Actor David Tennant has featured in a wide range of film and TV shows since he kicked off his acting career at the young age of 16. Over the years, people have seen the 53-year-old in the likes of Harry Potter, Broadchurch, Good Omen and Doctor Who. Although he may be a part of many people’s favourite films and shows, what does the Scottish star enjoy to watch himself? While speaking to Letterboxd, David revealed his top four films and why he enjoys them.
He began: “12 Angry Men, the performances are extraordinary. I mean, it’s a play, really. It’s very simple. The twists and the turns, and really, everything’s happening off-screen. Yet, it’s such a taut, brilliant bit of storytelling and filmmaking. I mean, it’s a bit white and male, which is – it feels a little bit old-fashioned now, but that is part of the story.”
Another cinema classic David mentioned in his top four films was the festive favourite It’s a Wonderful Life and the blockbuster movie Star Wars. He added: “Probably something by (Alfred) Hitchcock, probably, I mean Psycho, but it’s really only the first third of Psycho that anyone really wants, isn’t it?”
In the end, David retracted his Hitchcock choice and opted for a 1960s crime thriller, Marnie. The actor revealed he used to watch the classic films when he was younger during the festive period. David explained: “The BBC used to do a thing over the Christmas holidays where they would put sort of classic films on late at night.
“I stayed up late every night and watched those late-night movies and had a sort of education over the sort of two weeks of the Christmas holidays.”
However, as they spoke to him ahead of hosting the BAFTAs in 2024, David confessed he should remain neutral, not having favourites or expressing a preference in any way.
More recently, people saw David take on the role of Tony Baddingham in the Disney+ show Rivals. Set in the 1980s, the eight-part series is based on the Jilly Cooper novel of the same name.
The show follows the long standing rivalry between David’s character Tony and Rupert Campbell-Black (played by Alex Hassell). At the end of last year, it was confirmed a second series had been commissioned.
Dame Jilly Cooper, Executive Producer and Rivals author, commented: “Nearly 40 years after my novel Rivals was published, I’ve adored seeing the world fall in love with my beloved characters – Rutshire’s Finest. And it has been a fairytale come true working with Happy Prince and Disney+ on the first season.
“I’m orgasmic with excitement and cannot wait for the return of my superhero Rupert Campbell-Black and the rest of the characters in season two!”
Rivals is available to stream on Disney+