Gary Lewis (Photo: Screenshot from Billy Elliot Trailer)
Who remembers the movie Billy Elliot?
It’s only one of the greatest, most charming, heartwarming films ever made. I HIGHLY recommend it. “Gary Lewis” plays the small-town coal-miner father, who struggles with the stereotype of his boy being a ballet dancer. I absolutely love him in this movie.
Here’s the trailer (look for Gary at minute marker 1:00):
You probably remember Gary from Gangs of New York (starring Daniel Day Lewis), where he played McGloin, but he has been in many other quality productions, including First Light where he costarred with our own Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser)!
Great choices @Outlander_Starz in Gary and Graham. Both super strong actors! So happy to work with Gary again. #legendsOfScottishActing
— Sam Heughan (@Heughan) September 4, 2013
Gary is perfect for the role of Colum—I’m kicking myself for not thinking of it myself! He pulls off stoic very well, physically, he’s 5’6″ and will have no problem appearing ‘short’ next to Graham McTavish’s Dougal, who is 6’2″.
Speaking of Dougal…
Graham McTavish (Photo: imdb.com)
Yes, he recently played a dwarf in the The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but guess what? He’s 6’2″ and verra muscular.
His name is Graham Mctavish, from Scotland (don’t you just love that there are two Outlander connections in his name—Mrs Graham & Jamie McTavish, lol). He can be quite explosive as an actor, a verra good quality to have if you’re going to portray Dougal MacKenzie, War Chieftain.
Watch Graham discuss his character Dwalin in this brief clip (minute marker 0:48):
“He’s an absolute kick-ass warrior. Although there’s others that have experience at fighting, he’s a professional soldier. And so he has a different approach to it…Dwalin is the strong lieutenant who would do anything, never question his leader, Thorin. We are related, but it is as if we are brothers.” ~ Graham McTavish
outlanderfan.com 
Betty said,
September 5, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Im glad he is playing the part of Dougal/ He is one great actor
OutlanderFan said,
September 5, 2013 at 6:53 pm
It’s going to be so fun to watch! I can’t wait!
Alix said,
September 6, 2013 at 1:29 am
JUST PLAIN CAN’T WAIT!!!!!
Warm regards, Alix http://odetothelens.redbubble.com “Cruelty depends on an understanding of cruelty, and the ability to choose against it.” Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals
Find me at about.me/odetothelens
Dinna Fash, There’s the Two of Them Now… | outlanderfan said,
September 24, 2013 at 8:54 am
[…] produced Colum & Dougal, Sept 10th gave us […]
Lynn Newton said,
October 26, 2013 at 5:58 pm
I have read these “first edition” hardcovers so many times they are falling apart. Can’t stay away from them. Come on Spring! I just wish they would release the book now. Can’t wait to see Dougal.
Emily Kettner said,
July 8, 2014 at 3:43 pm
I can’t watch Outlander without Gerard Butler at least playing Dougal McKenzie. He’s Perfect, even for the much coveted role as Jamie. He IS Scottish. Why, why why not?
OutlanderFan said,
July 8, 2014 at 4:06 pm
GB is who I imagined for Dougal while reading too…😊
Emily Kettner said,
July 8, 2014 at 4:17 pm
Emily here again No comments? As for the guy who is to play Jamie, he has no fire, passion, maybe kinda’ good looking, but other than that just looks blah! I was really looking forward to the series, but now am really so turned off, by all the casting, again, will not watch Outlander! Is the guy to play Jamie even Scottish or is he just trying to sound Scottish. I am a sept of the clan MacGregor
and having traveled to Scotland know how the Scots speak. How could such a travesty be allowed by the author? Mystifyed,, disappointed , and disgusted. And, you know, even the book Outlander was hard to follow and really not very well done!
Emily Kettner said,
July 8, 2014 at 10:47 pm
Emily here again. I thought Jamie was supposed to be older and wiser, who better than GB? I saw the scenes with GB as Jamie, he looked great! And, wow does he have the fire and passion needed for Jamie.
Emily Kettner said,
July 9, 2014 at 9:48 am
I think I saw Billy Elliot. But I would like to comment on the casting of Tobias Menzies. He gets two parts in Outlander. He was a cowardly idiot in Rome, an incompetent guy in Game of Thrones. How did this guy get into Outlander? He is cast as Clair’s husband and Black Jack something or other. I just don’t get it!
OutlanderFan said,
July 9, 2014 at 3:28 pm
Oh he is very convincing as BJR. Have you seen any recent promos?
Emily Kettner said,
July 9, 2014 at 4:37 pm
I just have never liked Tobias Menzies, in Rome as a cowardly Brutus and an equally incompetent man in Game of Thrones. Maybe he is convincing as BJR, but just don’t like to look at him. His pinched little face looks like a ferret, with beady little eyes. He just looks like a coward. I know I sound I harsh, but I’m old enough to have learned to speak my mind, and let others deal with it. As I have said before, Outlander is so poorly cast, it’s just dead to me. As I have said I’m a Sept of the MacGregor clan and our motto is “Our Race is Royal” being related to the McAlpin Clan, the first royal clan of Scotland. Did you know the meaning of the thistle on every Outlander site? I’ll let you know if you don’t. (I learned about it while in Scotland.) I love Scotland. Got to go to /Edininburgh Castle, the Sterling Castle and climbed the 406 steps of the William Wallace monument, and watched the Highland Games in Glasgow, with pipers from all over the world. So maybe you can understand how impassioned about the treatment of Outlander (Scots do love to talk)
OutlanderFan said,
July 9, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Have you seen this Emily?
http://blackjackrand.tumblr.com/post/91028888511/captain-black
Emily Kettner said,
July 9, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Emily here again: sorry to sound so harsh, I’m really a nice person, with Quaker roots. I think it’s me Scottish Blood that’s beginnin’ ta’ get mo(Gaelic for me) a’riled! Beannacht (Blessings) to you. On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the gray window
and the ghost of loss
get in to you,
may a flock of colors,
indigo, red, green
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
in the curach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak to mind your life.
Taken from ANAM CARA a book of Celtic Wisdom
OutlanderFan said,
July 9, 2014 at 6:44 pm
Lol, I appreciate your comments, Emily. Everyone here is more than welcome to express their opinion. And thank you for the Celtic words, they’re lovely.
Emily Kettner said,
July 9, 2014 at 8:21 pm
Beannacht to you, always. So glad that you’re ok with my a bit laidir (Gaelic for strong) comments. Just a passionate/compassionate type. The thistle is the national symbol for Scotland. A legend is that some Scotsmen were sleeping high in the north, and some Viking type warriors, were creeping up on them, when one of them, who was barefoot, stepped on a thistle, and gave out a loud yelp, awakening the Scots and saving them from certain death. We’ve traveled a lot, not only in Scotland, but our first trip was to Norway, and went to see the Viking museum. The day light is long, and it seemed like about 4PM and it was actually 11PM. Italy was ok, the people are really not very polite, Athens was beautiful, Kyoto, the people were so polite, bowing all the time.
Emily Kettner said,
July 10, 2014 at 2:54 pm
Sorry, guess I kinda’ got off topic. Need to get back to Outlander
Emily Kettner said,
July 10, 2014 at 2:55 pm
PS And I promise to keep it short, Emily
OutlanderFan said,
July 10, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Ok lol
Emily Kettner said,
July 13, 2014 at 5:56 pm
Think I’ve expressed enough. Just have to sit back & see how it goes.
Emily Kettner said,
July 13, 2014 at 5:59 pm
PS (but I still thing Gerard Butler should play Dougal)