Robert Carlyle
Birthday: 14 April 1961, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Height: 170 cm
Robert Carlyle was born in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, to Elizabeth, a bus company employee, and Joseph Carlyle, a painter and decorator. He was raised by his father after his mother left him when he ...Show More
Hunger's a great spur.
Hunger's a great spur.
People go to the movies to watch a film and all they're thinking about is the actress's cellulite th Show more
People go to the movies to watch a film and all they're thinking about is the actress's cellulite they saw in a magazine. Hide
The backdrop of my childhood seemed to be the back streets, the dark alleys and the rainy streets of Show more
The backdrop of my childhood seemed to be the back streets, the dark alleys and the rainy streets of those cities. I know every beat and rhythm of that life, which could be another reason for why I'm drawn often to dark gritty roles and why I wanted to show the gritty side of Glasgow in my movie. It's a landscape I know. Hide
Acting, the arts in general, is a magnet for the wounded of society.
Acting, the arts in general, is a magnet for the wounded of society.
A lot of Scots have settled in Canada over the years and it's a very easy place for Scots - they und Show more
A lot of Scots have settled in Canada over the years and it's a very easy place for Scots - they understand us, we understand them. Hide
Of course, I love chats with various actors about the process and how they do it. To me, if it's not Show more
Of course, I love chats with various actors about the process and how they do it. To me, if it's not on the camera, if it's not there, it's not worth it. It really just isn't worth it. Hide
I'd work with Danny Boyle every day of the week. No matter what he was doing I would do that.
I'd work with Danny Boyle every day of the week. No matter what he was doing I would do that.
Guys, particularly in the West, go to the gym and train for hours and hours to pick up something tha Show more
Guys, particularly in the West, go to the gym and train for hours and hours to pick up something that is heavier than them. Why would you want to do that? Hide
The quality of TV drama nowadays is getting better and better. They've had to invent a new term for Show more
The quality of TV drama nowadays is getting better and better. They've had to invent a new term for it: 'high-end television.' Hide
Biologically, I'm lucky - an angular face and dark coloring which shows up well on camera.
Biologically, I'm lucky - an angular face and dark coloring which shows up well on camera.
When I look back at it now, my past and the way I grew up, I grew up on communes.
When I look back at it now, my past and the way I grew up, I grew up on communes.
I love sci-fi because it leads in the imagination, and I always say it has the most intelligent fans Show more
I love sci-fi because it leads in the imagination, and I always say it has the most intelligent fans in the world. Hide
The U.K. and the U.S. are very different countries, and it really shows in the television.
The U.K. and the U.S. are very different countries, and it really shows in the television.
A lot of my work is with children and there's a reason for that, because they really level you.
A lot of my work is with children and there's a reason for that, because they really level you.
I rant and rave about noise pollution.
I rant and rave about noise pollution.
It took a long time for me to accept I was an actor, a professional actor, and that, actually, I mak Show more
It took a long time for me to accept I was an actor, a professional actor, and that, actually, I make a living out of this. Hide
Each performance and each film is what it is. It's right and belongs within that moment. You look at Show more
Each performance and each film is what it is. It's right and belongs within that moment. You look at it and try to make it fit your particular part of your character and your particular film. Hide
I owe my father everything.
I owe my father everything.
In troubled times the last thing you want to do is to stick your money into a film. It's such a gamb Show more
In troubled times the last thing you want to do is to stick your money into a film. It's such a gamble. Hide
Acting is a really insular thing.
Acting is a really insular thing.
Bullying is a terrible, terrible thing.
Bullying is a terrible, terrible thing.
I think I have a natural, if I can say that, got a kind of natural ability in comedy.
I think I have a natural, if I can say that, got a kind of natural ability in comedy.
I hate the word 'hippy.'
I hate the word 'hippy.'
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a very patriotic guy, in terms of my Scottishness Show more
Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I am a very patriotic guy, in terms of my Scottishness and my roots. Hide
I never go anywhere without my iPod.
I never go anywhere without my iPod.
I never rehearse. Never! I think it's a waste of time.
I never rehearse. Never! I think it's a waste of time.
The first thing you should know about me is when I was three years old my mother left me and my fath Show more
The first thing you should know about me is when I was three years old my mother left me and my father. And that was traumatic obviously for my father - he suffered a nervous breakdown at that time in his life. Hide
I'd love to do a Columbo-type detective character in a series.
I'd love to do a Columbo-type detective character in a series.
If there's anything you want to ask your parents, ask them before they go, because once they go, the Show more
If there's anything you want to ask your parents, ask them before they go, because once they go, they're gone. Hide
One of the odd and the weird things about filming was the number of people who came up and said, 'I Show more
One of the odd and the weird things about filming was the number of people who came up and said, 'I knew your auntie', or 'I'm your cousin on your mother's side'. And I didn't know these people existed, because I only ever knew my father's side of the family. Hide
The darker the character, the more interesting.
The darker the character, the more interesting.
To be honest I don't think I was any great shakes as a theatre actor because everything I was doing Show more
To be honest I don't think I was any great shakes as a theatre actor because everything I was doing was really small in size - intimate. Hide
It depends who the director is you know, I mean Ken Loach for instance. I've done up to 32 takes wit Show more
It depends who the director is you know, I mean Ken Loach for instance. I've done up to 32 takes with him. Hide
Every actor I think has got their own number of takes that they like, you know. Some actors like to Show more
Every actor I think has got their own number of takes that they like, you know. Some actors like to go all day, you know on the one scene and some actors want to take two takes. I personally like four. Hide
On filming in his native Glasgow: At times it was incredibly emotional. Very close to the bone. It a Show more
On filming in his native Glasgow: At times it was incredibly emotional. Very close to the bone. It affected me in ways that I hadn't bargained for when I agreed to do it. Hide
Most of the time, you find that the smaller the budget, the more the project is about something subs Show more
Most of the time, you find that the smaller the budget, the more the project is about something substantive. Hide
I hate that term, "Method". It's definitely been given to me over the years, but I don't know if it' Show more
I hate that term, "Method". It's definitely been given to me over the years, but I don't know if it's true. My belief is that every actor's got their own "method", and as long as it works, that's OK. Hide
On making The Full Monty: I thought it was a load of fucking pish, to be honest.
On making The Full Monty: I thought it was a load of fucking pish, to be honest.
My dad was rubbish at all other aspects of his financial life, but he's pretty good at paying the re Show more
My dad was rubbish at all other aspects of his financial life, but he's pretty good at paying the rent. Hide
To pursue a career in Hollywood you have to have a personality bypass. Look at the top 20 stars in t Show more
To pursue a career in Hollywood you have to have a personality bypass. Look at the top 20 stars in the world - there's probably only two actors among them. Hollywood's not about you as an actor. It's about your currency, what you 'bring to the table'. And I've never been one to jump through hoops for anyone. Hide
A lot of the characters I play have problems, they are marginalized, they have serious psychological Show more
A lot of the characters I play have problems, they are marginalized, they have serious psychological problems, problems with relationships, with childhood. These are big subjects, big subjects. You can't balk at work like that. As an actor, that's as good as it gets. Hide
People in Scotland appreciate homegrown talent, but it's getting harder and harder to get films made Show more
People in Scotland appreciate homegrown talent, but it's getting harder and harder to get films made in Britain. Hide
The thing I miss the most about Scotland is the football.
The thing I miss the most about Scotland is the football.
On his wife: We met in Cracker. I played a maniac fan who murders a policeman and she did my makeup. Show more
On his wife: We met in Cracker. I played a maniac fan who murders a policeman and she did my makeup. I thought anyone interested in me looking like that must have genuinely liked me. Hide
I often have scripts sent to me with allegedly Scottish characters where I end up telling them, 'You Show more
I often have scripts sent to me with allegedly Scottish characters where I end up telling them, 'You're going to have to rethink this whole thing!' Hide
Although people always cite that role as an example of my dark side, I'm not so sure. Really, Trains Show more
Although people always cite that role as an example of my dark side, I'm not so sure. Really, Trainspotting is a black comedy and in many ways Begbie's the funniest one in it. Hide
I want to keep audiences off balance, so they don't know who I am or how to take me. If I duck and w Show more
I want to keep audiences off balance, so they don't know who I am or how to take me. If I duck and weave, as Frank Bruno might say, I'll have a longer shelf life. Hide
The script will point you in certain directions and I go the opposite if I can. I try to do one thin Show more
The script will point you in certain directions and I go the opposite if I can. I try to do one thing and tell a different story with my eyes. I believe what's more interesting is always what's not being said. Hide
I'm in four different films this year, and I have four different accents. I sound different in every Show more
I'm in four different films this year, and I have four different accents. I sound different in every film. You have to love a character to play it well, and change in my work is what I want. Hide
Vancouver's a very child friendly city, there's... no doubt about that.
Vancouver's a very child friendly city, there's... no doubt about that.
I don't take a great deal of interest in party politics. Social politics interests me a great deal m Show more
I don't take a great deal of interest in party politics. Social politics interests me a great deal more. Hide
On his father: Back in the Sixties, when I was growing up, the notion of a one-parent family - espec Show more
On his father: Back in the Sixties, when I was growing up, the notion of a one-parent family - especially of a single father - didn't really exist. And for him to have walked that road and lived that life and still managed to raise me and love me as he did, was just incredible. Hide
My wife was a make-up artist, and she's a total product junkie. Our bathroom is packed full of lotio Show more
My wife was a make-up artist, and she's a total product junkie. Our bathroom is packed full of lotions and potions so I end up trying them out. Hide
My first love is art, and I see a lot of things in an artistic way.
My first love is art, and I see a lot of things in an artistic way.
Anyone that knows me knows what I'm about, and I'm very much a British actor, a European actor.
Anyone that knows me knows what I'm about, and I'm very much a British actor, a European actor.
There are a lot of things that make up a performance, a lot of technical things. It isn't always jus Show more
There are a lot of things that make up a performance, a lot of technical things. It isn't always just about pulling it up from the darkest recesses of your mind or your heart. It's your experience and your observation. Hide
I'm not someone who believes in wasting my vote.
I'm not someone who believes in wasting my vote.
I loved cinema while growing up and, for the longest time, wanted to be a director.
I loved cinema while growing up and, for the longest time, wanted to be a director.
Acting is probably the greatest therapy in the world. You can get a lot stuff out of you on the set Show more
Acting is probably the greatest therapy in the world. You can get a lot stuff out of you on the set so you don't have to take it home with you at night. It's the stuff between the lines, the empty space between those lines which is interesting. Hide
I'd totally be attracted to a geek girl!
I'd totally be attracted to a geek girl!
I have a reputation for being an improvisational actor, which is true, but I also know what I'm doin Show more
I have a reputation for being an improvisational actor, which is true, but I also know what I'm doing so that if the improvisational strand doesn't work I can go back to what I know is already there. Hide
I just don't like the whole Hollywood thing.
I just don't like the whole Hollywood thing.
I'd love to play some kind of fop.
I'd love to play some kind of fop.
I've really enjoyed my work in television, but the problem for me is the turnover of directors every Show more
I've really enjoyed my work in television, but the problem for me is the turnover of directors every week. Hide
I used to be a rabid reader, but now it's scripts or nothing - network television is quite relentles Show more
I used to be a rabid reader, but now it's scripts or nothing - network television is quite relentless, and you can't drop the ball. Hide
The more people know about an actor the less convincing they become. A bit of mystery's a good thing Show more
The more people know about an actor the less convincing they become. A bit of mystery's a good thing. Hide
I do tend to divide my childhood into darkness and light, and the first seven years were certainly t Show more
I do tend to divide my childhood into darkness and light, and the first seven years were certainly the darkness. Hide
I like to be working and moving - the worst thing you can do to me is stick me in a room all day whi Show more
I like to be working and moving - the worst thing you can do to me is stick me in a room all day while you're lighting a shot. That just kills me. Hide
In the late '70s, maybe just before I started, there was still an attitude that if you did film you Show more
In the late '70s, maybe just before I started, there was still an attitude that if you did film you didn't do TV and vice versa, but that's gone now. Hide
People like Jim Jarmusch or Spike Jonze make the kind of American cinema that really interests me. A Show more
People like Jim Jarmusch or Spike Jonze make the kind of American cinema that really interests me. And working with them has, so far, been the only thing I haven't been able to do. But other than that I'm perfectly happy with where I am. Hide
I was 16 when I was in a band, for about 10 minutes. I went off and did acting after that. So it was Show more
I was 16 when I was in a band, for about 10 minutes. I went off and did acting after that. So it was a wee moment for me when I sang. Hide
I've always taken my love of children from my father. He was a children magnet. Suddenly, having my Show more
I've always taken my love of children from my father. He was a children magnet. Suddenly, having my first child hit home what my dad went through. Hide
I feel like I'm the luckiest man on the planet.
I feel like I'm the luckiest man on the planet.
I think you should only wear jewellery if it has a story behind it.
I think you should only wear jewellery if it has a story behind it.
Robert Carlyle's FILMOGRAPHY
All
as Actor (81)
as Director (2)
Robert Carlyle'S roles
