News Happy Birthday Lachlan Nieboer

Happy Birthday Lachlan,

Did you know that on this day in 1965, Episode 1 of Galaxy 4 was broadcast? It was Season 3 and starred William Hartnell as the First Doctor with companions Maureen O’Brien and Peter Purves.  Writer was William Emms and Director was Derek Martinus.

On a disintegrating planet, female Drahvins are at war with the Rills and their robot pets.*

On this day in 1976, Episode 2 of The Masque of Mandragora was broadcast.  It was Season 16 and Tom Baker was the Doctor with companion Sarah Jane Smith.  Writer was Louis Marks and Director Rodney Bennett.

It’s Italy during the Renaissance period and the Mandragora energy is trying to draw the world back into the Dark Ages*

Others with birthdays today are:  Brian DePalma, Johnny Vegas, Ludacris. 

Resources

©BBC Doctor Who

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Missing-Stories-Galaxy/dp/0563477008/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410461353&sr=8-2&keywords=doctor+who+galaxy+4

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-The-Masque-Mandragora/dp/B002SZQCB6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410461436&sr=8-1&keywords=doctor+who+masque+of+mandragora

Campbell (2000) Doctor Who Pocket Essential*

Articles Lachlan Nieboer

By DJ Forrest

Captain Jack Harkness’ brother Gray first appeared on our screens during the episode ‘Adam’ but then only as the young boy who we learned through Jack’s memories had been taken by a creature most horrible, and feared by those on the Boeshane Peninsula.  Jack carried that burden of letting go of Gray’s hand forever. 

In the episode ‘Fragments’ towards the end of the second season we saw an older Gray pictured clamped in irons standing beside Captain John Hart and for all intents and purposes, his prisoner.  But the one thing we’ve come to learn about John Hart is that not everything is as it seems, and the final episode of Season Two, the boot was definitely on the other foot, and Gray was most definitely in charge.  Luring his brother into a thousand years before Cardiff ever existed, he drew Jack back to open fields and grasslands, strode towards him and plunged a knife deep into Jack’s chest and watched him die.  But aware of his Lazarus qualities, knew that the only way to punish him was to bury him deep, so that each time he came back to life he choked on the dirt and felt the trauma of never resurfacing.   

But what of the actor who played Gray?

Lachlan Nieboer was born 11 September, 1981 in Epsom, Surrey.  His best role to date other than Gray, is his role as Lieutenant Edward Courtenay in Downton Abbey (2011 Episode#2.2), blinded in action and unable to cope with his disability Edward could not bear Edith Crawley feeling anything more than pity for a man who could not see.

You can also find snippets of this on Youtube, mostly in fanvids, not in the actual episode of the series. While Lachlan researched his role he became a keen supporter of Blind Veterans UK and has been a keen Ambassador for the charity ever since.  In May 2012 he ran the London Marathon to raise money for the charity. 

Before becoming an actor, Lachlan read Classics at Oxford University before studying acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York. 

Lachlan’s first acting credit was in Heartland (2007) a gay short film where he played Ryan McGonagle a young man who had lost his parents and was solely responsible for his younger siblings.  Ryan was classed as a waster by the narrator and had had hundreds of girlfriends through school. The film runs for 12 minutes and is narrated by the character HG Gudmanson (Corey Sorenson) who has had to put his own life on hold in NYC for two weeks while he helps his Dad run the farm back home in Iowa.  It’s a gentle run film by Mark Christopher, and is perfectly played by the two men, Lachlan and Corey who are the key stars in this film. You can find it on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjPPbwq4CVw

Boys Life 6 is one of an anthology of 4 gay-themed stories that centre on the idea of first time crushes.

In Into the White (2012) he starred alongside Rupert Grint as Captain Charles P. Davenport, a British pilot whose crew shot down a Lufftwaffe plane during WWII on April 27th 1940 over Norway, and where his plane also crash landed.  Based on a true story about the lifelong friendship of the German and British pilots it tells the story of how both crews had to endure a Winter together in a Norwegian cabin.  The film was only ever released in a few selected cinemas and only released on DVD and Blu-ray in Norway on August 28^th, 2012.

In Brand New – U (2013), a psychological thriller written by Simon Pummell and filmed in Dublin and London, Lachlan plays Slater, a character who is obsessed about the love of his life, Nadia, but when she disappears, and he wants to report her missing, he realises he knows nothing about her.  The only clue he has is an organisation called Brand New-U.  After making a deal with the organisation he takes on a new identity but in order to find Nadia now, he has to erase his other ‘selves’ who are currently hunting for him.

The film has not yet been released, but aware of Lachlan’s acting abilities in roles such as Downton Abbey and Torchwood, amongst his other credits, I’m certain he will carry this role off equally as well.

Aside from films, Lachlan has been involved in productions on stage, such as A Yorkshire Tragedy (2010 – at The White Bear, London) which focused on familicide.  It was an early Jacobean era stage play, a domestic tragedy printed in 1608.

At the Finborough Theatre, he played Rigg in Country Magic (2009).  It was an adaptation by Phil Willmott of Arthur Wing Pinero’s forgotten 1922 fable The Enchanted Cottage.

At the National Theatre, South Bank, London, he appeared in The Three Sisters (2010).

For a full breakdown of credits visit IMDB and Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachlan_Nieboer

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2674236/

Research sources for this article came from:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lachlan-nieboer-nora-jane-cast-432974

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Yorkshire_Tragedy

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2674236/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lachlan_Nieboer

Also BBC Torchwood and Google images

Interviews Lachlan Nieboer by DJ Forrest

Do you have Scottish heritage? Your name and surname read very Scottish.

Lachlan: Yes I do. Though my surname is actually Dutch, but I am English!

I have only seen your performance as Gray in Torchwood but am aware you have been in other films, as listed on Wiki, so going from that, when we heard your voice, it gave me to think you were indeed American, but wondered if this was your actual accent? 

Lachlan: No, I have a naturally British accent!

Torchwood is an iconic show rather like Doctor Who, what was your reaction when you landed the role?  And how did Russell or Julie approach you for the part?

Lachlan: I was thrilled!  It was my first job out of drama school.  I remember I was almost late for the audition, and had to sprint across central London to get to it on time.  I needed a minute or two to catch my breath when I got there!

Do you get nervous when you go for auditions or are you a confident person?

Lachlan: I am always nervous about auditions, but just do my best

Are you in a new project at the moment and can you tell us anything about it?

Lachlan: I just finished working on an independent film called ‘Brand New-U’, with Director Simon Pummell and Producer Janine Marmot.  It is a psychological thriller involving parallel realities, multiple selves, and exploring the limitations we may find in our lives.  You can see it in 2014!

Do you have any phobias, fears?

Lachlan: Questionnaires haha

When you were growing up what was your favourite tv show of that time, and what do you like to watch now?

Lachlan: I recently watched and really liked ‘Breaking Bad’. I am also a big fan of ‘Homeland’.

How many of the Torchwood or other Cons and Expo’s have you been to?

Lachlan: Oh a few...

What was it like working on the set with James Marsters and the cast of Torchwood?

Lachlan: It was quite a while ago now, but they were good fun to be around

Have you worked behind the cameras, as a director or writer or other behind the scenes role before?

Lachlan: I was Co-Artistic Director of a theatre company for a year shortly after leaving drama school.

If there was ever a possibility of Gray coming back, bearing in mind although he was last in the vaults of the Hub, but given that the way sci fi goes, anything is possible, would you return to play him, if that opportunity arose?

Lachlan: I don’t think that’s going to happen!

What was the last book you read?

Lachlan: Money, by Martin Amis

Questions from the fans:

Sandra Deck In the past he has run the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK. It was very awesome for me. Does he have any other charities he will raise money for?

Lachlan: Not at the moment!

He played a role in a short film "The House and Everything."  What kind of film was it and can you tell us more about the character James in the film? 

Lachlan: It was a short film some friends of mine were making, and I played a party man!

Bradley Stevens: What is his favourite role and why?

Lachlan: ‘Slater’ in ‘Brand New-U’ – the team I was working with on this project was superb.

Claudia Lindner: What are his current projects?

Lachlan: I’m currently meeting for various projects coming up this year.

Thank you Lachlan for the interview