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Russell Tovey’s Documentary Life Is Excellent Fills In the Gaps on Queer Art History

[ Written on December 21 2023 by admin ]

When he was a teenager, Russell Tovey found himself terrified when he flipped on Queer as Folk and saw a scene involving what the Sex and The City girls might call “tushy lingus.” Now, as an adult, you’ll find few other actors as dedicated to exploring all aspects of the gay experience as Tovey. He’s co-starred in HBO’s Looking, the recent leather bar-themed iteration of American Horror Story, and next year he’ll play Truman Capote’s partner in the second season of Feud. On stage, he’s starred in The Laramie Project, the Royal National Theatre’s 2017 production of Angels in America, and, earlier this year, a live reinterpretation of Derek Jarman’s landmark film Blue. But Tovey knows his opportunities to take those roles as an openly gay actor can’t be taken for granted. “I feel such a responsibility to look back at who’s done the work so that I can stand here today and say that I’m gay,” he says. “I feel the utmost respect for the generations involved in activism and protests to earn our rights, get representation, and amplify and encourage more people to be free.”

Outside of his acting work, he’s taken up the cause by championing queer visual artists (mind you, he’s also a serious art collector and has co-hosted the podcast Talk Art with friend Robert Diament for the past five years) with a specific mission of highlighting artist we lost to AIDS. That’s all led to Life Is Excellent, the first full-length documentary produced by WeTransfer’s WePresent platform that follows Tovey as he retraces the life of British artist and poet David Robilliard who died at just 36 in 1988. Tovey talks to Robilliard’s surviving friends, lovers, and frenemies, visits his hangouts, and explores his work, while notables like Bimini Bon Boulash, Princess Julia, and Harry Trevaldwyn appear to recite Robilliard’s poetry.

The documentary is now streaming for free. Below, Tovey talks about why Robilliard’s story fascinated him, watching queer movies as a teen after his mother went to bed, and Andy Warhol’s nude photography.

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Russell Tovey Discusses His New Doc Life Is Excellent About Queer Artist David Robilliard

[ Written on December 07 2023 by admin ]

Entire Q&A with Russell Tovey, director of the new doc Life Is Excellent, about the late queer artist David Robilliard.

Russell Tovey’s Mission to Honor Artists of the AIDS Era

[ Written on December 01 2023 by admin ]

The out actor uses his art expertise to resurrect the work of lost creators.

HIV Plus Mag: TV viewers may know Russell Tovey as the handsome star of shows like Looking, Years and Years, and American Horror Story: NYC. What many don’t know about the British actor is that for the past two decades he’s been an avid art collector and advocate, with a passion for modern works. As the host of the podcast Talk Art, Tovey and his friend, gallerist Robert Diament, examine the creations of modern legends like Ryan Gander and Zawe Ashton. Tovey’s personal collection of modern art and his deep knowledge of the field has enabled him to curate galleries, festivals, and recently placed him on the jury of Britain’s acclaimed Turner Prize.

So, it’s fitting that file transfer company WeTransfer recently tapped Tovey as their guest curator for their arts endeavor, WePresent, handing Tovey the reins to three projects it bankrolled, all of which touch upon LGBTQ+ subjects and the effect that HIV and AIDS had on them.

The documentary, Life is Excellent, centers on the life and art of David Robilliard, a gay artist and poet who Tovey has long admired and someone who, at the age of 36, died from AIDS complications in 1988. In the film, Tovey calls Robilliard one of the “greatest artists you’ve probably never heard of” and his “hero.” Tovey makes it clear in the film that his goal is to ensure Robilliard’s contributions to the world are not erased by AIDS.

Life is Excellent is streamable on werepresent.wetransfer.com and was shown at a recent free art exhibit that Tovey also helped bring to life. “We Move In Circles” allowed the public to not only learn about Robilliard’s work, but also explored the role of protest T-shirts in the heady days of AIDS. Featuring shirts with designs from another artist lost to AIDS, Keith Haring, and tees emblazoned with messages from ACT UP, as well as British HIV groups like Never Going Underground, the exhibit demonstrates how T-shirts served as a “universal canvas for protest, and reminds visitors that narratives from the AIDS crisis are as present as ever as AIDS continues to affect so many around the world,” WePresent announced in a statement. Iconic pieces of gay literature were also present at “We Move in Circles,” which took place in the Shoreditch neighborhood of London. Earlier in 2023, Tovey and WePresent staged four live performances of Blue Now, a modern, live take on Derek Jarman’s 1993 film Blue. The film’s title derived from the gay filmmaker’s struggle with HIV-induced onset blindness, which only allowed him to see in shades of blue; Jarman died a year after the film was released.

Tovey expresses deep gratitude for WePresent’s contributions to reviving some of the greatest works from HIV-positive artists.

“This collaboration with WePresent underscores our shared commitment to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities,” Tovey said in a statement. “Through our year-long exploration, we’ve commemorated artists like Derek Jarman and David Robilliard, with the goal to ensure their significant contributions to culture can resonate with a new generation. I am thrilled that, together, we’re able to honor incredible queer art history and help bring it to new audiences around the world.”

(VIDEO) Life Is Excellent

[ Written on November 22 2023 by admin ]

Life is Excellent is a documentary film presented by British actor, Russell Tovey, as he embarks on a quest to bring to prominence his artist hero, David Robilliard who tragically died during the AIDS pandemic in 1988 aged just 36. During the film, Russell meets close friends, collaborators, and colleagues of David as he pieces together his life in order to tell the story of the man behind the canvas and witty poems and make sure he is never forgotten.

(VIDEO) Art & Conversation with Russell Tovey and Robi Walters @ Quantus Gallery

[ Written on November 17 2023 by admin ]

Watch Russell Tovey and Robi Walters discuss Robi’s latest show, ‘A Nation of Millions’ at Quantus Gallery.

‘Juice’ Trailer

[ Written on September 11 2023 by admin ]

Surreal comedy with Mawaan Rizwan and Russell Tovey, following Jamma (played by Mawaan) and his quest for attention as he navigates chaotic family dynamics and literally stumbles through love.

A conversation with Russell Tovey

[ Written on August 09 2023 by admin ]

“On Stage” host Frank DiLella chatted with screen and stage regular Russell Tovey to see how he’s bringing his love for the art world to the masses.

(Photos) 2023 BAFTA Television Awards

[ Written on May 20 2023 by admin ]

Hello Russell fans! I’ve added some photos of Russell attending the 2023 BAFTA Television Awards on May 14. Check out!


(Photos) “Talk Art: The Interviews” By Russell Tovey & Robert Diament – Book Launch

[ Written on May 12 2023 by admin ]

Hello Russell fans! I’ve added some photos of Russell attending the “Talk Art: The Interviews” By Russell Tovey & Robert Diament – Book Launch on May 11. Check out!

(Photos) ‘A Little Life’ West End Opening

[ Written on March 31 2023 by admin ]

Hello Russell fans! I’ve added some photos of Russell attending the ‘A Little Life’ West End Opening on March 30. Check out!

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