by Dan Bryans || E-Editions
Film producer Jonathan Sothcott is best known for his gritty, uncompromising British crime films such as Vendetta and We Still Kill The Old Way and has worked with stars such as Mark Hamill, Ray Winstone, Jason Statham and Sir Roger Moore. He is well known for taking the lead in casting his own movies. Here we look back at 5 actors who have become stars since appearing in his movies.
1. NICK NEVERN
Nevern paid his dues in a plethora of Britflicks before entering the Sothcott stable. His gritty breakthrough star performance in The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan lead to further roles In The Fall of The Essex Boys, Riot, White Collar Hooligan 2 and Vendetta. Nevern has gone on to produce and direct an excellent genre satire (The Hooligan Factory), star in the Sky One series Riviera and become a best-selling recording artist with this summer’s unlikely party anthem Get Messy.
2. JANET MONTGOMERY
Bournemouth born actress Janet Montgomery had a small but important role in Sothcott’s little known gangster/vampire mash up Dead Cert in 2009. As the terrified survivor of a vampire attack on a London nightclub, she gave a performance infused with truth and dignity which stood out amongst the cockney hard nut posturing. Montgomery moved to LA and became a massive television star on Salem, This Is Us, Black Mirror and Entourage.
3. LORRAINE STANLEY
The brilliant Lorraine Stanley, currently the matriarch of the Taylor family in Eastenders, was a frequent Sothcott collaborator. Supporting roles in Dead Cert, Riot and Big Fat Gypsy Gangster lead to a starring role in Top Dog, which she stole with a harrowing, compelling performance for director Martin Kemp.
4. MARC BAYLISS
Bayliss made a memorably mohawked werewolf in Sothcott’s best-forgotten horror comedy Strippers Vs Werewolves opposite the unlikely due of Alan Ford and Robert Englund. He has since gone on to star in over 300 episodes of Cornation Street, becoming one of the best known faces on the UK’s longest running soap. He recently starred in the movie Redcon-1.
5. JENNIFER MATTER
Matter was the heroine-cum-villainess of Sothcott’s first film, underrated psychological thriller Stalker, which she starred in opposite Billy Murray and Colin Salmon. She was back in Dead Cert as a particularly striking creature of the night, battling Sherlock’s Lisa McAllister. Jennifer is currently playing Gina in Eastenders.
