/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
City News

The List: 10 things Les Misérables star Colm Wilkinson can’t live without

By Toronto Life
Copy link
The List: Jean Valjean

Everyone’s favourite Jean Valjean stars (as the Bishop this time) in the new Les Misérables movie, and is currently touring a solo show. Here, the 10 things he can’t live without

The List: Jean Valjean
The List: Jean Valjean

1 | My awards I’m really chuffed to have two Doras—one for Phantom and one for Les Miz. And I love the award statue. It’s so beautifully done. Maybe I should keep them out and use them as doorstops. That’s what Gambon does with his awards.

2 | My guitar repair kit My son Aaron, who’s a talented singer-songwriter, gave it to me to use when I’m on the road. It’s great for making quick adjustments onstage.

The List: Jean Valjean

3 | My notepad Jessica Tandy came to see Les Miz a few times, and I got to know her quite well. She gave me a beautiful leather notebook as a gift.

4 | My favourite guitar When I was leaving the Broadway run of Les Miz in ’87, this was one of the gifts the cast gave me. It’s an Ovation Special Series, which is quite expensive. I was so taken by it. Contrary to popular belief, most actors aren’t paid a lot.

The List: Jean Valjean

5 | My candlesticks I bought these in Waterford, Ireland, because I thought the twisted wood was just beautiful, but candlesticks also have symbolic meaning for me. In Les Misérables, the Bishop hands candlesticks to Valjean as a sign of faith, and Valjean keeps them with him the whole time. Playing the Bishop now in the movie, I feel like I’m handing the baton to Hugh Jackman, who’s playing Valjean.

6 | My Hirschfelds

The List: Jean Valjean

I have two: one of me as Valjean, the other of me as the Phantom, which was a gift from Garth Drabinsky. It’s quite an honour to have Hirschfeld sketch you. I don’t know what they’re worth. I don’t bother finding out.

7 | My wall clock I like that it’s made by a company called Wilkinson. It was given to me by my friend John McColgan, the producer of Riverdance. It was hanging in his house in Ireland when my wife, Deirdre, and I were staying with him. I remarked on it, and then we went out for a walk. By the time we came back, it had been bubble wrapped and put in the trunk of our car!

The List: Jean Valjean

8 | My music stand It was a gift from the Phantom cast. I use it every day when I’m rehearsing. The cast and crew were all such incredible people.

9 | My swim gear I swim every day—it’s great, low-impact exercise (though my two boys tease me that “floating isn’t a swim stroke”). I’m fortunate enough to have a pool in my backyard that I use in the summer. In colder months I use the indoor pool around the corner at the Leaside community centre.

The List: Jean Valjean

10 | My countrymen My anthology of Irish literature is full of incredible authors: Beckett, Joyce, Shaw. Seamus Heaney, my favourite poet, is in here, as is William Butler Yeats, another of my favourites. Now and then I dip into it and just knock myself out.

(Images: Liam Mogan)

THIS CITY

Obsessive coverage of Toronto, straight to your inbox

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber
Deep Dives

Inside the rise and fall of the Vaulter Bandit, the 21st century’s most notorious bank robber

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.