Always the Bad Guy

by Shane Briant

  Kenchington and Melissa Brooks even went as far as to create websites in my honour!

  Slowly but surely I made a great many friends – people from all over the world that'd seen my films. I got messages from a girl named Anna in Tver in Russia, Suki in Tokyo, Trevor in Manchester, Lavinia in Budapest – you name it. Allone of them were very genuine people and wished me well.

  I make a habit of replying to everyone who writes to me or contacts me on the Internet. One day it may not be possible because my profile may be too huge. That's the time to hire assistants. I'm dreaming, of course.

  One person who contacted me is my good friend Robert Kenchington. Once a journalist, often a composer and sometime conductor, he had been running his Internet CD business for years, and had always loved Hammer films. I just happened to be one of his favourite Hammer actors. He told me he'd written some gothic horror short stories and I offered to read them and let him know my thoughts. I was delighted (and relieved) to discover that they were very well written, and I told him so. He's told me since, that without this kind of encouragement at the time he contacted me, he might not have continued writing.

  Recently I was guest of honour at the Bram Stoker Film Festival, wonderfully organized by Mike McCarthy. Marcus Hearn and Nick Ransom represented Hammer Films—now once more a force in films with the release of 'Let Me In.'

  In the auditorium there was an amazing exhibition of all things Hammer, from life-sized models of Sir Christopher Lee and reproduction heads of 'The Monster From Hell,' to production designs and scripts.

  I sat at a table next to Hammer film lovelies Caroline Munro, Martine Beswicke and Vera Day, and signed photographs for hours on end – I had no idea Hammer had this cult following.

  With Martine Beswick at the Vampire's Ball. Where else?

  The 'Vampire's Ball' took place on the last Saturday. Everyone came dressed in extraordinary costumes dripping with blood and gore. It was a great event – I recommend it to all Stoker/Vampire/Monster aficionados. McCarthy is onto a winner here.

  With Sharon Ankin and baby Leo Hearn in Whitby

  Photos are 40 years apart. Reality bites.

  Since meeting Robert Kenchington in person we've had a great time making short amusing videos for YouTube. Just for the fun of it. His original idea was to make a series of short 'whatever happened to him' videos about the various Hammer characters I played, so we made 'Straight on Till Midnight,' 'After Frankenstein,' then followed these with 'Beyond Dorian,' and a short film about Bram Stoker for Mike McCarthy called 'Bram Stoker, Vampire Master.' They can all be seen on YouTube.

  Robert became my self-appointed biographer and published several picture books based on my films; 'Shane Briant, A Talent for Terror,' and 'The Hammer Years.' I recommend his book of short stories called 'The Chamber of Screams;' it's very chilling.

  At the end of my week in beautiful Whitby I returned to Australia and opened my mail to find my book royalty checks from Curtis Brown – a life saver! Then I began editing the sequel to 'Worst Nightmares,' an even darker novel called 'The Dreamhealer.'

  To promote the new novel I made a series of dark and disturbing videos. A close friend, who wishes to remain nameless, very kindly offered to be the face of the 'Dreamhealer,' and a scarier performance you will not find anywhere – Anthony Hopkins, maybe?

  What now?

  MORE OF THE SAME!

  Why would any actor retire? Sometimes they are retired because people are sick and tired of the same performance. But if you're any good at all, and have kept learning throughout your career, then you'll feel, as I do, that the best is still to come, provided writers come up with those great roles for 'the mature actor.'

  There are so many roles I'm dying to play. Some classic, some modern – maybe even a return to Hammer? Surely someone has to step into the breach now that my great friend Peter Cushing is dead, and Sir Christopher Lee is now quite old, possibly preferring a supporting role rather than the lead? Why not someone to fill the gap that Vincent Price left when he passed away? This year I returned to London to lay down a commentary with Maddy Smith on a re-release of the new DVD of 'Frankie and the Monster from Hell.' It was the best fun. Nic Ransome set it all up and Marcus Hearn was the M.C. In October 2011 I return to London for a reunion of the cast of 'Frankie.' I look forward to it greatly.

  As well as making contact with people who remember me as an actor, I hear from my thriller readers from all over the world.

  Last year I had a huge thrill when 'Worst Nightmares' was published as a translation in German across Europe – Traum

  Mörder.'

  As I write these final lines, I think back to the day I started to write this book. Who's going to read it, I asked Robert? Sure, I'd made a number of films, yet I wasn't exactly a household name. Then I'd heard that until Oprah brought Sydney Poitier's autobiography, 'The Measure of a Man,' to the attention of the American public, it wasn't selling as well as one might have expected bearing in mind Poitier's huge profile as a legendary actor. So I knew my book would have to stand on its own merits simply as a 'good read.' Subsequent to it's promotion on Oprah, 'The Measure of a Man,' has sold millions. (If you know Oprah please tell her I've been trying to reach her – at present unsuccessfully.)

  I never thought I'd remember even half of my stories. Of course I shed many tears as I wrote about friends and colleagues that have passed away; Michael Latimer, Ralphie Bates, Nick Clay, Paul Newman, Jack Palance, Roger Mirams, Stanley Walsh, Megan Williams, Ulli Lothmans, and very recently Jon Blake.

  It's been a wonderful ride so far, and beside me always has been my lovely Wendy. Who could ask for anything more?

  Well, I believe the best is still to come. It's just around the corner and will happen when I least expect it. I may not have won any major awards, but maybe I'm one of those actors who people see and say...

  'Look, it's him. That guy. The bad guy. What's his name? Remember? He was that heartless cruel man in…you know…that film!'

  'You mean the bad guy?'

  'Yeah! Him. Always the bad guy!'

  My wonderful agent Adza Vincent

  Horst Jansen kills the vampire!

  German translation.

  The Dreamhealer of 'Worst Nightmares' and 'The Dreamhealer.'

  Spanish 'Straight on Till Morning.'

  My mother when she was at her happiest.

  Our dear friend Geoffrey Simpson. A magnificent Director of Photography.

  Screen writer, bon viveur and snooker enthusiast Jimmy Sangster.