'I feel privileged to have been involved in their careers...' As he prepares to solve his final case, David Suchet looks back at the stars who launched their careers on Poirot
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He's on the verge of cracking his final case as Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, but as the hugely popular series bows out, actor David Suchet says it has provided a platform for a veritable who's who of British talent.
A grand total of 1,124 actors have featured in the show during its 24-year, 13-series run, which draws to a close on November 10 when the final episode airs on ITV1.
But while the revolving cast has shifted from case to case, Suchet says he was able to spot which of them would go on to have successful careers.
‘This is quite true,’ he told the Radio Times. ‘As regards everybody who has now become a big name – I have said at the time, ‘Watch out for that one.’ I’ve sensed it’
Cracking the case: David Suchet will solve his final case as Hercule Poirot on November 13
No less than two of them would go on to play Doctor Who – indeed, Christopher Eccleston played a fascist lout in 1992 episode One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, 12-months after current Doctor Peter Capaldi appeared in 1991 episode Wasp’s Nest.
Other stars to feature during its 24-year run include Homeland star Damien Lewis, an unknown actor fresh out of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama when he appeared in 1995 episode Hickory Dickory Dock.
The 42-year-old played a young man living in a hostel, a role that set him on the road to international fame in HBO show Band Of Brothers before settling into his current role as troubled war veteran Brody.
Fresh faced: Damien Lewis had only just left sdrama school when he appeared in 1995 episode Hickory Dickory Dock
Famous faces: Joely Richardson starred in 1989 episode The Dream (L), while Emily Blunt (R) played American heiress Linnet Ridgeway in Death On The Nile in 2004
In the shade: Emily Blunt would go to international acclaim in The Devil Wears Prada following her appearance in Death on the Nile in 2004
Michael Fassbender would also cut his teeth on the show, making a guest appearance in 2006 episode After The Funeral – five-years before he achieved wider acclaim for his portrayal of Bobby Sands in Steve McQueen’s Hunger.
In what amounted to one of her first TV appearances, Joely Richardson starred in 1989 episode The Dream when she was 24.
The actress would go on to take prominent roles in Lady Chatterley’s Lover and American drama Nip-Tuck.
We've seen you before: Christopher Eccleston (L) appeared in 1992 episode One, Two, Buckle My Show, while Michael Fassbender was an unknown actor when he appeared in 2006 episode After The Funeral (R)
Anyone seen the Tardis? Current Doctor Who Peter Capaldi starred in 1991 episode Wasps Nest
More recently Emily Blunt guested as heiress Linnet Ridgeway in 2004s Death On The Nile, but while her character was killed off the British star would enjoy wider acclaim in The Devil Wears Prada.
While Suchet doesn’t want the show’s legacy to be overshadowed by its famous cameos, he remains fiercely proud to have witnessed their early development.
‘I feel so privileged to have been involved at the chrysalis stage of their careers,’ he said. ‘It’s absolutely fantastic.’
Signing off: Poirot bids farewell after 24-years next month
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2478821/David-Suchet-looks-stars-launched-careers-Poirot.html#ixzz2j7IAIsKT
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