Is an Oscar on the cards for Andrew Scott? His new film is getting rave reviews

LAST UPDATE | 8 Oct

IS ANOTHER IRISH Oscar on the cards?

Andrew Scott is getting high praise in his new film, with one reviewer writing that his performance “will win him an Oscar”.

The Dublin actor’s new film Elsinore debuted this week at the London Film Festival.

Scott takes on the role of Scottish actor Ian Charleson in the new biographical drama.

Charleson, who was best known for starring in Chariots of Fire, was diagnosed with Aids at the height of his career in the ’80s, eventually passing away from the condition aged 40.

Directed by Simon Stone, Elsinore follows Charleson as he steps into the role of Hamlet at the National Theatre in the final months of his life.

Multiple outlets have praised Scott’s performance in the film following its debut.

The Times notes that the “hot priest from Fleabag, has all but secured the best actor trophy”, describing the performance as “so moving that you’ll barely be able to see the screen through the tears”.

Over at The Standard, the reviewer says Scott has been “criminally overlooked” but that this is “the performance of a lifetime”. The reviewer also praises the “never-ending pulse of joy” between Scott and co-star Olivia Colman who plays his doctor Margaret Johnson.

Across the Atlantic, Variety observes that Scott, who “looks remarkably like Ian Charleson, gives an astonishingly layered performance”.

The outlet says that Scott “takes us right inside Ian’s state of mind — his belief that what’s left of his life needs to mean something”.

Variety has also released its Oscar predictions for this year, with Scott the second favourite to win best actor.

John Malkovich is leading in the predictions for his performance in Wild Horse Nine.

Scott and Olivia Coleman at the Elsinore premiere in London. getty

Elsinore is scheduled for release in Irish cinemas on 29 January.

Aoife Barry, arts journalist and presenter of the Get Around To It podcast, attended an Irish preview of the movie on Wednesday night.

Aoife reckons film lovers should immediately be putting the release date in their calendars.

“Fans of Scott will already be excited to see this, but it’s certain to attract a wide audience and cement him as one of Ireland’s greatest actors,” she said. 

“Elsinore sees him reach another level in his career and feels like he’s pulling on many layers of his professional and personal life to play actor Ian Charleson.”

“As for the Oscars, the best actor nomination is widely presumed to be guaranteed for Scott, so here’s hoping Academy voters will be sufficiently stunned by his performance to give him the much-coveted golden statuette. He deserves it.”