berlin--and having moved house recently, he's looking for a new home for the pair of canvases.  Interested?  see the link to Eddie's site in my sidebar.

Monday, June 25, 2012

A Brit a Day [#812]

What is it that is so compelling about Benedict Cumberbatch?

Oh...right...the list sort of begins near the top of his head and keeps going....

Sunday, June 24, 2012

A Brit a Day [#811]

This photo is from a section of Fanpop called 'RIP Severus Snape.'  Awww what a tribute.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

A Brit a Day [#810]

I'm not going to worry about whether or not Kenneth Branagh is a true Brit any more [see previous posts tagged with his name]--the Queen of England doesn't seem to have a problem with him.  Now known to me and mine as Sir Ken, the knighted one will be returning for a new season of 'Wallander' this fall.  I recently began watching 'Wallander' on Amazon Instant Videos [yes, yes, you know the train of thought that led me there] and will be happily caught up and ready for the new installments soon.

Here's a trailer giving the flavor of Season 1, including a little bit of Tom Hiddleston's character getting picked on by Sir Ken's--

Friday, June 22, 2012

A Brit a Day [#809]

Tom Hiddleston with Terence Davies, director of  'The Deep Blue Sea.'

I'm really looking forward to seeing this movie, but I'll have to wait for the DVD [late July] because the closest theatre showing it is in San Francisco--not happening.

In the meantime enjoy this wonderful video/interview with its stars--

http://www.film4.com/videos/article/the-deep-blue-sea-cast-and-director-interviews

Thursday, June 21, 2012

A Brit a Day [#808]

Henry Ian Cusick in 2006's 'Half Light'--typing while wearing gloves is a sure sign he's up to no good.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

A Brit a Day [#807]

Comic Con starts in a little over 3 weeks.  Who will be here this year?  Who?

Matt Smith was The Man, the CEO, The Wow Factor, maybe even the center of the known universe at Comic Con 2011.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

A Brit a Day [#806]

Yes, I admit it.....all of the items in my Fan Art folder right now are Tom-Hiddleston-related.  And you don't want to know how much of it is from Thor/The Avengers.  Anyway, all credit to the artist who signed it for this beautiful rendering in B&W of the scene that made me lose all hope of resisting this man's prodigious charms.

Monday, June 18, 2012

A Brit a Day [#805]

I love the wallpaper on the set of 221B Baker Street--it's a lot like this cushion, a bit busy but ultimately very supportive of the man who rests his head there.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Brit a Day [#804]

I can't possibly imagine the justification for this scenario other than someone noticed a resemblance between Alan Rickman and the koala.

I saw 'Die Hard' on TV today for the umpteenth time, and I never get tired of Rickman-as-Hans Gruber, although I am a bit weary of his silly band of German thugs.  Other than their sexy boss, the bad boys seem about as dated as the shoulder pads in Holly's blouse.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

A Brit a Day [#803]

Today's Brit is....Joey!  The English war horse!

Nah, that isn't a picture of Joey as a colt.  It's just a cute picture of a young horse and its mommy that illustrates how the need for young creatures to jump on mom before she has a chance to finish eating is universal, even across species.

Friday, June 15, 2012

A Brit a Day [#802]

Tom Hiddleston, David Kross, and Jeremy Irvine from a magazine article about 'War Horse.'

1)  The first thing that pops into my mind when I see this picture is Rob, Chip, and Ernie Douglas from 'My Three Sons.'  I don't feel so much like a prehistoric relic when I talk about old TV shows now that we have Antenna TV on the cable.

2)  Oh my god, Mr. Hiddleston, must you dress exquisitely for every appearance?  This from the man who says his only fashion rule is to "not look like a tit" when he leaves the house.

3)  When you think of the most-oft photographed subjects, you think of the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon....there will never be a shortage of new photographs of these wonders.  And why is that?  Because they are timelessly beautiful.  By inference, then, there will never be a shortage of pictures of these three beautiful boys, especially the tall one with the gorgeous smile.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Brit a Day [#801]

'Fringe' is by no means the only game in town for handsome Henry Ian Cusick, recently set free from his contract with 'Scandal'*--but if you'd like to have a say in whether HIC returns as Simon Foster, vote here:

http://www.fringebloggers.com/do-you-want-simon-foster-in-the-final-season/

And this is no idle request.  Do it for me--I would vote every day the poll is open, but they seem to recognize me and tell me I've already voted.

* P.S.-- There are about 20 seconds of Ian in all of [only one of] the bonus features on the 'Scandal: S1' DVDs.


I have no words.....just Pfffffsht.  That's my only....word.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

A Brit a Day [#800]

Dear Matt Smith:  I need you and the TARDIS back in my life ASAP.  Comic Con?  RSVP.

OMG!  800 Brits have been posted on this blog.  What, tell me, has become of my life?

Well, it's a lot of fun and beauty.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

A Brit a Day [#799]

This is the loveliest thing in my Fan Art folder at the moment.  And appropriate, too--took the kids to see 'The Avengers' today [for the second time] to celebrate the last day of school.

The helmet under the arm is a really nice touch.  All credit to the artist--found on Tumblr, probably sourced from Deviant Art.

Monday, June 11, 2012

A Brit a Day [#798]

They act their parts so well in 'Sherlock', it's almost uncomfortable to see them socializing:  Benedict Cumberbatch [left] and Andrew Scott [right].

Sunday, June 10, 2012

A Brit a Day [#797]

Alan Rickman in 'Mesmer.'  I own this movie on DVD and haven't watched it in soooo long.  I need to do that again.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

A Brit a Day [#796]

With the announcement yesterday that Henry Ian Cusick would not be returning for a second season of 'Scandal,' the hope that he will reappear as Simon Foster on 'Fringe' has been reignited.

Friday, June 8, 2012

A Brit a Day [#795]

 Two things that are not seen so often:  the top of Tom Hiddleston's head [he's 6'2"] and his lovely bare shoulders--they are usually enfolded in leather or Armani.


Thursday, June 7, 2012

A Brit a Day [#794]


The art of the arched eyebrow is modeled here by our beloved Ian Cusick.

I know an opera singer who is a dead ringer for Scarlet O'Hara when she sends one of her lovely brows heavenward.  Clearly it is not a skill we are born with--to elevate the brows independently of one another.  My friend told me that she spent hours in front of the mirror after she saw 'Gone with the Wind' perfecting the trick.  Gotta wonder where Ian got his technique.


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

A Brit a Day [#793]


Matt Smith:  this man was born to wear plaid.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Brit a Day [#792]

I'm very excited about this addition to the week's lineup:  Fan Art Tuesday.  Here is a lovely pic-spam-calendar someone created for 2009.  I was especially drawn to this collage since it includes a still from an episode of the noir series "Fallen Angels" that Alan Rickman did with Laura Dern, one of my favorite actresses.  The episode was called 'Murder, Obliquely' and it was directed by Alfonso Cuaron, who went on to direct my favorite HP movie, "Prisoner of Azkaban."  Small world, huh?

Monday, June 4, 2012

A Brit a Day [#791]

Say hello to the new Mr. Monday.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to sustain our Cumberbatched souls until 'Sherlock' S3?  Movies?  BBC reruns?

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Saturday, June 2, 2012

A Brit a Day [#789]

I decided a while ago Aussies can be Brits.  Which gives me the opportunity of showing you new dad Chris Hemsworth with days-old baby India Rose.  I'm awfully partial to that name--my daughter is India Elizabeth.

Friday, June 1, 2012

A Brit a Day [#788]



This video shows you just about everything I [we, millions of us] love about Tom Hiddleston.  I could do without the Harry-Potter-esque background music, but.....just watch it.

So speaking of Tom, it has been in the works for Brit a Day to get a new lineup, and Mr. Hiddleston will most definitely be a part of it.  I love all my British lads, and I love introducing new faces to my friends as well as discovering a few sensational fellows that my friends have been telling me about.

Beginning today, the menu will include [with a few nice words about each]....

Sundays.....Alan Rickman [Still?  Yes.  Always.]
Mondays....Benedict Cumberbatch [would be included for Sherlock alone, never mind War Horse, reading stories to children, yada yada]
Tuesdays....Fan Art [Life is too short not to devote one day a week to great art, you know.]
Wednesdays....Matt Smith [The Doctor, My Doctor]
Thursdays....Henry Ian Cusick [will be included until the world recognizes his great talent and yells it from the roof tops]
Fridays.....Tom Hiddleston [I.  Just.  Can't.  Even.  And you know who you are.]
Saturdays...Editor's Choice [because I can]

I hope you will continue to enjoy ABAD as much as I do!  And on that happy note, I'm going to post my absolute favorite picture [so far] of Tom Hiddleston.  Might as well start at the top of my game....