Antony Sher could give a supporting part a pace and wit that the rest of the film struggled to match. His Disraeli in Mrs Brown is a pleasure, though the screen offers only a partial account of his work.
Fi1m perspective
In Mrs Brown (1997), Antony Sher's Disraeli seems to have arrived from a quicker, more mischievous film. John Madden's picture spends much of its time waiting on faces, particularly those of Judi Dench and Billy Connolly; Sher brings a briskness that makes the change of scene palpable. We perked up at his Westminster scenes, because their comedy briefly loosened a film that could otherwise sit rather still. He is good company, and we wanted a little more of him. That is a sound use of a supporting actor, even if the surrounding film has trouble adjusting.
His screen career had begun to attract attention with Howard Kirk in the television adaptation of The History Man (1981), but the theatre supplied the larger parts. In the Royal Shakespeare Company's Richard III (1984), he used crutches as extensions of the character's body. He documented his preparations in illustrated diaries, including Year of the King. Film more often made use of him in supporting roles, including Loki in Erik the Viking (1989) and Dr Moth in Shakespeare in Love (1998).
The small parts were not always well housed. Terry Jones's Erik the Viking has an amiable collection of eccentrics and too few worthwhile jokes; Sher's presence is no reason to overlook that shortage. Mrs Brown makes better use of him, although the contrast also exposes its uneven pace. Each return from Westminster takes time to settle back into the quieter scenes, and the pleasure of Sher's performance does not make those joins less awkward. Dench and Connolly remain the reason to watch, but Sher suggests how enjoyable a less solemn version might have been.
His stage work offered more sustained opportunities, including Macbeth (1999), directed by Gregory Doran with Harriet Walter as Lady Macbeth, and Doran's King Lear (2016). The lighter roles could look overworked, with his Malvolio in Twelfth Night an acknowledged misfire. That makes the ease of his Disraeli particularly welcome: the humour comes through without the preparation demanding our attention. Start with Mrs Brown, provided you do not expect the whole film to move at his pace.
Biography
Antony Sher was a South African-born English actor. He studied at the Webber-Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1982. He became known for his stage performances, particularly in Shakespearean roles, and won two Laurence Olivier Awards.
Sher appeared in films including Mrs Brown (1997) as Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Shakespeare in Love (1998) as Dr Moth, and The Wolfman (2010) as Dr Hoenneger. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000. He died of cancer in December 2021.
