2015年3月27日,《王牌特工:特工學(xué)院》(以下簡稱《王牌特工》)在國內(nèi)上映,紳士大叔與痞子少年的特工故事大受好評,也讓痞子少年的扮演者塔倫·埃格頓人氣飆升。那么,影片中由痞子逆襲為高富帥的年輕男主角在現(xiàn)實生活中又有怎樣的逆襲故事呢?且看塔倫·埃格頓在該片上映前接受采訪時的獨家爆料!
Taron Egerton stands a lean1), muscular five foot eight inches tall and he has the type of cheeky2) grin. At the age of just twenty-four, since coming out of RADA3), Taron has two television series under his belt4) and three big-budget films—The Rise of the Krays, Testament of Youth (which saw him nominated for Best Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival Awards) and Kingsman: The Secret Service, a British action film adapted from Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar's comic book The Secret Service, which sees Taron co-lead with the nation's most-loved actor, quintessential5) English gentleman, Colin Firth.
Meeting Taron is a pleasant reversal6) of expectations. Not that I thought he was going to mirror the east London juvenile delinquent7) he's playing in Kingsman: The Secret Service, but you know, it's always hard to pre-empt8) the situation. "Brooke meet Taron," his publicist's9) voice rang through the room. I had just stuffed my mouth with half a tube of Smarties10), so it wasn't the way I envisioned myself meeting a guy who's sure to be listed in GQ's11) hot one hundred in a matter of months, but we continue all the same.
In conversation he frequently lets out a sonorous12) laugh that instantly makes you warm to him13), whether he's talking about his childhood ("I was cheeky in school, but rarely in a way that would get me in trouble. I thought I was a bad boy but I most definitely wasn't!"), working alongside Samuel L. Jackson ("He is officially the coolest man on the planet, isn't he?") or talking about his pastimes14) ("I don't really have any cool or interesting hobbies—I wish I was that interesting."). That's another thing I note about Taron. He's awfully15) modest.
Judging by his recent success, it may come as a surprise that Taron was a latecomer to the realm of performance. "I was always pretty arty when I was younger. I liked drawing and stuff, but I didn't start acting until my mid-teens," says Taron. "I joined the Youth Theatre and realised how much I liked it." But starting late has by no means stopped him. Since leaving RADA in 2012 Taron has been fully immersed in his art. Starting with a play at the National Theatre, Taron's first television role in ITV16) detective drama Lewis came next, followed by a part in No Quarter at the Royal Court Theatre and another in Sky 1's firefighting drama, The Smoke.
In the midst of this whirlwind17) of events, Taron found himself auditioning for the lead role in a film directed by the mastermind18) behind Snatch, Layer Cake and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. None other than Matthew Vaughn (whose wife Claudia Schiffer offered to make Taron a sandwich at their country residence). Matthew took a chance19) on the then unknown actor and after watching the first three scenes of the film, it's easy to see why he did so. "He called me one morning and just said: 'Look, I think we're about to offer you this part.' But I think it took him quite a lot to convince the other people who had money in the film. He really fought my corner20)," says Taron modestly. "Matthew is a bit of a genius in my eyes. There's no crap21) with him and he says exactly what he thinks when he thinks it. Being the sensitive little daisy22) I am, it took me a while to get used to that, but when you get to know him you realise he's actually got the biggest heart23) in the world. He's done so much for me and not just in terms of Kingsman."
The film sees Taron play troublesome youth Gary Eggsy Unwin, who Colin Firth's character, secret agent Harry Hart, owes a debt to. By giving Eggsy the chance to compete for a place in the Kingsman Academy, in turn keeping him off the street, they get even so to speak24). So what was it like working with Colin? "He's just an absolute dreamboat25)—he's lovely and he was really good to me," says Taron. "He went the extra mile26) to make sure I was happy and he treated me like an equal, which is ridiculous because he's an Oscar-winning actor and I'd never made a film before." But it wasn't plain sailing27) for Colin either with Kingsman being his first foray28) into action. And as Taron puts it, it's serious. "He's so badass29) in it. You've never seen him like this before. We had loads of fight training and gym time, to ensure we looked like spies. We had a lot of time to get to know each other and I really hope that chemistry30) shows on-screen."
Their odd coupling and dysfunctional31) father-son type relationship is precedent32) throughout, whilst the underlying themes of class tension, power struggle and self-belief also simmer33) on the surface. "Colin's character always reiterates34) that being a gentleman has absolutely nothing to do with where you're from or how you speak, it's to do with how you act," says Taron. "So there's the whole rags to riches35) underdog36) story and the mantra37)—'It doesn't matter where you come from, or how hard it is, you can do anything'." A sentiment38) that proved true for Taron on many levels. "Every single one of those shots39) is 100% Egerton," laughs Taron. "I'd never done any sort of scuba-diving40) before so my natural reaction when I'm underwater is to just freak out and take a huge lungful of water."
With such hard-hitting41) action stunts42), I can't help but ask if there were any notable behind-the-scenes mishaps43), but Taron tells me there are none he's allowed to talk about. Of course, a little probing44) can work miracles. "I can't believe I'm about to tell you this," he smirks45). "I remember landing this massive jump I do at one point and my trousers basically exploded open as soon as I landed on the floor, in a scene filled with about three-hundred extras46). I had to run out of the room covering my dignity. I'm supposed to seem all cool when I'm definitely not." Well Taron, you had us fooled.
塔倫·埃格頓身高5英尺8英寸(編注:約1.73米),長得清瘦而又健壯,咧嘴笑起來一副調(diào)皮模樣。塔倫不過24歲,但從英國皇家戲劇藝術(shù)學(xué)院畢業(yè)至今,就已參演過兩部電視連續(xù)劇,還拍過三部大制作電影:《科雷兄弟成長記》《青春作證》和《王牌特工》,更憑借《青春作證》一片贏得了英國電影協(xié)會主辦的倫敦電影節(jié)最佳新人獎提名?!锻跖铺毓ぁ肥且徊坑鴦幼髌木幾源鞣颉ぜ舅购婉R克·米勒合著的漫畫書《金牌特工》,由塔倫和英國最受人喜愛的男演員、英國紳士的典范科林·費斯領(lǐng)銜主演。
和塔倫的會面是一次顛覆預(yù)期的愉快經(jīng)歷。這倒不是說我原以為他會跟《王牌特工》里他飾演的那個倫敦東區(qū)的不良少年一個德性,而是,你知道的,總是很難預(yù)估會發(fā)生什么。“布魯克和塔倫會面?!狈块g里響起他的公關(guān)人員的聲音。而我剛剛往嘴里塞了半管的“聰明豆”牌巧克力豆,所以呢,我和這位不出數(shù)月必將登上《GQ》雜志百大名人榜的人如此見面,還真不是我曾設(shè)想的那樣。但我們的采訪還是照常進(jìn)行了下去。
在交談中,不管談及什么,他都不時大聲爆笑,讓你立刻就喜歡上了他。他談及他的童年:“我上學(xué)的時候是個調(diào)皮鬼,但調(diào)皮歸調(diào)皮,卻很少捅婁子。我那時覺得自己是個壞孩子,但實際上絕對不是!”他談及他跟塞繆爾·L·杰克遜一起共事:“他是公認(rèn)的全球最瀟灑的男人,不是嗎?”他還聊到了他的愛好:“我真的沒有什么時髦或有趣的愛好,我倒希望我能那么有趣?!边@也是我在塔倫身上注意到的另外一點——他超級謙虛。
從塔倫最近的成功來看,他在演藝界出道晚似乎有點出人意料?!拔倚r候一直很文藝。我喜歡繪畫什么的,但直到15歲左右才開始演戲,”塔倫說,“我加入了青年劇院,意識到了我有多喜歡表演?!钡龅劳磉@件事絲毫沒有阻止他的腳步。2012年從皇家戲劇藝術(shù)學(xué)院畢業(yè)后,塔倫一直全身心投入于自己的演藝事業(yè)。他首先參演了國家劇院的一出舞臺劇,接著接拍首部電視劇,出演了獨立電視臺的偵探劇《督察劉易斯》,之后又參演了皇家宮廷劇院的舞臺劇《絕不留情》和天空電視臺第一頻道的消防主題劇《煙》。
在這一連串的大事發(fā)生期間,塔倫發(fā)現(xiàn)自己不知不覺間已在為一部電影的主角試鏡。而這部電影的導(dǎo)演不是別人,正是一手推出《偷拐搶騙》《夾心蛋糕》和《兩桿大煙槍》等影片的馬修·沃恩(試鏡是在沃恩的鄉(xiāng)間寓所進(jìn)行的,期間馬修的妻子克勞迪婭·希弗還主動給塔倫做了一個三明治)。馬修冒險起用了當(dāng)時籍籍無名的塔倫,但看完這部電影的前三場戲后,你就很容易理解馬修為什么這么做了?!坝刑煸缟纤o我打電話,直接就說:‘聽著,我想我們會讓你來演這個角色。但我覺得他肯定花了不少工夫去說服影片的其他投資人,他真的是在為我力爭這個角色,”塔倫謙遜地說,“在我看來,馬修是一個近乎天才的人物。他不講廢話,心里想到什么就說什么。我這個人非常敏感,過了一段時間才適應(yīng)他這點,但當(dāng)你了解他之后,你會發(fā)現(xiàn)他其實有著世界上最寬廣的胸懷。他為我做了很多很多,不僅僅是在《王牌特工》中?!?img alt="" src="https://cimg.fx361.com/images/2023/08/30/qkimagesxdfyxdfy201507xdfy20150709-1-l.jpg"/>
在這部電影中,塔倫飾演的加里·埃格西·昂溫是一個惹是生非的毛頭小子,科林·費斯飾演的特工哈里·哈特欠了他一筆人情債。哈里給了埃格西一個通過競爭進(jìn)入特工學(xué)院的機(jī)會,同時也免得他混跡街頭,這樣他們就算年扯平了。那跟科林一起拍戲又是一種怎樣的體驗?zāi)兀俊八^對是一個魅力四射的人。他和藹可親,對我真的很好,”塔倫說,“他超乎你的期望,付出了更多的努力,好確保讓我拍戲開心。他還對我平等相待,這簡直不可思議,因為他是奧斯卡影帝,而我之前還從沒拍過電影?!辈贿^,拍攝這部影片對科林來說也并非一帆風(fēng)順,因為這是他首次嘗試動作片。正如塔倫所說,這是一部毫不含糊的動作片。“他在片中的表現(xiàn)非常令人欽佩,展現(xiàn)出了前所未有的一面。我們有很多武打訓(xùn)練和體能鍛煉,來確保我們看上去像特工。我們花了很多時間去相互了解。我真心希望我們之間的親密關(guān)系能展現(xiàn)在銀幕上?!?/p>
兩人的奇怪組合和異常的類父子關(guān)系貫穿影片始終,而階層沖突、權(quán)力斗爭和個人信仰等深層主題也逐漸醞釀爆發(fā)?!翱屏诛椦莸慕巧粩鄰?qiáng)調(diào):你是不是有教養(yǎng)的人跟你的出身或談吐根本沒關(guān)系,而是要看你的行為舉止,”塔倫說,“因此,影片完整地展現(xiàn)了痞子逆襲成為高富帥的故事和‘無論你從哪兒來,無論有多困難,你都可以做成任何事的口號?!睂λ悂碚f,這一見解在許多層面上都證明是正確的?!拔以趹蚶锏乃戌R頭百分之百都是由我自己完成,”塔倫笑著說,“我之前從沒進(jìn)行過任何形式的潛水,所以我下水后的自然反應(yīng)就是驚慌失措,灌了一肚子水。”
動作特技這等給力,讓我不禁問塔倫電影幕后有沒有什么重大的意外狀況,但塔倫告訴我劇組不準(zhǔn)他談?wù)摯祟愒掝}。當(dāng)然,稍微打探一下總會創(chuàng)造奇跡?!昂喼辈桓蚁嘈盼視阏f這件事,”他得意地笑著說,“我記得有場戲我有一個大幅度的跳躍動作,結(jié)果我剛一落地,褲襠基本上就全爆開了。當(dāng)時那場戲里還擠著300名左右的群眾演員,我不得不捂著褲襠跑出了片場,還得裝出很酷的樣子,而那一刻的我絕對算不上酷?!毙邪?,塔倫,你把我們都給騙了。
1. lean [li?n] adj. (壯健而)清瘦的
2. cheeky [?t?i?ki] adj. (人或行為)冒失的,調(diào)皮的,放肆的
3. RADA: (= Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)皇家戲劇藝術(shù)學(xué)院,位于英國倫敦,是英國歷史最為悠久的戲劇學(xué)院之一,建于1904年。
4. under one's belt: 已經(jīng)取得(或完成)
5. quintessential [?kw?nt??sen?l] adj. 典范的;典型的
6. reversal [r??v??sl] n. (過程或趨勢的)反轉(zhuǎn),倒轉(zhuǎn),逆轉(zhuǎn)
7. juvenile delinquent: 少年犯
8. pre-empt [pri?empt] vt. 搶先行動;預(yù)先制止;先發(fā)制人
9. publicist [?p?bl?s?st] n. 公關(guān)人員;宣傳員
10. Smarties: “聰明豆”牌巧克力豆,一種著名的巧克力豆品牌,這種巧克力豆外層包裹著五顏六色的糖衣,有盒裝的,也有管裝的。
11. GQ: Gentlemen's Quarterly的縮寫,中文名為《智族》,是一本男性月刊,內(nèi)容著重于男性的時尚、風(fēng)格、文化等。
12. sonorous [?s?n?r?s] adj. (聲音)深沉響亮的,洪亮的
20. fight one's corner: 維護(hù)某人的地位(或利益)
21. crap [kr?p] n. 廢話
22. daisy [?de?zi] n. 雛菊
23. big heart: 寬闊的胸懷,慷慨的氣度
24. so to speak: 姑妄言之,可以說
25. dreamboat [?dri?mb??t] n. 極漂亮的人;魅力十足的人
26. go the extra mile: 付出比別人期望中還要大的努力
27. plain sailing: 一帆風(fēng)順
28. foray [?f?re?] n. 初次嘗試;涉足
29. badass [?b?d?s] adj. (人或物)令人欽慕(或印象深刻)的
30. chemistry [?kem?stri] n. (人與人之間的)感情關(guān)系
31. dysfunctional [d?s?f??k??nl] adj. (關(guān)系、行為等)出現(xiàn)障礙的,不正常的
32. precedent [?pres?d?nt] adj. 在前的,在先的
33. simmer [?s?m?(r)] vi. (沖突、爭吵等)醞釀,激化
34. reiterate [ri??t?re?t] vt. (通常為了強(qiáng)調(diào))重復(fù)講,反復(fù)說,重申
35. rags to riches: 從赤貧到巨富
36. underdog [??nd?d?ɡ] n.
潦倒者;(競爭、競賽等中的)劣勢方,弱者
37. mantra [?m?ntr?] n. 口號
38. sentiment [?sent?m?nt] n. (用言辭表達(dá)的)見解,感想
39. shot [??t] n. (電影的)一組鏡頭
40. scuba-diving: 佩戴水肺的潛水
41. hard-hitting: 強(qiáng)有力的
42. stunt [st?nt] n. (電影中的)特技表演
43. mishap [?m?sh?p] n. 晦氣;不幸;小災(zāi)難
44. probe [pr??b] vi. 探究;探查
45. smirk [sm??k] vi. (占了便宜或知道了別人不知道的事情時)洋洋得意地笑,自鳴得意地笑
46. extra [?ekstr?] n. (電影中的)臨時演員,群眾演員
13. warm to sb.: 開始喜歡上某人
14. pastime [?pɑ?sta?m] n. 消遣;娛樂
15. awfully [???fli] adv. (與表示特征的形容詞連用,用于強(qiáng)調(diào))極度地,非常
16. ITV: (= Independent Television)獨立電視臺,是英國第二大無線電視經(jīng)營商,成立于1955年。
17. whirlwind [?w??lw?nd] n. 一連串的突發(fā)事件
18. mastermind [?mɑ?st?ma?nd] n. (常指罪案)主謀,出謀劃策的人,幕后操縱者
19. take a chance: 冒險;碰運氣