October 21st 2024.
As I sat down to watch the highly anticipated TV adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper's steamy novel Rivals, I was not expecting to have any sort of revelation. But that's exactly what happened, and it had nothing to do with the infamous sex scenes that had been making headlines.
No, my attention was completely captured by the mesmerizing performance of Danny Dyer. I must admit, Danny had somehow slipped under my radar as an actor. I knew him from his tough guy roles in films like Human Traffic and The Football Factory, and of course his role as Mick Carter on EastEnders. But I had never really given him much thought beyond being a "sweary hardman" with limited range.
Well, let me tell you, I was proven wrong. In Rivals, Danny completely stole the show. And that's no easy feat when you're acting alongside heavyweights like David Tennant and Aidan Turner. Playing the role of sensitive entrepreneur Freddie Jones, Danny's performance was subtle yet powerful. He portrayed the longing and inner turmoil of his character with such grace and depth that it left me in awe. He truly made my heart burst – and I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one.
Despite the star-studded cast and the steamy scenes (including a completely naked game of tennis), it was Danny's chemistry with co-star Lisa McGrillis, who plays Lizzie Vereker, that had everyone talking. On social media, the top tweets about Rivals were not about the nudity, but about the undeniable chemistry between Freddie and Lizzie. It was clear that Danny's performance had touched the hearts of many.
It's a shame that I – and I'm sure many others – had such a one-dimensional view of Danny as an actor. Partly because he has always been overshadowed by his larger-than-life personality. To some, he's known as the dad of Love Island's Dani Dyer, and to others, he's the guy who once called former Prime Minister David Cameron a "t**t" on live TV. And let's not forget his BBC docuseries Right Royal Family, where he discovered that he's actually a descendant of King Edward III.
But Danny is a rare gem who can be both: an unfiltered national treasure and one of Britain's most formidable actors. And in recent years, he may have struggled to be taken seriously as an actor after his long stint in EastEnders. There's a certain snobbery towards soap actors, as if they're not on the same level as TV or movie stars. But as we've seen with names like Sarah Lancashire, Michelle Keegan, and Anna Friel, soap actors have often proven themselves to be some of the most talented in the industry.
I hope Rivals serves as a reminder to casting directors that Danny is more than just a "geezer". At the age of 47, he has finally been given the chance to showcase his true talent as one of Britain's greatest actors. And according to IMDb, he has four more projects in the works, so hopefully we won't have to wait long to see him in another role that truly does him justice.
In a time where there is often a lack of recognition for soap actors, it's refreshing to see Danny's talent being acknowledged and celebrated. Let's give credit where credit is due and praise actors for their versatility and skill in jumping between different mediums. And Danny Dyer is a prime example of just that.
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