Life After Trainspotting

Known for his breakthrough role as heroin addict Spud, Ewen Bremner has starred in everything from indie cult classics to blockbuster epics

- DANIELLA THEIS

T has been nearly 30 years since a cult Scottish classic first launched Scottish actor Ewen Bremner to the big screen.

Trainspotting, released in February 1996 and based on the 1993 novel of the same name by Scots author Irvine Welsh, went far beyond just achieving extreme success at the time of its release. It has remained one of the most popular Scottish movies of all time – both within the country and beyond. Ewen played heroin addict Spud, close friend of the movie's protagonist Renton, played by Ewan McGregor. Many of those involved in production have met again on and off screen - including for the 2017 movie sequel, T2 Trainspotting.

"Over time, there are people you maintain a close connection with and people that you work with, miraculously, again and again," Ewen says. "I've worked with Ewan McGregor, I have just worked with Ridley Scott on the fourth production I've done with him as a director, and I've worked with Danny Boyle a few times.

"We have that sort of professional relationship," he adds. "Actors from Trainspotting, we don't hesitate to message each other, reach out to each other or meet up somewhere if we are in the same space.

"In this world, however, as an actor, you are hardly ever in the same space."

Although playing Spud is what first launched Ewen into the spotlight, it was not his first role.

Prior to Trainspotting, he was already involved in TV and theatre. Since then, he has been in movies including Snatch, Wonder Woman and Black Hawk Down, as well as several productions for TV.

Coldwater is his latest project - a new six-part TV series commissioned by ITV and released in September.