Peter Capaldi has triumphantly returned for the second season of The Devil’s Hour, much to the delight of fans who have been waiting eagerly after a two-year break.
Despite the lengthy anticipation for the new five episodes available on Amazon Prime Video, the show’s future seemed secure with an early double series renewal following the debut season’s release.
Now that all of season two is up for viewing, subscribers are keen to delve into the life of Scottish luminary Peter Capaldi, who reprises his role as Gideon Shepherd.
Challenging school days
Born to Nancy and Gerald John Capaldi in Glasgow in April 1958, Peter had a mixed heritage with an Italian paternal grandfather and a blend of Scottish and Irish roots.
His family was in the ice cream business and lived next door to Armando Iannucci’s family, the mind behind BBC’s The Thick Of It, though Capaldi didn’t know him during his childhood.
However, growing up in Scotland presented its difficulties, as he has shared insights into the “trauma” he endured during his teenage years.
“My adolescence was a kind of motorway pile-up. I wish I had known that one day the geek would inherit the Earth” he recounted to The Mirror.
“When I was at school, you couldn’t draw and be into football too. If you were into art, then you were seen as an absolute pansy, and there was no way you’d be admitted to the guys’ world of football.
“Believe it or not, one teacher used to call me a giant s*****c for not being able to play football.”
During his school years, he joined the Antoine Players and performed in local theatre before studying at the Glasgow School of Art.
Lucky Break
Years later, the 66-year-old landed a job at a greeting card company, followed by a position as a graphic designer at the BBC after being rejected by a London drama school.
One night, upon returning to his Glasgow home, Peter overheard his costume designer landlady discussing casting for the film Local Hero with director Bill Forsyth.
When Capaldi expressed interest, Forsyth took a gamble and cast him in a significant role, kickstarting his acting career.
During this time, he had several minor roles before hitting it big with the 1995 film It’s A Wonderful Life, which he wrote and directed. The film won Capaldi an Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film.
Famous Family
Capaldi is married to Scottish actress and producer Elaine Collins, whom he met on a touring theatre production in the 1980s and wed in 1991.
She is renowned as a producer who has contributed to popular dramas, including ITV’s Vera and BBC’s Shetland.
Collins also co-produced Apple TV+’s thriller Criminal Record, which starred her husband and Cush Jumbo.
The couple in showbiz have one daughter, Cecily, who blessed them with a grandson in 2021.
Peter Capaldi, the veteran actor, isn’t the only one in his family with a claim to fame. He’s also related to chart-topping singer Lewis Capaldi, known for hits like Someone You Loved and Before You.
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AmazonPeter even made an appearance in Lewis’ 2019 music video for Someone You Loved.
Speaking about their family ties to the Daily Record, Lewis revealed: “My dad and my aunties told me we were related to Peter a while ago, I think he’s my dad’s second cousin.
“Whenever he came on the TV, they’d always say, ‘You’re related to Malcolm Tucker’ or ‘You’re related to Doctor Who.’
“He’s a really cool guy. It’s a big inspiration to have someone who’s so successful in the family.”
Financial Struggles
However, life wasn’t always rosy for Capaldi as despite winning an Oscar for It’s A Wonderful Life, work became scarce in the 1990s.
He recalled: “Hollywood wasn’t interested in me anymore. A year after winning the Oscar, almost to the day, I was directing a dog food commercial.
“I was standing in a field in Rickmansworth, close to the M25, up to my knees in mud, looking for the best spot.
“It was a dog food ad, and it couldn’t pay for a location scout. I thought to myself, ‘This is a long way to have fallen’.”
Before landing the role of the infamous Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It in 2005, Capaldi was facing financial difficulties.
“When I first got Tucker, I was on the verge of giving up acting because the business is so fickle.
“One year was so bad for me and my wife that we were going to have to sell our house until Elaine decided to change careers and earn some money.
“What I’ve learned being an actor is that you’ve got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested.
Peter Capaldi’s fortunes thankfully took a positive turn after his role in The Thick Of It led him to become the 12th Doctor in the iconic BBC series Doctor Who.
The Devil’s Hour is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.