Best supporting actor... Graham Greene, star of Skins and Transamerica
My first time was with Kevin Spacey. It was in 1992 and I caught him in the act of framing his next-door neighbour. We met next in Cedar Creek, California, where he was trying to save the town from an ebola outbreak. He died, but I knew we'd meet again.
Our intimate affair came to an end during a police interrogation, when he talked about some guy called Keyser Soze. No longer was he the supporting actor I fondly spotted in the background. Now he was part of the A-list and I had to share him with the whole world.
But after Kevin came others: Graham and Don, William H and Dennis... I am fond of them because whenever you are watching some overblown big star convince you that they do not deserve their paycheck, you can take comfort in their lowly sidekicks. They're doing all the acting while the A-lister just has to stand there and look pretty - and sometimes they can't even get that right.
Watching these actors also engenders the satisfying feeling that you are uncovering hidden gems, brilliant thesps labouring away at their craft while the frauds hog the limelight. I imagine them as gods of the stage prevented from taking starring roles in movies because they aren't cute enough. But one bright day, I hope, their talent will be justly recognised.
Loving a supporting actor used to be a stressful business. Before the internet, you had to wrack your brain constantly. "What's his name again? What else did I see him in?"
Now, thanks to the wonderful IMDb, you can instantly satisfy your curiosity. If you can't identify the slithery criminal financier in Heat, or the inspector with the fedora at the beginning of The Usual Suspects, Imdb always has the answer.
Sometimes, with a little luck, supporting actors go on to get their names above the title. Obviously I'm thrilled when talent finally translates into big bucks. But I am also a little bit sad, since this marks of the end of a private, precious relationship.
But the great thing is that there is always someone new. At the moment, I am taking an interest in Adam and John C. Who are you interested in right now?
