TRAINSPOTTING actor Ewen Bremner has revealed he bases his character Spud on a boy he went to school with.
The 45-year-old star, who went to Portobello High School in Edinburgh, admits he takes inspiration from one of his loveable classmates when portraying the iconic character.
Bremner has reprised his role as heroin addict Daniel ‘Spud’ Murphy in T2 Trainspotting, which hits cinema screens today.
The Scottish star believes he does his best work when he is enjoying what he does and channelled his “super funny” old school mate when working on the Trainspotting sequel.
Despite only knowing him for his first year at high school, the boy left a lasting impression on Bremner.
Speaking during a radio interview, he said: “As an actor, in order to be able to play someone and do a part justice, there has to be something in it you recognise, things about people you’ve loved and known.
“And for me, there was a kid I was at school with when we were starting high school, which is a really scary time and there was something really fantastic about him.
“Whatever he said was super funny but at the same time everybody made fun of him because of how he walked and talked and dressed. I loved that guy.
“There was something so endearing about him and no matter how much fun people made of him and tried to ridicule him, he bore it and he didn’t let it crush him or grind him down.
“I’ve never said this before – I remember his name and everything – and I never saw him again after that first year. I think he went off to a different school, maybe to a special needs school as it was called then.
“For me there was something I recognised that was dear to me, that I could enjoy, and whenever I’m doing any kind of work I want to find a way to enjoy what I’m doing, even it’s somebody absolutely despicable I’m playing. It’s important for me. I do my best work when I find a way to enjoy it.”
Bremner also revealed he went through a full range of emotions when he watched the new film for the first time.
He said: “The first time I saw it was in a little screening theatre on my own. I was bawling my eyes out, I was laughing my heart out and just really enjoying watching these tough actors carrying so much muscle from 20 years of learning their craft.
“From these great directors that they’ve spent the last 20 years working with and great actors and just bringing real heft to it and really honouring the characters so perfectly. I felt great.”
T2 Trainspotting is directed by Danny Boyle and based on the novel ‘Porno’, written by Irvine Welsh.
Sequel to the 1996 classic, it features the original cast including Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle.
The original film has been ranked 10th in a list of the top 100 British films of all time and made over £48 million at the box office.
