As the Toronto International Film Festival concludes this Sunday, the buzz surrounding actor Andrew Scott has reached a fever pitch. Having premiered at the festival, his latest film, Elsinore, has cemented his status as a leading contender for the best actor Oscar at the upcoming ceremony. If the Irish actor, who turns 50 next month, secures the win, he would become the first out gay actor to receive the award in the nearly century-long history of the Academy.
The film portrays the life of Ian Charleson, the Scottish star known for roles in Gandhi and Chariots of Fire. Set in 1989, the narrative follows Charleson during a period of professional triumph and personal hardship. In December of that year, Charleson famously succeeded Daniel Day-Lewis as Hamlet at the National Theatre, a feat he achieved while secretly living with AIDS. He passed away just six weeks after his final performance at the age of 40, leading his family to eventually reveal both his diagnosis and his sexuality.
Scott, who served as a producer on the project, collaborated with screenwriter Stephen Beresford to secure funding for the film. The two previously worked together on the 2014 drama Pride, which explored the real-life coalition between LGBTQ+ activists and striking Welsh miners in the 1980s. For Scott, the project was deeply personal, spurred by the 2023 death of his mother, Nora. Reflecting on his own loss, Scott remarked, “When you’re in that grief state, you feel like you’ve got nothing to lose.”
Born in Dublin in 1976, Scott began his acting career early, filming his first project at 17 before attending Trinity College Dublin and relocating to London at 22. In the early stages of his career, he was encouraged to keep his sexuality private to avoid typecasting. He eventually came out publicly in 2013 at age 37, shortly after gaining widespread recognition as Moriarty in the series Sherlock. During discussions in Toronto, Scott addressed the evolving landscape for gay actors, noting that while “the war is never over,” there is a growing desire among audiences for both representation and transformative performances.
Over the last 13 years, Scott has been credited with challenging the industry perception that openly gay actors cannot convincingly portray heterosexual characters. This versatility is evident in a diverse filmography that includes roles such as the “hot priest” in Fleabag, Richard Rogers in Blue Moon, Anthony Julius in Denial, and his portrayal of 10 different characters in his one-man production of Uncle Vanya. Critics, including Variety’s Guy Lodge, suggest that Scott is forging a unique career path that balances mainstream viability with authentic queer representation.
Despite his acclaim, Scott’s history with major award bodies has been inconsistent. Although he has won Olivier Awards for A Girl in a Car With a Man and Present Laughter, and a TV Bafta for Sherlock, his performance in the 2024 film All of Us Strangers notably missed a Bafta nomination. Additionally, during the 2020 SAG Awards, he suffered the misfortune of passing a kidney stone during the event, leaving him in significant pain.
Collaborators frequently praise Scott for his emotional depth and commitment. Johnny Flynn, who stars as director Richard Eyre in Elsinore, described Scott as having a unique ability to blend “darkness and humour and power with heartbreaking fragility.” Simon Stephens, who wrote the script for Vanya, emphasized Scott’s technical mastery, noting his “linguistic and physical nuance.”
The film itself touches on the universal nature of mortality. In one scene, the character of Charleson tells his doctor, played by Olivia Colman, “I’d rather die of Hamlet than of Aids.” This sentiment highlights the fightback against illness and adversity that sits at the core of the biopic. As the awards season approaches, the industry is closely watching to see if Scott’s performance in Elsinore will finally bridge the gap between his long-standing critical recognition and the Academy’s highest honor. The report also notes that this Sunday, the curtain falls on the Toronto film festival, the last of the three big autumn showcases – alongside Venice and Telluride – that are launchpads for award campaigns. The report also notes that one name rises above the others as destined for sure-fire glory: Andrew Scott, and as the dust settles on the red carpets. The report also notes that the Irish actor, 50 next month, is now not only considered a lock for a leading actor Oscar nomination but almost certain to take the prize next spring. The report also notes that he will become the first out gay actor to do so in the Academy’s almost 100-year history, should he win. The report also notes that it would have felt an inevitability in 1989, when the film for which Scott has been so praised is set, if that’s a fact that seems astonishing today. The report also notes that muting his sexuality was then considered essential in the pursuit of stardom.
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