The "Brit a Day" series

What does a months-long parade of attractive British men have to do with fiction, you might well ask? These gentlemen have inspired some lovely scenes, part of the life I live in my head. Over time, some of these scenes reach out to one another and begin to form a story. For the present, each one of these pictures provides a writing prompt for me, a way to keep me writing with a sense of passion and narrative, even when the stories are not yet fully formed.



Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1059]

Mr. Rickman has given me one more day this week to fan-girl over Tom Hiddleston:  look at his precious tongue poking out while he signs an autograph.

And look at the beautiful hand stitching on that suit.....

Saturday, March 30, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1058]

This wonderful gif is from Casteil on Tumblr, and I love it because I just watched 'The Snowmen' and 'The Bells of St. John' back to back.  Make sure you check out Farbenfrei's magnificent artwork based on the 3-minute prequel here.

Friday, March 29, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1057]



You may recall my posting these photographs back in January when Tom Hiddleston toured the nation of Guinea with a group from UNICEF.  These pictures were published along with Tom's excellent travel diary that he blogged to us from the field.  In the last few days, the photographer Harry Borden has shared more of his work as a part of that group, and I am amazed to find additional images from these same three settings that are at least as compelling, if not even more so.




The obvious connection Tom has with children, especially with the baby in the third-to-last picture, just flips my heart over in my chest.  This from a man who has tweeted about how babies look into your eyes and see you for exactly who you are; from a guy who has 'have a family' near the top of his bucket list...

If you'd like to see more of Harry Borden's beautiful images from his trip to Guinea with Tom, go here.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Brit a day [#1056]



Lovely man being lovely:  Henry Ian Cusick has graciously opened an Instagram account and a Facebook page with the administrative help of his son.  You can go to the FB page here.  Beware of impostors, too, with fake-Ian pages and stuff.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1055]


Doctor who returns to American cable Saturday night, and I realize that I have some catching up to do before the episode airs.  I haven't seen the Christmas special yet, and I didn't know that Jenna-Louise Coleman was in it until I read about it on Wikipedia.  Among other things, the article on 'The Snowmen' had this to say about her--

This episode marks the return of Jenna-Louise Coleman, who previously appeared in the series 7 opener, "Asylum of the Daleks". Coleman was cast because of her chemistry with Matt Smith, and especially because she was able to talk faster than him.

Excellent!  Can't wait for the explosions in the chem lab!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1054]




Instead of fan art today, I have fan clipping:  an article that came out with the release of 'War Horse.'

Monday, March 25, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1053]

In the ten or so years that I have been consciously ogling English gentlemen, my tastes have remained pretty much the same--enough hair to run my hands through, white t-shirt under a jumper, nicely-fitted-but-not-ridiculous jeans, character lines on the face, breathtaking hands made fugitive as they are often out of sight in pockets of said jeans.

One of these days, to prove my devotion to these qualities, I'll have to post a picture of my husband, my real husband.  He's not English, but he'll do.  He most certainly will.


Sunday, March 24, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1052]

It is about time that Alan Rickman should come back to the US to do some live theatre.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1051]


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo:  most integral soundtrack ever, imo.  Been listening to a lot of Trent Reznor and How to Destroy Angels in the car.  Trent Reznor isn't technically a Brit, although he was resuscitated from an overdose in London once.  So today's Brit is, by association, Daniel Craig.

Does anyone know when the American sequel to TGWTDT is coming out?

Friday, March 22, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1050]


Tom Hiddleston has been sporting the gorgeous and natural short-hair-and-scruff at all of his public appearances lately.  It's really cool to see that his knocking-about-town look is pretty much the one I would pick for him....if I can't have him as Henry V 24/7.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1049]

Henry Ian Cusick played a handsome albeit dodgy psychologist on 'Body of Proof' the other night, and he'll be back to play him again in May.  I'm predicting that at that time, the show's heroine will take him down.

I think he is an incredibly versatile actor with a tremendous range, so I'm getting a little tired of seeing him cast as brainy homicidal whack jobs.  That's what you get for being good at something--a pigeon hole?

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1048]

Today my son got a haircut.  It does not look like this, but I kinda wish it did.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1047]

You know, I'm not always proud of my decisions, but I am generally happy when I follow my instincts.  I wanted to post something about Christian Bale today because of the somewhat bizarre news that he MIGHT PLAY MOSES for Ridley Scott's upcoming film.  I also wanted to stick to the program and provide you with wonderful fan art.  I had no idea when I set off for the crossroads of those two purposes that I would find this exquisite masterpiece. I think the artist's name is Olga Tereshenko, and I found her portrait of Christian Bale on Fanpop.

Monday, March 18, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1046]

There were a lot of pictures of Top Gear's James May on tumblr today, but this is the one that did me in.  The person who screen capped this is a genius.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1045]

Straight to the point.  He was perfect.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1044]

When I was out walking today, I had a Proustian moment of the highest order.  My friend handed me a Freesia bloom, I sniffed it, and I was transported.  "This is the smell of shopping with Mom," I said. She looked at me like I was weird. "This is the smell of Mom taking me to the toiletries counter and letting me pick out whichever bath salts I wanted."  On one of those shopping trips I went to the record store for the very first time [as opposed to the music department at JC Penneys] and came home with the eponymous Crosby, Stills, and Nash album, the one where 'Wooden Ships' is the first cut on the first side, and from a clothing store called 'The County Seat', a short denim jacket.  My life would never be the same.

Today's Brit has to be Graham Nash.  He was the first.  Today, with a head full of Freesia, there couldn't be anyone else.

Friday, March 15, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1043]



This incredibly sweet man has finally begun to win recognition for the work he did in 'The Hollow Crown.' And he is so humble about it.  Enjoy the vid above, and then if you'd like, see other Tom-related tid-bits and other stuff at my other blog http://a-trial-run-on-paper.tumblr.com/.





Thursday, March 14, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1042]

Hmmm...someone took a screencap from the promo for next week's 'Body of Proof' because Henry Ian Cusick is in it!

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1041]

We get the Doctor back here in America on March 30.  It has been a lifetime....

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1040]

Post #1040, and that does remind me that I have to do my taxes this week.

Monday, March 11, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1039]

OK, everyone, welcome James May, aka Captain Slow, to the weekly lineup.  If humor, fearlessness, charm, intelligence, and wit were the currency of sexiness.....Oh wait, they are.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1038]

Let me make something clear.  I am a woman of a certain age, so the older men will always be the alphas here.  Well....technically, there is only one 'older man' here.

Saturday, March 9, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1037]

I am so not done with this man.  Not by a long shot.

Until 'Sherlock' comes back or 'Star Trek' comes out or I get to see 'Parade's End', there just isn't much more I can say enthusiastically about Benedict Cumberbatch.  So James May is getting his own day starting this Monday.  Conveniently for me, he's lived most of the last 8 years in front of a camera.

Friday, March 8, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1036]

Tom Hiddleston:  I'm in the mood for a bit of 'Henry V' today, and I think he must have been filming it when this picture was taken--being ginger and beautifully bearded and all.

And here was the final product--
Will it ever be shown on my TV?

Thursday, March 7, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1035]


According to 'The Girl on the Train' Facebook page:
“Don’t know the exact day yet, but, West Coast FB Friends, mark April 25-May 2 on your calendar. More later!”

I hope this means they'll be premiering it at a nearby film festival!


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1034]

This gorgeous photo of Matt Smith makes me think of the film 'A Beautiful Mind' because of this scene--


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1033]

I'm feeling a bit confused and conflicted today.  What better representation of my mood than this color sketch of Loki.  I filed this away before I got the hang of crediting the artists on Tumblr, so I can't tell you whose it is.  But if it's yours, please tell me, and also....is it marker or computer drawing?

Monday, March 4, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1032]

I had a dream last night in which James May simply would not stop talking.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

A Brit a Day [#1031]


I have a photo file on my desktop called 'Make It Go Away' and these two were in it.

A Brit a Day [#1030]

This is for Saturday which I slept through for the most part.

Tom Hiddleston, Ken Branaugh, and Chris Hemsworth at the El Capitan Theatre for the premiere of 'Thor.'