An intellectual, fluent in English, the funniest comedian in England, an impeccable actor, a talented director, a national heritage, a suicidal loser, the most cited writer of our time. No, these are not different people, as it might seem. All this can be said about one person - Stephen Fry.
Biography
Stephen Fry was born in Hampstead, London. His parents, Alan John Fry and Marianne Eva Fry, despite their high aristocratic background and good income, could not provide their son with a serene childhood. The family moved frequently; Stephen spent part of his childhood in the village, in Norfolk, on the family estate.
The boy did not differ in obedience, a difficult character, health problems and difficulties in communicating with people led to a large number of unpleasant incidents. He changed several schools, in each invariably entering into conflicts with students and school leaders. After stealing money and escaping from a private closed school, he was sent as punishment to his parents, but this did not help. A few months later, the young man was expelled. Without losing hope that their son will still receive a decent education, the parents decided to send him to Paston School. But the difficult teenager could not resist there either.
At the age of 17, rash acts led the rebellious teenager to prison, for three months of preliminary detention. After the trial, he received a two-year suspended sentence. This moment turned out to be a turning point in his life. The childish pranks were over, Stephen began a new life.
He continued his studies and was able to enter Queens College. Studying English literature, he became seriously interested in theater, taking an active part in amateur theatrical performances of the college. Within the walls of this educational institution, a fateful meeting took place - he met Hugh Laurie, who will become his stage partner's best friend for many years.
Film career
Fry's first major television success came with the revue of The Cellar Tapes, released in 1982. After receiving a prestigious film award, the revue drew attention to television companies, and Fry received an invitation to shoot in the TV series There's Nothing to Worry About !, which became incredibly popular. Three seasons of filming brought Fry and Laurie well-known as a comic duo.
After completing the filming of the series, Fry tried himself in various genres, not limited to comedy roles. In particular, he participates in a science fiction tape. He starred in several TV series, but his work did not have the previous success, some projects turned out to be simply a failure.
In 1987, The Fry and Laurie Show was released, which quickly became popular and returned the love and respect of the audience to the duo. The show was filmed for 8 years, cementing Fry and Laurie the fame of the best comedians in England.
Fry's successful career continued with the completion of The Fry & Laurie Show with the new comedy show Jeeves & Wooster. The actor amused and entertained the audience with constant success.
Dissatisfied with the audience's recognition of only the comedic side of his talent, Fry tried several times to appear in serious dramatic films. The film Wilde, based on the biography of Oscar Wilde, which was released in 1997, aroused the greatest interest of the audience. But Fry himself believed that in this film he simply played himself, his personal life experience largely coincides with the dramatic events of Wilde's life.
Fry's talent goes beyond television and cinema. Despite a busy shooting schedule, he manages to promote the correct English language, broadcasts on the radio about English, voices audio books, video games and cartoons.
Books
In 1992, the first novel written by Fry was published. The author included many events from his real life in the plot. This work was enthusiastically received not only by the public, but also by critics.
All of his subsequent books, without exception, became bestsellers. A beautiful style, acute social issues raised in his works, an unconventional view of various aspects of the development of society make readers look forward to Fry's new novels.
In addition to fiction, the author has also produced several essays, documentaries, scripts and plays.
Personal life
The traditional British upbringing and his own desires and aspirations caused a sharp internal conflict among the actor. Difficulties in perceiving one's own homosexuality in adolescence, an acute feeling of loneliness in a more mature age led to several suicidal attempts, fortunately unsuccessful.
The first youthful hobby in college ended for the young man with an extremely difficult breakup. Not wanting to relive the painful sensations again, Fry avoided love relationships for a long time.
Meeting with a person close to him in spirit, Daniel Cohen, led to a long, happy romance. The couple have been together for 15 years.
The second significant romance with the aspiring actor Elliot Spencer not only filled Fry's life with warm feelings, but also helped to start a new life. In 2018, the couple formalized the relationship.
Fry is actively involved in the social life of society, promoting anti-religious views. Considering that any religion negatively affects the harmonious development of society, Fry strongly opposes the interference of the Catholic Church in teaching children and young men.
Advocates for sexual minorities, combats manifestations of homophobia. To achieve his goal, he often meets with politicians and public figures, communicates with his readers using social networks.
Another area of Fry's social activities is ecology. Since 2016, he has been involved in the filming of a documentary series about the nature of Central America. Fry demonstrates not only breathtaking views, but also talks about rare animals and the importance of preserving endangered populations.
