Andrew Scott earns Oscar buzz for 'Elsinore' performance as Ian Charleson

Andrew Scott is receiving major praise for his performance in Elsinore, with critics suggesting the actor could be a serious contender for an Oscar for his portrayal of Scottish actor Ian Charleson.

The Simon Stone-directed biographical drama premiered at the London Film Festival this week, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Scott plays Charleson during the final months of his life, when the actor was secretly battling AIDS while preparing to play Hamlet at London’s National Theatre.

Charleson was best known for playing Eric Liddell in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire. In 1989, he took over the role of Hamlet from Daniel Day-Lewis at the National Theatre after Day-Lewis left the production. Charleson continued performing while privately dealing with his AIDS diagnosis and died in 1990, aged 40.

Scott’s performance has been met with widespread acclaim. The Standard described it as a “performance of a lifetime”, while The Guardian called Scott “astonishing” and praised the emotional weight of his portrayal.

The film explores Charleson’s determination to continue performing despite his declining health, while also depicting his relationships with friends, colleagues and Dr Margaret Johnson, played by Olivia Colman. The story is set against the AIDS crisis of the late 1980s, when the disease was devastating communities and carried significant stigma.

Scott also served as a producer on Elsinore, helping bring the project to the screen alongside screenwriter Stephen Beresford. The actor was particularly drawn to Charleson’s story, having previously worked with Beresford on Pride, another film centred on real events involving the LGBTQ+ community.

The growing awards attention marks another potential Oscar campaign for Scott after his acclaimed performance in All of Us Strangers, for which he was not nominated. Current coverage surrounding Elsinore has placed him firmly among the early contenders for this year’s Best Actor race.

Elsinore is screening at the London Film Festival, with the film scheduled to receive a wider UK release on January 29.