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Site established July 2003
This site is not endorsed by Hans Matheson or any person or organisation connected to Hans.
It's just a fansite. All information on this site has been gathered from resources in the public domain
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Biography
Hans Matheson was born in a caravan on 7th August 1975 at Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Shortly after, his family moved to Canterbury, Kent in England but Hans often spent his summer holidays on Stornaway with his grandparents, As a child, his parents Iain (Ado) and Sheena often took him and his younger brother to folk festivals and Bob Dylan concerts. His father Ado is a musician and his grandfather was a Gaelic Singer and Songwriter before him performing at concerts and ceilidhs throughout Scotland. His great-grandfather was crowned the Celtic Bard in recognition of his writing in the 50's.Hans claims to have been a shy and introverted child who was not happy at school. He left school and, at the suggestion of his mother, auditioned for drama school; Avondale Hall in Clapham. At the suggestion of his teacher and mentor, he auditioned for a Jez Butterworth TV show called Christmas and this led to a role in Mojo on stage at the Royal Court Theatre and later in the film version of the same name. Roles in TV shows Bramwell, Wycliffe and Family Money followed and films Stella Does Tricks, Still Crazy and Bodywork.
His first break on the international arena came with the his casting as Marius in Bille August's production of the Victor Hugo classic Les Miserables. He then starred in the European films "Canone Inverso"and "I Am Dina" and the television mini-series "The Mists of Avalon".
His major role to date has undoubtedly been the lead role as Yury Zhivago in the 2002 Granada Television adaptation of "Doctor Zhivago"the famous Russian novel by Boris Pasternak, where he co-starred with Keira Knightley and Sam Neill.
Hans is not only a talented actor but plays guitar, violin and harmonica and writes his own songs. He prefers the simple things in life to pursuing fame and fortune. He takes his guitar with him everywhere and prefers to travel by train rather than by air, even if the trip takes days rather than hours.
Articles
"Ones to Watch", Sunday Times,London December 29,2002"You Need Hans to Be A TV Pin Up", Glasgow Evening Times,December 7,2002
"There's Nothing Wrong With Sex on TV",Now Magazine,November 27,2002.
"Risking Everything" The Scotsman Online,November 16,2002.
"An Improbable Zhivago", Sunday Times, November 3,2002
" Hans Matheson Wants to be Invisible",Glasgow Herald, November 2, 2002
"ITV Picks Newcomer for Zhivago Role",The Guardian, January 9,2002.
" Newcomers To Star in Zhivago Remake",Guardian Online, January 10,2002
"Hans Matheson Has 10 Minutes to Seduce US", Company Magazine, 2000
"Hans Matheson - appearing in Still Crazy" Neon Maagazine, November, 1998
" Ripe Old Rockers are Not Just Strange Fruit",This Is Buckinghamshire,Oct 31,1998
" You Need Hans", The Face, July 1998
According to Hans
The Zhivago Poems by Boris Pasternakas mentioned by Hans in the Zhivago DVD interviews
Parting
Winter's Night
"His poetry just inspired me beyond belief. There's two poems that just break my heart.....Oh my God, I know exactly what you mean.. and you feel it."
Hans in the DVD Interview