QUANTUM OF ANATOLE - A study of actor Anatole Taubman

The new James Bond film sees 36 year old actor Anatole Taubman play an important supporting role. He will play James’ antagonist alongside villain Mathieu Amalric. Anatole has already celebrated international successes, including starring in Hollywood thriller Taken (with Liam Neeson) and US TV series The Tudors. The Swiss-born father of two has lived in Berlin with his partner or several years. He was “slightly” late for the shoot, but won us over by falling to his knees on the pavement in front of the studio. What a charmer!

How did you end up getting the role in the latest Bond film?
I went to an audition just like all the other actors, the first was in mid October, the second at the end of October in London. The offer was made in mid November, but I had to remain quiet until the contract was signed at the beginning of December, then it was official. We are already shooting, filming started on 3 January, my first day was on the 7. I am on a break at the moment and will fly out to South America next week to resume shooting. Anatole helps himself to the Whiskey bottle prop. The set decorator would not be amused. But us BOOKLET peeps could not be more pleased, after all, the shoot has already been completed and everyone is satisfied, so the after work session can begin!

Where are you filming this time?
Panama and Chile. We were lucky, as a few days after our interview he flew out to a seven week shoot in South America, or, to be precise, the middle of nowhere in Panama … he ensures us that it is difficult to contact him whilst he is away.

Why should one know you?
I work often and regularly in Switzerland, France and England, and I have a lot of good and lovely people that take care of me. People – a euphemism for good agencies, networkers, professionals and ‘star-makers’.

The agency that represents you, United Artists, in England, also represents Sienna Miller, Kate Winslet, Ewan McGregor, Keira Knightley, Jason Donovan, Patsy Kensit, Toni Collette, ... How did you end up there?
I was very lucky. In 1999, I was cast outside of Germany, and played the second leading German role in a four part English TV production. One day, the producer said to me, ‘why don’t you meet up with the main casting lady; Sarah Bird?’. I met up with her, we spent an hour chatting away and a week later she gave me a call on the production mobile, and asked if I would like to have an English agent. She arranged the meeting for me and that is how I ended up at my agency. Happiness!

Anatole\'s thoughts on Manchester United, director Marc Foster, East Berlin, his model career, .... all in BOOKLET #8.