‘Elsinore’ Star Andrew Scott on Why Movies Should Still Tackle the AIDS Crisis: ‘The Shame Lies With the Governments Who Ignored’ It

Rolling off the celebrated European premiere of “Elsinore” on opening night of the London Film Festival, Andrew Scott emphasized why movies should still tackle the AIDS crisis, even as a new wave of LGBTQ films and series are tapping into lighter themes.

“I welcome things like ‘Heartstopper’ and ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’ and all those things that are joyful. I really, really, really do,” said Scott. “And I think the fact that there’s lots of different types of gay drama, so to speak, in film and television is extraordinary.”

But Scott expressed concern over a perceived reluctance to revisit darker chapters of LGBTQ history. “It troubles me a little bit because I think it speaks about people who perhaps don’t want to go back to a time when you’re talking about the AIDS crisis or you’re talking about when it was incredibly difficult for gay people,” said Scott. “And I think that sometimes comes from a place of shame. I don’t want to see that anymore (…) because the shame does not lie with the gay people.,” Scott said.

“The shame lies with the governments who ignored the AIDS crisis and the stigma that was around people and the innate prejudice that was in society. So that’s someone else’s shame,” he continued.

Directed by Simon Stone from a script by Stephen Beresford, “Elsinore” stars Scott as famed Scottish actor and “Chariots of Fire” star Ian Charleson. In 1989, while already succumbing to complications from AIDS, Charleson replaced Daniel Day-Lewis in “Hamlet” at London’s National Theatre after the actor had walked off stage mid-performance, never to return to the production. Charleson received rave reviews, but died just seven weeks after bowing out.

Last night, following the premiere, Scott came on stage and called up the real-life individuals portrayed in the film alongside the actors playing them, including the National Theatre’s stage doorkeeper for 46 years, Linda Tolhurst (played by Monica Dolan), its long-serving dresser Ralph Mills (Paul Chahidi), and director and Charleson’s close friend Sean Mathias (Matthew Beard). He also brought on stage the pioneering HIV/AIDS consultant Dr. Margaret Johnson (Olivia Colman), who drew a standing ovation.

“It’s difficult to underestimate the impact this person had on the development of treatment for people suffering with HIV and AIDS,” said Scott. “To our mind, she is a true life hero.”

“Elsinore,” which is backed by Studiocanal, world premiered at Telluride to stellar reviews and expected to turn up in the Awards Season.