Being a Scot

Okay.  Admit it.  You love the accent.

And the tartans and kilts.

And the stories of feuds and clan rivalries.

And the bagpipes.

Well, maybe not the bagpipes.  That’s a “you either love it or you hate it” thing.

Still, Scotland is a part of our culture.  Or, at least, a strong presence in our entertainment.

In (belated) honor of St. Andrew’s Day (November 30), the celebration for the patron saint of Scotland, I thought I’d follow up on an earlier blog I wrote about Scotland.  This time I’m focusing on the Scottish actors and actresses in movies and TV today.  Probably the best-known is Sean Connery, who has been a part of movies for nearly 60 years.  He’s also very proud of his homeland, writing the book Being a Scot – the title of which I borrowed for this blog.  It’s only right that I should start with him.

I have my favorites among the list below – Robert Carlyle, Robbie Coltrane, James McAvoy.  You probably do, too.  With all this talent, it’s easy to find a great movie or TV show you might like. 

And as for loving bagpipes, you bet I do.

Sean Connery  (James Bond movies; The Untouchables; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
John Barrowman  (Torchwood)
Gerard Butler  (300; The Phantom of the Opera; The Ugly Truth)
Robert Carlyle  (The Full Monty; Once Upon a Time; Trainspotting)
Robbie Coltrane  (Harry Potter movies; Cracker)
Billy Connolly  (Mrs. Brown; Brave; The Last Samurai)
Brian Cox  (Mystic River; Red; X-Men 2)
Annette Crosbie (One Foot in the Grave; Calendar Girls)
Alan Cumming  (X-Men 2; Emma; The Good Wife)
Craig Ferguson  (Saving Grace; How to Train Your Dragon; Brave)
Isla Fisher  (Confessions of a Shopaholic; Definitely Maybe; Rango)
Karen Gillan  (Doctor Who)
Iain Glen (Game of Thrones; Downton Abbey)
John Hannah  (Four Weddings and a Funeral; The Mummy; Rebus)
Shirley Henderson  (Topsy-Turvy; Hamish Macbeth; Meek’s Cutoff)
Ashley Jensen  (Ugly Betty; Eleventh Hour)
Kelly Macdonald  (Gosford Park; Boardwalk Empire; No Country for Old Men)
James McAvoy  (X-Men, First Class; Atonement; The Conspirator)
Ewan McGregor  (Trainspotting; Shallow Grave; Moulin Rouge)
Kevin McKidd  (Grey’s Anatomy; Rome; Made of Honor)
Dougray Scott  (Ever After; Desperate Housewives, season 3; My Week with Marilyn)
David Tennant  (Doctor Who; Hamlet; The Decoy Bride)