On John.

There are actors who are described as a 'force of nature'; John Hurt was something else altogether, a force of naturalism. Oh he could have style and showmanship in his performances; his scene-stealing turn as an uncouth bounty hunter in 'The Proposition', the high-octane and violent portrayal of Caligula in 'I, Claudius' and above all, the unique persona of Quentin Crisp, were all beautiful and marvellous examples of an actor making an impact through a blend of fun and insightful character creation.

But above all, Hurt was a master of creating affinity with the common man, often in a compromised position. Never was there a performance he gave that felt anything less than lived-in; Winston Smith's character arc in '1984' is so intimately drawn that even now, that alternate reality feels so very real. He made compelling character studies of specific types of characters: hitmen which he gave a most strange and unique brand of heart and soul ('The Hit'), scandalous playboys with a soft spot for helping out the unfortunate ('Scandal'), drug-addled prisoners (his Oscar-nominated turn in 'Midnight Express'), and managed to make the historically vilified figure of Richard Rich in 'A Man For All Seasons' such a multidimensional figure, far from just a straw man.

Most memorable of course were his two greatest performances, his supporting turn as the unfortunate Timothy Evans in '10 Rillington Place' and the deformed but soulful John Merrick, otherwise known as 'The Elephant Man'. Both characters suffer maltreatment from society, and Hurt paints such vividly realized portraits of an innocent man plagued by survivor's guilt and the loss of all he knows and loves; and a man who has known nothing but hate and scorn, gradually awoken to the kindness and love of a select few. As Merrick he acted under layers of heavy makeup, but not once did you lose a sense of the human element within; often acting with just his eyes and voice, it's the pinnacle of acting minimalism, but oh what a performance it is. It's a shame he hasn't gotten many hefty substantial roles of that level since; yet as his excellent recent turn as an unintentional priest in 'Jackie' showed, he's continued to deliver stellar work throughout the years.

The man was a consummate, charismatic individual, and it's truly sad to see perhaps the greatest British actor of our time finally depart. RIP John Hurt; your work will never be forgotten.