In all of the Cumbermadness in the past few weeks, I’ve been neglecting Matthew Goode, Benedict Cumberbatch’s attractive costar in The Imitation Game. I remember when Goode was on track to become a pretty decent leading man. He did rom-coms, he worked with Woody Allen, he did a superhero movie. But something interesting happened with Goode – all of a sudden, he just seemed to find contentment in character work. And ever since, he’s been working a lot. It’s an interesting development. I also remember a time when people considered Goode to be somewhat bitchy and crabby, but since he switched over to character work, he’s been decidedly nicer with the press. Goode has a new interview with The Daily Beast – go here to read the full piece. He talks about TIG, Benedict and his role in The Good Wife (I love him on The Good Wife, just FYI).
His TIG character, Hugh Alexander, and the real man: “He was extremely charming and urbane…I was slightly concerned about his being portrayed so much as a cad—though it was fun to do—because he was married to a lovely lady called Edith. And one thing you do when you have to portray a real person is you’re sitting there going, f–k, I really hope this isn’t going to upset the family.”
Cumberbatch called him & offered him the role in TIG: He was juggling bags of groceries from Sansbury’s and trying to escort his “quite heavily pregnant” wife (his words) inside their home in the pouring rain when Cumberbatch himself called to offer him the role. “I said, ‘Yeah. Absolutely. Can I phone you back in a sec? I’m thrilled. But can I just get my family inside?”
His friendship with Bendy: “I could lie! ‘Bloody awful! Smells a bit funny! Awful teeth.’ But it’s just not true.”
He never wanted to play Turing: “I would never expect to be in the running in the first place. At the same time, I’m the first person to recast myself out of any role. If you speak to my agent, it happens continually.”
Whether TIG should have included a gay-sex scene: “You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. I’m glad that we didn’t. There’s many things we tried to get right, and I think it would’ve been too far, in the first film. I’m sure there will be other films about Turing that are ‘braver.’ But for bringing this story to a greater audience around the world, I think we gave him a film that he deserved.”
On whether we should demand actors come out: “I think we need to stop demanding it and get over it.”
Whether he’ll ever get romantic with Alicia in The Good Wife: “I’m as in the dark as the audience, which in some ways is frustrating, occasionally, but is also quite exciting. I couldn’t give a definitive answer if I wanted to….It’s an impossible thing to try and replace, covertly or uncovertly, the kind of relationship that she used to have with Josh Charles’s character…I’m just excited to see where it goes.”
In some ways, Goode got the “too posh” complaints years before Benedict Cumberbatch, you know? Goode has a voice like money, and he can play those posh, haughty characters very well. It’s weird that someone conventionally handsome like Goode couldn’t/wouldn’t make it as a leading man where posh, haughty Benedict has managed a major career. As for Goode on The Good Wife… I sort of agree, I don’t need to see him in a sexual relationship with Alicia. They’re friends and they like each other a lot, and she needs that.
Oh, and Goode is scheduled to appear in new episodes of Downton Abbey as one of Lady Mary’s potential suitors. He plays those posh parts very well, but I’m not jazzed about the way he and Lady Mary would look together – it’s too brother-sister.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Why does nobody ever mention Jack Davenport? Posh. Buttery. And I actually like him!
We never see enough of Jack here in the U.S. He disappeared off our radar after the Pirates movies. I’m glad he’s on Good Wife this season but I haven’t seen it yet. I tend to binge-watch that show. For reasons I cannot recall, I watched the first Pirates movie with the commentary on with him and Keira. He was delightful and I’ve loved him since.
That commentary was hilarious.
Wasn’t he also in a show with the girl from American Idol about a Marilyn Monroe stage production? Smash, or something?
Glad to know I’m not the only one who listens to those things. Usually they are staid, boring mumblings of directors and a lead actor discussing camera angles. But Jack and the then 18 year old Keira were hilarious together. She was very much an uninhibited teen-age girl and he was the patient, witty co-star doing a commentary with a teen-age girl.
(Regarding the swan dive off the boat– ship.)
“And then Johnny comes to rescue me!!”
“That WAS NOT JOHNNY DEPP.”
Nope you’re not alone, that’s my reasoning for buying dvd’s and bluerays…good, funny and interesting commentary. When they’re good, it brings a whole new perspective to something.
@Amelia
“Ooh! Look at you in your uniform!
“I look like an ice cream cone.”
Do you watch “Breathless”?
No, haven’t seen “Breathless” or heard of it either until I just checked his IMDB listing.
I love Jack Davenport. I found Coupling hilarious. The three actors were terrific with maybe a special preference for Richard Coyle.
I love Coupling. I have all 4 seasons on DVD. I was saddened when Richard Coyle left unexpectedly. His Jeff was my favourite character.
I was racking my brain trying to figure out where I knew that name. Pretty sure my hubs took a class or something with his mother. Apparently she’s very cool. So, good pick, sixer.
Well, whaddyaknow? There’s an appetite for Jack! Take note, Kaiser.
I only mention him because Mr Sixer always muddles him up with Goode.
Sighs: he’s Nigel Davenport’s son.
Right. His mother is Maria Aitken.
I love Jack Davenport! He’s a big reason I’ve watched the Wedding Date so many times. Hotter than Cumby or Matthew Goode, IMO.
Yum! I’d love some Jack Davenport posts.
He was so good and so creepy as the uncle in Stoker.
Here Here! He makes me weak in the knees, posh, buttery, creepy, I don’t care. I also loved him in Match Point and he is to die for in A Single Man.
Loved Match Point.
I prefer him over JRM.
JRM is just damn creepy in that movie!
Yes, and Brideshead Revisited and Watchmen blah blah blah. I think the point we have to take from this is that Hollywood has been trying to make Goode happen for years now, and for whatever reason, it never took. I think he looks too damn self-satisfied all the time, actually.
A British actor has to be supremely, quietly self-confident (Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Michael Fassbender even though he’s actually Irish) and/or self-deprecating and somewhat silly (Tom Mison, Hiddleston, James McAvoy even though he’s actually Scottish) to be really successful with American audiences. Goode has always seemed too damn smug.
Yes to both of you!
But I fell for him in Brideshead Revisted.
I’ll watch anything he’s in. In fact I just recently watched him in a supporting role in a film with Rosemund Pike and Diablo Cody. It wasn’t great but I sat through because I just really like the cut of his jib
YES.
Yesss, Brideshead!! He was a good Charles Ryder, even though he seems like too much of a pretty boy to play such a wide-eyed, impressionable character. I also loved him in A Single Man and Match Point. I remember watching Stoker without sound about three times on a flight to London, so I can’t really comment on the quality of his performance.
He was recently in a PBS movie based on Jane Austen’s writing. Setting was Pemberly. PD james wrote the script which continues the story of Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy after they have a child. Very entertaining 2 part series.”Death at Pemberly” is title I believe.
He was excellent in Stoker, I never paid attention or even knew his name before I saw that film.
Don’t you mean sexy? 😉
YAYY, I adore Matthew Goode! Nice to see him getting some coverage.
I’d ask if we could have more of him, but he doesn’t seem to do much press so I’ll settle for some nice tux pictures with the rest of TIG cast at premieres/awards shows. Pretty please!
Noooo to him on Downton Abbey!!!
(I’m ashamed to say I even liked him in Leap Year, mainly because I’m a fan of he and Amy Adams but jesus if that film wasn’t every Irish stereotype under the sun, but he admitted he did it for money since he got to stay close to home (I think his wife was due or had just had a baby in 2009 when it was filmed) so I’ll forgive him)
I too watched Leap Year and liked him and Amy in it. I am an awful Irish person. Hangs head in shame and gives up bacon and cabbage until the new year. (I may secretly hate b&c and was know to hide it in the house plants when small, to then be threaten with the wooden spoon)
I watch it whenever I see it on, I know it’s bad but they’re likeable in it.
Agree Lindy it is bad but every now and again when the Mister is working nights and I have full control of the telly I watch it, I can’t help myself.
I LOVE Matthew Goode in Leap Year. As far as corny romcoms go, it is one of my favorites. He was so charming. Sigh.
But I remember reading at the time that he ended up disliking the tone of the final film and I think that is where the idea of being a “leading man” might have lost it’s luster for him.
Leap Year comes on HBO once or twice a day, and if I’m home when it’s on, I’m watching it. Dreadful movie save for the two leads.
I love campy leap year! He is so cute with Amy Adams…. Put it in the wash, it will be grand..
I did laugh at that line as it is typically Irish, in my house anyway. Especially the use of “grand”
I finally felt how others who live in cities that are always in movies that get their geography SO wrong feel. Everything about it was so obviously wrong and it made out we have 1 train that runs once a day. I properly snort when they arrive in Dublin city and are in Merrion Square then she walks to the hotel she’s meeting her boyfriend in, Carton House…in Kildare which is a dfifferent county. Could they not have used a nice hotel in the city??
He is beautiful.
Thanks
Thank you Kaiser. This was a nice surprise. Kinda like Sunday’s episode of The Good Wife and the unseen Finn/Alicia storyline.
He’s growing on me, but this will not make up for the Matt Czuchry plotline.
Yes!! so handsome… and i love the weird thing happend in the good wife last episode !
Patrick Stewart was posh with a buttery voice before these two were out of diapers!
Peter O’Toole must have been one of the original poshos with a buttery voice.
Vintage O’Toole to brighten up your Tuesday –http://theredlist.fr/media/database/muses/icon/cinema_men/peter_o_toole/051_peter_o_toole_theredlist.jpg
Yessssss to Patrick Stewart! He has maintained it for decades.
Though I would take a side of Matthew Goode any day.
So funny that you’re featuring him because I’ve been watching him on The Good Wife and found him cute enough but nothing crazy until the past couple episodes. I think it’s the sexual tension between him and Alicia that’s making me find him incredibly sexy.
He has great eyes too….
He was awesome playing the uncle in Stoker. One of my favorite movies. And YESSSS he is wonderful on the good wife just oooozes the sexy.
Good/great distraction from Cumberdude.
The day is not over.
You’ve jinxed us now.
Leap Year is a guilty pleasure of mine.
For people who are still mad at Katherine Heigl over Knocked Up, he totally pulled a Heigl dissing Leap Year (“Was it a bad job? Yes, it was. But, you know, I had a nice time and I got paid.”). Maybe some Hollywood leading man offers dried up after that.
I wish Leap Year had been better. It was a bold attempt at a modern take on It Happened One Night, but then it kept wimping out into utter lameness. Also, dreadful dialogue.
I did actually find him more likeable than usual in Leap Year. He’s one of these Brit actors (um, ‘Batch) who gets very frozen and stilted while putting on an American accent. By comparison, his Wickham was the best part of the otherwise godawful Death Comes to Pemberley.
LOVED HIM…. since Chasing Liberty. 😉 (Cheesy but still better than Leap Year!)
I have loved him since that movie too . He was incredible in Stoker. I would take him over Cumby and Hiddles anyday!!
Hiddles is still my #1, but Goode is my very close second. I’m so glad he got coverage here!
I love him on The Good Wife too!
I love Mathew Goode. I’m glad he’s getting work because he is an excellent actor. It makes me sad to see him in character roles or in the bad-guy role because I think he deserves to be a leading man. But if it makes him happy, that’s okay with me.
Saw him years ago in Imagine Me & You as Piper Pirabo’s husband and loved him. Didn’t see him in anything else, will check out the Good Wife. Not into anything Cumberbatch.
Well Matthew only came to my attention last week when I saw TIG (I’ve led a sheltered life;))
and my immediate was mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm he’s rather more attractive than BC where has he been?
Will someone tell me who Allen Leech (Cairncross) reminds me of?
Ooh, speaking of Downton Abbey, I totally didn’t realize Branson was in this movie until I saw the cast picture!
I love Alan Leech. He was great in Rome too.
I just rewatched Leap Year this past Sunday. What a hottie.
Sigh. He was the best thing about Chasing Liberty and Leap Year. I’ve been waiting for him to hit the big time and become a hearthrob leading man for years, to no avail. Maybe that’s been by choice. Still love him.
Who is the casting director on The Good Wife? They have excellent taste – Chris Noth, Josh Charles (RIP Will), Matt Czuchry, Alan Cumming, Matthew Goode, Mike Colter. Dang – they are all so different and yet all sooo hot!
What’s this? A solo piece on Matthew Goode and some pictures? Happy day!
I think after his experiences with “Watchmen” and “Leap Year,” he may have gotten put a bit off the “leading man” mindset, but he also seems to have done well in lower key leading roles, like in “Burning Man.” At any rate, given how he personally knows Benedict and other current heartthrobs, and sees what kind of publicity they inspire, I wouldn’t blame him if he decides to stick to more character-driven projects (“The Poison Tree,” “Death Comes to Pemberley,” etc.). He’s said in other interviews that that’s what he gets sent, but he’s also said he chooses with an eye toward being near his family (especially as he has two small girls), if he can, or being able to bring them with him.
I don’t think I’ve seen him in anything but already I like him. Easy on the eyes too. I just might have to get back to The Good Wife after being away the past couple of seasons.
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned his recent 5 minute role in Belle- his face is everything!
And several years ago,he and Robert Pattinson did a photo campaign, along with some other models, for a British clothing store/line(???) – it was too posh for words- it was great!
Oh, yes, the promotions he’s done for clothing and shoe companies bring out a very, very polished side that’s lovely to look at!
He was definitely a DILF in that one.
Speaking of “Belle”, I loved that film.
It’s one of my favorites. I watch it in the background quite a bit.
I have always like Matthew Goode! Hot, cool, gorgeous man. And a really talented actor. Swoon…
I actually want him to have crazy sex with Alicia in her office. Or his. I’m not picky.
ooooh new blood “eyes wide”
ding dong 🙂
I first (officially) discovered this beautiful man in ‘Stoker’ and fell head over heels for him 😄 He’s such a great actor and his charcter’s simultaneously gorgeous/sinister/sexy/creepy/crazy as f**k character made me squirm.
I say: “Less Cumby-though, that voice of his!!-and MUCH more MGoode ❤️
Oh yes, THANK YOU!
Just watched ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’ and he was the best thing. He is so spunky
Tom Hiddleston has a buttery voice! I can listen to him forever… It’s like coming home 😉
I loved him in “Match Point” by Woody Allen. Very classy and sexy.