Jason Isaacs: Cary Grant Built His Persona Out Of People He Wanted To Be 🎭

Actor Jason Isaacs joins the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with cinch to chat all about channelling the hugely complicated character of Hollywood superstar Cary Grant in a new bio-drama Archie for ITV 🎭
#JasonIsaacs #CaryGrant #ArchieLeach #Archie #ChrisEvansBreakfastShow #VirginRadioUK
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[@reanolan]

Love Jason Isaacs. Love him. Most underrated actor of his generation. May a moment of career glory manifest. (I mean in the awards sense, he's had many a glorious moment on screen).

[@elletuppen4844]

Hasn’t he also the sexiest voice…so modest. Brilliant actor beautiful man❤❤❤

[@theelvisguru9490]

He’s not underrated at all. I think he’s well appreciated. And rightly so

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"Underrated" - the adjective of morons.

[@mrsc120]

So sad that awards have become so sleazy and compromised, but read Jason Isaacs talking about his fans - he knows he is appreciated LOL

[@hourglasstv01]

Jason Isaacs is truly cherished by many as the most underrated actor of his generation. Here's to hoping a well-deserved moment of career glory in the awards sense comes his way soon. His on-screen brilliance has already left a lasting impact.

[@redsquirrel6529]

Same - binge watched all eps in one night, loved it. Jason deserves all the credits he gets & hopefully many awards in recognition xx

[@denisemackay1411]

Jason was so good in Archie. Took me a while to even recognise him, his portrayal of Cary Grant was so good, the mannerisms & voice spot on 👌

[@8888barb]

I loved the part where he was at his agent's house and was cleaning out the pantry and he came into the room with rubber gloves on! Priceless.

[@TrudyPatootie]

*I did not see Jason Isaacs...I saw Cary Grant on the screen. Amazing talent. Just* *fabulous. I would highly recommend this film to anyone! Wow!*

[@martinconnors5195]

I love Jason Isaacs. Criminally underrated actor. Awesome in Death of Stalin as Marshal Zhukov. The Cash and Cary line was Hilarious

[@yvonneupton9587]

Absouletly loved this, i thought Jason Isaccs nailed playing Cary Grant and being a Bristolian girl he was amazing

[@rosemanbridge1000]

Jason would have been a terrific James Bond.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Still would as the mature version

[@missymissymiss5192]

Cary grant would have made a great Bond.

[@annaross1681]

@@missymissymiss5192He almost was!

[@steveoshow4832]

Jason Issacs performance for me in Hotel Mumbai is a masterclass in character acting. Archie is released next month here in Australia, so have to be patient. Highly recommend Scott Eyman’s Cary Grant Biography (2021) provides a really in depth profile of a gifted and yet troubled man and charts his whole life and career really well, and the 2017 Documentary based on CG’s diaries ‘Becoming Cary Grant’ is also very very good. Incidentally CG turned down Dr No, the first Bond, because he didn’t want to sign a 3 Movie deal. In an alternative universe It would have been great to see him as Bond at the end of his career in the first film. Then over to Connery. Great interview, Brits do it best😎👌

[@michellecohron3425]

Every interview this man does makes me admire him all the more! It would be fascinating to attend a dinner party with him!❤

[@eileentobin9321]

It would be nice if the real Cary Grant had met someone like him

[@hourglasstv01]

His interviews only deepen my admiration! A dinner party with him would be absolutely fascinating

[@beverleightodd5710]

I binge watched it and loved it. I was a real fan and cried when he died.

[@up2now]

I went in search of Mass (2021) the film Jason talks about & its not available in UK unless you want to pay £24 for a DVD! It has rave reviews but because its not a block buster it didnt get the distribution ( I presume) ? I agree the scene where Calam Lynch as young Archie developing the Cary Grant accent & persona was riveting. Everything about this series was very well done, costumes, sets, era detail, 2 leads outstanding. I also binge watched it & will watch again. Bravo! I find it fascinating how actors research a part, how they delve into a role & become a person they are portraying, how they find a 'voice 'Jason explains it so eloquently & intelligently. Of course this is exactly how Archie developed the global character of 'Cary Grant 'that both sides of the Atlantic wanted to watch on screen.

[@debbiecarter6430]

I think it’s on Sky Cinema

[@stockbag]

One of the best movies of the last five years, in my opinion. The smallest movies make the biggest impact. Fantastic film.

[@ronniearlen2577]

I saw mass on sky months ago

[@ronniearlen2577]

Mass on sky Jason Issac’s Looked forward to it Unfortunately very boring

[@justinakavanagh3058]

I've always liked this actor.

[@DavidWilliams-zn2nc]

What about the patriot? “ it seems I’m the better man”, Very underrated British actor! Excellent!

[@risatzinberg1170]

It was brilliant! Jason Isaacs nailed it. I was absolutely sucked in and mesmerized by his performance. My passion is classic Hollywood and as a result pretty knowledgeable about it. I’ve been waiting for so long for a real deep dive into Cary Grant/Archie Leach. Thank you for Dyan and Jennifer for being so generous with this very very special gift. 🙏❤️

[@michaeldunne3379]

Jason’s final comment is as good a reason to watch it as any. Cary Grant, the actor / character was probably the slickest, shiniest, smoothest male screen presence in the history of Hollywood. So, to discover that his personal life was so messed up and complicated is quite an eye-opener.

[@joeneighbor]

Yea looking forward to watching this on BritBox.

[@scottanderson9132]

@@joeneighbor⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was great! A Christmas Eve corker!🎄

[@suehardie3183]

Amazing series great actors 👏 especially Jason 👏

[@kellifer4270]

Mass is a heart wrenching, enthralling and challenging film and Jason's last scene broke my heart. The few times that I've had the pleasure of meeting him. He's been a very normal, interesting and somewhat eager to please bloke. Very self depreciating and eternally lovable. I'm in awe of how he gives his all to his characters and makes them so deep and nuanced. Beautiful soul.

[@lauramaguire5152]

Could not stop watching. The lovely thing was at the end it did not spoil my image of Cary Grant. I loved his films and although gone will never be forgotten ♥️

[@simonmandrakejones]

Jason Isaacs always seems like one of the nicest guys and is a brilliant, but unpretentious actor.

[@stevenmcwilliam6945]

Fantastic performance And what a wonderfully humble man Isaacs is.

[@cheryleneschick4070]

I am in awe of Jason Isaac's breadth as an actor! I often do not recognize the actor because he has no "type." He plays an evil, but beautiful, wizard, a Star Trek Captain, a photo journalist on WestWing, and Archie Leach/Cary Grant! I love watching the transformation of actor to character using all the creative tools at his command. He is truly an incredibly talented artist!

[@nickyburkard4573]

Oh my goodness gracious me. As much I can and have appreciated Cary Grant as a heartthrob and serious actor ( Hitchcock films come to mind) but for me… no one will ever surpass a certain Mr. Gregory Peck. Only saying this because of the time frame both actors enveloped and therefore, making an appropriate comparison. However, thoroughly enjoyed this interview with Jason Isaacs and Chris Evans . Loved Jason’s honesty and loyalty to Cary Grant’s true life persona. Thank you. Need to finish this programme off! Much loving, Nicola xxx

[@nickyburkard4573]

Ps . I’m also 59. But grew up watching so many old black and white movies! One of my all time favourites is The Lady Vanishes. Some of the lines delivered by Michael Redgrave are off the chart funny and extremely witty ! I know I’ve gone off on a tangent but just hope someone out there will know what I’m on about? X

[@ronniearlen2577]

Jason was fantastic it was so good will watch it again

[@ronniearlen2577]

Archie should give Jason a great boost to his career he deserves a much higher profile he should be up there with the best

[@MrElliotc02]

His Marshal Zhukov was fantastic...

[@petergwalsh]

Jason Isaacs. Always brilliant.

[@sandrafox555]

I believe the first film I saw Jason Isaacs in was , "Passionada" way back in 2002. I've been a fan since. I've seen clips of him doing Cary and he's brilliant. Bravo. New subscriber from California.

[@alexguiness-i9p]

Jason Isaacs playing Grant is perfect casting. Like Grant he is a man of integrity . Which he demonstrated with his unyielding support of JK Rolling.

[@lordemed1]

Cary Grant was introduced to LSD in the 1950's by his Beverly Hills psychiatrist. He admits to tripping 'over 100 times'. "I loved it." he said.

[@sarahdee374]

There was a scene in the film Houseboat in which he describes thoughts about an afterlife. I read somewhere that he had been the one to write all, or much, of that scene. Very "the Universe is all one energy" type thing, seemed to me way ahead of it's time. LSD may explain it.

[@katrinabrede9613]

Love Jason Isaacs, but he's got Grant's wives confused -- Barbara Hutton ("Cash and Cary") was his second wife. He then later married Betsey Drake (wife #3) who was well read and got him involved in psychotherapy, etc.

[@SandySaunders9142]

Thanks. You are correct. I am a CaryGrantophile, and he did get the wife mixed up. Was brilliant as Cary. Amazing!

[@romanclay1913]

From 1937-1940, Cary Grant starred in: The Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, Holiday, Gunga Din, Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, Arsenic and Old Lace, My Favorite Wife and The Philadelphia Story. No other actor has ever had a string of great films like Cary Grant. Grant could recognize great screenplays.

[@salbacon5394]

So looking forward to watching this. I watched Jason Isaacs playing Harry Corbett (as in Steptoe's son) and I found it hard to believe I wasn't watching HC. Incredible acting.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Brilliant when he said Cary sought love with not perfect endings. When Cary begins to give love - different and beautiful solution.

[@tonydejesus2134]

This is why I know Jason Isaac is a great actor: I had seen him in 7 or 8 movies (and a tv show) before I realized that all of those characters were played by the same guy.

[@rosemanbridge1000]

The place where it really strayed was that Cary's brother actually died before Cary was born, otherwise it's an incredible show.

[@ZestySea]

Yes, noticed this too

[@donamorenoable]

Cary Grant fan. Jason Isaacs fan. I think I first saw him in "Brotherhood".

[@build1stbuilders235]

The second archie leach is played by Oaklee pendergast. Top actor.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

I watched. Archie Leach would have been (or maybe is) very proud of you. The film is amazing. You’re work caused so many people come to love Cary.

[@selfingwithclare3410]

Fabulous interview. Thanks both. Am now off to watch the show!

[@carjam49]

I watched it and loved it. Thank you for saying that about the murder shows! I hate them. Enough is enough.

[@ItsMe-yv9jd]

Gotta say, you lost me at the beginning when that old man started ranting on, and on, and on, and on... about himself and his dreary life. (Somebody REALLY loves to hear the sound of his own voice!) I clicked because because I though the Cary Grant actor was going to be interviewed!

[@craigevardson7378]

Brilliant Jason becoming Cary

[@Galacticpurveyor]

Just for the record, I never thought of Cary Grant being either English or American. He was something that didn’t exist. It’s why he was so unique. He’s certainly not the US idea of a “posh” Englishman.

[@SzTz100]

I loved it as well, and Jason was brilliant.

[@fusionfan6883]

And talk about a bizarre coincidence, one of the world's greatest physicists, Paul Dirac, went to the same Bristol primary school as Archie Leach/Cary Grant.

[@katgirlblue]

Why is that bizarre?

[@fusionfan6883]

@@katgirlblue It’s a common turn of phrase, don’t be a pedant, you know what I mean. That notwithstanding, 2 preeminent people in differing fields is quite something for a small provincial primary school.

[@katgirlblue]

@@fusionfan6883 "don't be a pedant?" Lol, why? Because I don't see a "bizarre coincidence?" I didn't know that Bristol is so tiny and insignificant and in such a remote country, that's it's "bizarre" for two people who ended up in different professions to have gone to the same school. If they had gone to the same school in Sumatra or Guam or whatever, I would say that was rather a strange coincidence, but not Bristol.

[@fusionfan6883]

@@katgirlblue You really aren’t a very nice person are you? Also, you seem to wilfully misinterpreting what I say purely so you can be inappropriately critical of an innocent comment. For the final time, it is not that two people end up in disparate professions - that is an inevitability in any group of children who grow up to pursue their chosen professions - but the fact you have two people from a small school who went onto to literally be preeminent and world famous in two very different spheres. Dirac is probably in the top ten of the greatest ever physicists, and Grant is undoubtedly in the top ten of great Hollywood actors. If, as you seem to suggest, being famous is commonplace, then every class of children at a school would go on to produce world famous people, but patent,y this is not the case. Now go away and be unpleasant elsewhere because I am done wasting anymore time on you.

[@katgirlblue]

@@fusionfan6883 I'm "not really a very nice person?" Lol, what are you - ten years old? Not a nice person? Why, because I don't see a "bizarre coincidence" in the fact that they both went to the same school? This is incredible - "wilfully misinterpreting" so I can be critical of your comment!! Right, it's what I live for 😂 except that I wasn't "critical," I simply disagreed. Why is that so hard for you to handle? Either you really are ten years old, or you have serious paranoid tendencies, thinking a total stranger is "willfully misinterpreting" your comment - why would you think you're of such importance to me? Also dear, I never said that being famous is commonplace, I'm afraid you've imagined that too. Ok, dear, have it your way - you're absolutely right about everything, I'm a terribly nasty person because my opinion differs from yours, something that's impossible to imagine, and everyone who doesn't agree with you is wrong, and "not a nice person!" Now brush your teeth and go to bed, and don't even imagine that anything you think could possibly be incorrect - you're right about everything, and everyone else is wrong!! Good night, sweet dreams.

[@bulliboyz]

Really enjoyed it, and I agree Grant did seem ver, very controlling. But Dylan wrote in her book how much he Edred his baby daughter, but she still didn’t have any qualms in writing that she didn’t let him have any contact with her for weeks on, almost destroying him. Which is what happens to so many loving fathers today. And if the most famous actor in Hollywood at the time can lose access to his child, what chance does a plumber from Hull have. Also, she went in hard on him in the divorce (her words), after on,y being married a short time. And did she really ply hard to get as she says. And did not have any flaws of her own? I would say taking his daughter away is pretty mean, knowing what she did about his childhood.

[@robbiereilly]

I agree. And also, every person's experience and/or memory of events can be vastly different. I tend to think that the reality is somewhere in the middle. And to prove it, I always ask people, "if someone did a biopic on YOUR life and only spoke to one or two people whom you loved but later fought with, how accurate, or true to life, do you think it would it be? It's for this reason, I never regard biopics, for good or bad, as anything more than entertainment.

[@katgirlblue]

I read her book and can't understand what you're referring to - she tried and tried to stay together and didn't want the divorce. They were married for a few years when he admittedly started pushing her away as he did every woman "who loved him." He was so intent on LSD, which was fine for him, but wouldn't give up insisting that Dyan needed to do it too, and it wasn't good for her. She only had terrifying experiences with it every time, and didn't want to continue doing it. He constantly criticized her for this. She did try again in an effort to save the marriage, but it was too frightening. Not everyone has a good experience with it, but Cary blamed her for not continuing. He was very controlling and said she was under his "jurisdiction." He sent her to see a psychiatrist in NY, who cleared his schedule for an entire week for her alone, and she endured day long sessions with him all week. He questioned why she was not committed to the marriage! These are only a couple of things she had to put up with, and still loved Cary, but he sent his lawyer to their house to inform Dyan that now Cary wanted a divorce, and Jennifer was just a baby! Dyan tried and tried but Cary insisted on divorce.

[@wm4126]

Jason would have made a great Bond

[@robbiereilly]

I love Jason Isaacs. Glad Jason brought up his own dad and the scars of being poor and ridiculed. Cary Grant was a troubled man, but I don't believe he's as dark as the series depicts. I tend to believe there's a middle ground between his widow and his daughter's accounts. Love the joking about the murder shows. So true! Midsomer, Lewis, Shetland, etc. "Corpses piling up!"

[@gabrielletanner5339]

Watched it and loved it..

[@brexitannia9703]

Carry Grant a wonderful actor a smooth handsome man unfortunately ruined by his parents his mother was as much to blame as the father. My father was the same age as Grant when I was born both my father and Grant passed at the same time and same age. Back in my father's day and Grants day time was so difficult and different. But you have to take your hat off to Grant he made it 😁

[@jjdvideo]

Perfectly cast as Archie.

[@Sean-oe1xg]

Cary Grant father let him go to America with the Bob pender troupe because he was a freemason and could trust pender as he was also one..

[@SARISS80]

My boys eyes, I just love Jasons eyes.

[@daveclarke1335]

Bristol boy👍🇬🇧

[@aaropajari7058]

Us Bristol lads are proud of our Archie!

[@RioBow]

Isaacs simply hasn't bettered his performance in Civvies frankly. To this day its a brava performance of magnificence.

[@davidadams3408]

Hello to Jason 😉

[@DenkyManner]

I tried to skip ahead as i haven't the faintest interest in Chris Evans's daily schedule (no one does) and KZbin launched another ad. I'm giving up

[@GeorgeAlexander-bj4fk]

Sounds like Cary Grant even when not acting like him.

[@carolw.9378]

Jason Isaacs is amazing!

[@magneticmermaidsuk]

binge watched...awesum

[@MegaHockeypuck1]

....Cary Grant was a good businessman cause Howard Hughes showed him how to be his own label !

[@MarkL-we8uk]

Colonel Tavington!

[@cordelyahaynes523]

🌞an awesome, underused talent...still bummed about his L’orca character being killed off on “discovery”

[@RaikenXion]

I always wanted Jason Issacs to play thrawn in the Ahsoka series i think he would have been awesome, he's excellent doing villains. Erm that's never Chris Evans!? lol

[@trippelgoattripelgoat4998]

Archie was “Devine”!

[@crewmax4240]

What a challenging role. I thought he did a fantastic job.

[@christinespiers-wy9kr]

When will the movie Archie Leach premiere and where can I watch it?

[@WH-hi5ew]

its on itvplayer in uk

[@arickett68]

Here in Canada the TV series is on BritBox starting this week

[@mareazulable]

Many say that Cary was gay, isn't that considered in the series?

[@fusionfan6883]

Yes he had some interesting living arrangements with fellow male stars of the day including Randolph Scott I believe.

[@aaropajari7058]

It was not uncommon for young up and coming actors to live together. They were usually on a weekly salary early on. Maybe he was maybe he wasn't. Doesn't much matter either way. I dont think

[@theelvisguru9490]

Yes they do touch on it (so to speak)

[@dk60ish]

Giving away her beloved dog without her knowledge, that should have been grounds for divorce right there!

[@IanDuckworth-n4b]

Cary Grant " Nobody talks like that" re "Some Like It Hot." Ian Dee.

[@moonmissionpassagetototali1952]

The Febreze commercial is really awful. 🤮

[@jenk.6196]

Issacs was great, but they should have nixed the Hepburn scene as the actress looked and acted nothing like Audrey. (That actress wasn’t even attractive, honestly.) Really, Audrey’s beauty was just too unique and breathtaking to even try and imitate it. It almost ruined the series because while you could believe Issacs was Cary, there was no way you could believe that actress was Audrey. It wasn’t even a good caricature.

[@andrewstorm8240]

Why wear a baseball cap inside

[@tjmaxx4739]

English accent is better the American accent ! Just sound good to hear in movies !

[@michaelratcliffe7559]

Cary Grant was a persona developed by an actor - even he acknowledged that he was not “Cary Grant” but wished he could be. Its no big shock that an actor based marketable traits on people he observed a likeable in life. I’m sure Jason Isaacs does it all the time and believe me - he’s no Cary Grant either.

[@hourglasstv01]

he is no longer in this world

[@NRJIID]

He misspoke. Mae West was the first to cast Cary opposite her. Not Faye Ray.

[@Salsta1]

No, sorry, that's wrong. Fay Wray cast him in the play Nikki long before he ever reached California.

[@EdouardBManoukian]

Jason Isaacs is trying so badly to convince that the full grown man remained the same as when he was a child . This is not what Jennifer & Diane are saying. Watch your language Jason Isaacs !. People are not as naive, as you think to believe you.

[@jeanwilson5029]

I tried to watch this but gave up. I don’t think they could have found anyone less like Cary grant.