Stephen Fry's precise delivery makes elaborate language sound sociable. We value him most in company, where another actor can answer back, though the supporting parts and voice work can give him too little to do.
Fi1m perspective
In Peter's Friends (1992), Stephen Fry delivers a line with the ease of someone who expects his friends to keep up. We relaxed when he spoke: his unforced delivery helped Kenneth Branagh's reunion comedy feel like a gathering worth joining. The writing sometimes works too hard to explain everybody, but Fry gives us a reason to listen before it starts explaining. His Peter Morton is welcome company without seeming to be auditioning for our affection.
The television work had already established how much he could do with a partner. Hugh Laurie was his counterpart in A Bit of Fry & Laurie (1989–1995) and Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993). Fry's precise timing and relish for formal speech suited both the sketch partnership and the dry wit of Jeeves. The move into substantial film roles came with Peter's Friends, followed by the title role in Wilde (1997). That part matters when considering how often he has since been asked to contribute a voice or a supporting appearance rather than carry a film.
In Peter's Friends, Emma Thompson is the stronger reason to stay. She makes Maggie Chester's awkwardness look exhausting to live with, while Fry's ease alongside her makes it easier to believe these people enjoy being together. He does not have to compete with her to be useful. Branagh's pleasure in the ensemble is justified by performances like these, with Imelda Staunton also helping to make the familiar setup worth an evening. Fry's contribution is modest enough that it could be overlooked, but a reunion comedy needs someone who makes conversation seem a pleasure.
The later work has often put him in supporting parts, as in V for Vendetta (2006), or behind a microphone. The clear voice and recognisable manner make sense in those jobs, though a brief appearance need not ask much of either. We would welcome more parts that require him to sustain our interest beyond the pleasure of recognising him. Start with Peter's Friends for the company, accepting that the script will explain rather more than it needs to. Turn to Wilde to see him given the responsibility of a lead.
Biography
Stephen Fry is an English actor, comedian and writer. He first came to attention as a member of the Cambridge Footlights, appearing in the 1981 revue The Cellar Tapes alongside Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Tony Slattery.
Fry played Peter Morton in the 1992 film Peter's Friends. His other film roles include the title character in Wilde (1997), Dietrich in V for Vendetta (2006), the Master of Lake-town in the Hobbit films (2013–2014) and Mycroft Holmes in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). On television he appeared as Lord Melchett in Blackadder and as the host of QI.
