Scottish names in lights

Issur Danielovitch, who was he?

Star of Spartacus and countless other films. Not ringing any bells? That's what he thought, and thus Kirk Douglas was born. Not a drop of Scots blood, but a Scottish name if ever there was one, and it's served him, and his son Michael, well. And what about the glamorous Lucille Fay le Sueur whose title was considered a little too exotic for cinema audiences? She chose to sign her autograph as Joan Crawford and in doing so added a whole new perspective to a not uncommon Scottish name. As for Norma Jean Baker – would the starlet ever have seen her name sparkle without the help of that trusty Highland name – Monroe (albeit with a slight spelling variation. . .). And isn't it funny how actors born with genuine Scottish names – such as James Stewart, David Niven, Shirley Maclaine, Donald Sutherland and Bill Murray – didn't see the need to change them at all? Let's not forget the younger generation who often favour Scottish surnames as first names: Macaulay Calkin and Cameron Diaz spring to mind. . .

(A wee teaser: what does the 'C' in George C. Scott stand for? Answer not on a postcard, but at the end of this feature.)

And the winner is. . .

While not all of those mentioned above have been Oscar-winners, Scottish-born actors continue to do well at the Academy awards. This year's ceremony saw a win for Scots singer/songwriter Annie Lennox, who walked up the famous red carpet for her theme song to Into the West, the final film of the phenomenally successful Lord of the Rings trilogy. Past recipients of the golden statuette have been Sir Sean Connery for The Untouchables in 1987 (best supporting actor), actor/director Peter Capaldi for Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life (Best Short Film) in 1994 and Kevin McDonald for One Day in September (Best Documentary) in 2000. The only Scottish winner of the coveted Best Actor award was David Niven (born in Kirriemuir) for Separate Tables in 1955. There is one Scot however, who has won a remarkable eleven Oscars, for his skills not in front of, but behind the camera. Iain Neil, a graduate of Strathclyde University, is now executive vice-president of Panavision, the world's leading film camera-making company and has been winning Sci-Tech Academy Awards for scientific innovation since 1990.

Scots' Favourite Film

The name of McDonald has a certain resonance in the film world – brothers Kevin and Andrew are both successful film makers – Kevin's recent work includes the highly acclaimed docu-drama, Touching the Void, while Andrew is most well-known for Trainspotting, the hard-hitting film based on the Irvine Welsh novel, which to the surprise of many, won Best Scottish Film of All Time as voted for by the readers of the Edinburgh-based Scottish magazine, The List. While many would see Braveheart and Rob Roy as depicting the essence of Scotland (at least in the minds of visitors – one in five American tourists chose Scotland as a holiday destination after watching Braveheart) it seems that true film buffs prefer a grittier portrayal of Scottish life, an approach that veteran director Ken Loach certainly embraces in his recent Scottish-based trilogy, the final part of which is called Ae Fond Kiss and is set in Glasgow.

Best Boys

Trainspotting was the launch pad for Crieff-born Ewan McGregor, who has fast become one of Scotland's most successful exports. With a string of hit movies behind him, he is adored by the Scots for his unpretentious manner and evident love of his homeland (he is committed to several Scottish charities and often returns for visits) and McGregor was honoured as an Icon of Scotland on Tartan Day this year in New York. Recent films include Tim Burton's Big Fish and Young Adam, a critically-applauded Scottish feature directed by David Mackenzie.

Elfin-featured Billy Boyd has achieved stardom after a tough upbringing in Glasgow's Easterhouse. After leaving school at sixteen, he worked as a bookbinder for six years before eventually securing a place at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (training ground of Robert Carlyle and Sir Ian Richardson among others). Billy was well-known on the Edinburgh theatre circuit for his strong performances but it is his recent portrayal of Pippin in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy that has catapulted him to fame and fortune. He seems to have his feet firmly on the ground however, despite the lure of Hollywood, and still calls Scotland home.

And. . . action!

The Scottish film industry has not been standing idle in the past few months, with several features on the go. Hearts were a-flutter in Glasgow recently when screen idol George Clooney was in town to check on The Jacket a psychological thriller being made by his own production company. Much of it was shot on location in a disused hospital in Broxburn, West Lothian, where hundreds of fans turned up to audition as extras.

The West Highlands have seen much clapperboard activity with the filming of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in the Glencoe area where a crew of 350-strong gave a welcome boost to the local economy. Home-grown movie One Last Chance starring Dougray Scott, was also recently filmed in the Highlands and part of the plot revolves around that most Scottish of sports – curling!

Scotland has already hosted two film festivals this year: the biannual Chinese Film Festival, supported by the Scotland-China association took place in February, while April saw actors and film makers from all over Europe descending on Dundee for the 25th Celtic Film and Television festival where the best in broadcasting and film from Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Ireland and Scotland was shown. And that still leaves the international Edinburgh Film Festival to come in August. Autograph hunters take note. . .

Answer: George Cameron Scott