Surely many remember the inimitable Arthur Hastings from the TV series "Poirot", which was a huge success with viewers around the world and ran for almost fifteen years: from 1989 to 2013. During this time, thirteen seasons of the project were released, which included 70 episodes! So, Arthur Hastings in this series was played by Hugh Fraser.
Biography
The actor was born in 1950 in London. All his childhood was spent in the Midlands, and by the age of eighteen Hugh returned to London because he had a dream - he wanted to become an actor.
For a while, the London Academy of Dramatic Art and Music became his home, where he easily entered. As a student, he began to play cameo roles in films, starred on television. And after graduating from the academy, he was taken to the theater troupe on a permanent basis.
However, the young actor was more and more attracted by music, and he left the theater to play and sing in a rock band. Hugh then lived in a poor area - Notting Hill, and they played mainly in Soho clubs, which also can not be called too decent. It was a fun time, but it didn't bring Hugh closer to his dream of becoming an actor, and he left the group.
Film career
The future actor began going to auditions, auditioning for various roles, and in 1983 he was hired to play the role of a nobleman in the film "Draftsman's Contract" directed by Peter Greenaway.
The film caused a lot of controversy between fans and opponents of the director due to its peculiar manner of presenting the material. And Fraser was noticed by other directors - he, with his purely English image, blended into the picture just perfect.
For five years, Hugh played small roles in films and TV shows, but hoped for something bigger because he felt his potential. And everyone was waiting for interesting work.
When he heard that one of the TV channels was planning to shoot a big series, he applied for auditions, completely not understanding what he would have to get involved in and what role he could get. The result was a ten-episode contract for Poirot.
Soon, viewers saw next to the famous detective his devoted assistant - a former military man with an excellent bearing, but slightly confused and very amorous. Fraser did an excellent job of the role, and it is largely thanks to him that the series is so "alive". His Arthur Hastings is charming, moderately serious and very devoted to his boss. He is not a great detective and often misses important details, but due to his honesty and diligence, he is often irreplaceable.
Later Fraser had to act in parallel in the equally popular film "Sharpe's Company". Here he played the Duke of Wellington, and Sharpe was played by Sean Bean, whom no one knew about then. This work was also lengthy - Hugh starred in every episode of the film until 2006. Moreover, along with Poirot, this multi-part film is considered the best in the actor's portfolio.
Fraser - writer
In addition to acting and singing, Fraser was fascinated by his writing work - he has already written several parts of a detective thriller about a girl Ruth Walker, who lives in Notting Hill in the family of a gangster and an alcoholic and is forced from childhood to support and take care of her two younger brothers and sisters. As a result, she is forced to become a hitman.
Fraser himself is a raging reader. He absorbs all the books that seem interesting to him, and considers his "writing" to be reading just for fun.
Personal life
The actor's wife was his colleague Belinda Lange, they have a daughter. Fraser and his family now live in their home in Woodbridge, and he adores the place. He says it has the best walks, the best fishing, a great fish restaurant and lovely, friendly people.
