Where Do I Know That Actor?

If you’re a fan of BAPTISTE, you know this thrilling drama series just wrapped up series two on MASTERPIECE (series one aired early last year). Along the way, you may have spotted some familiar faces from other public broadcasting programs we’ve aired. So while MIDSOMER MURDERS is taking a break for pledge, let’s see who’s who on BAPTISTE.

Tchéky Karyo starred in the title role of detective Julien Baptiste. He’s a French actor (born in Turkey) so sadly he’s not appeared really in any British import shows or Masterpiece offerings so there’s not a lot to focus on. About 40 years back, Karyo did have a role as Augustin in the French film The Return Of Martin Guerre and, as it happens, we did air that movie a while back (thinking late 80s/early 90s) so you may have seen him there.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

US was the latest MASTERPIECE presentation and ended in late June. Described as “a drama tinged with humor and heartbreak” by MASTERPIECE, the series followed a couple embarked on a grand tour of Europe just as one announces the marriage is over. Some of the faces are familiar from other PBS fare so let’s see who’s who on US…

Tom Hollander played Douglas Peterson. Not to be confused with the much younger Tom Holland (who plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the MCU), Hollander has appeared on screens big and small on both sides on the Atlantic for decades. Last year, he was Edward Stratton in Baptiste. About ten years back, he portrayed the Prince Of Wales/Duke of Windsor in Any Human Heart. Around the turn of the century, he played Osborne Hamley in Wives And Daughters and George V in The Lost Prince.

Saskia Reeves was Douglas’ wife, Connie Peterson. She most recently played Helen Laurence in the Hugh Laurie series Roadkill. Before that, Reeves appeared as Thelma in The Child In Time, Freya Galdie  in Shetland, Johane Williamson in Wolf Hall, Anthea Catcheside in Page Eight, DS Rose Teller in Luther and Cassie Mahy in Island At War.

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Explore the history of social networks as historian/author Niall Ferguson reveals the intersection of social media, technology and cultural movements. Enter NIALL FERGUSON’S NETWORLD – Tuesday night at 8 on UNC-TV.

HBO Max has ordered a series on the life of Julia Child (The French Chef). Sarah Lancashire (Scott & Bailey) stars as the culinary cognoscente and Tom Hollander (Wives and Daughters) as her husband, Paul.

Tony! Tony! Tony!

The Tony Awards are Sunday night and although PBS is not airing the ceremony (I believe we carried the first hour for a few years around the turn of the century) a drama geek like me will always find a connection. As I peruse the nominees for this year’s Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, I am taken by the names I recognize from series I’ve seen on public broadcasting. No surprise, really, as Broadway attracts some of the best actors. The same can be said for the shows on UNC-TV.

So I thought I’d look over a few of the nominees (acting categories only). Consider this a sort of Where Do I Know That Actor (Tony Edition).

Let’s start with Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. Two names stand out: Renée Fleming (nominated for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel) and Diana Rigg (nominated for My Fair Lady). Fleming is a world-renowned soprano who has appeared in many operas and other musical performances we’ve shown. She’s been seen on Great Performances and The Metropolitan Opera Presents in numerous roles. Rigg, who’s had a longer career, has been a presence on our airwaves for decades. Currently, she’s the Duchess of Buccleuch on Victoria. She’s also played Adela Bradley in The Mrs. Bradley Mysteries, Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca, Mrs. Golightly in Moll Flanders and Lady Honoria Dedlock in Bleak House. For years, she was the host of Mystery! and, of course, she was Emma Peel on the 1960s spy series The Avengers.