Talk:Stephen Fry
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[edit] His Severely Bent Nose
I've always wondered why Stephen Fry's nose is so horribly bent. Does anyone know? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 141.158.70.67 (talk) 20:23, 6 December 2006 (UTC).
In Moab (his autobiography), he said he broke it when he was young and never got it fixed. I have the audio version, so I can't tell you which page to look at, but it's there. Puccini999 01:32, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] At her Majesty's pleasure?
Did he spend time in prison? Three months for credit card fraud I think.
[edit] trivia-C. B. Fry
We need a reliable source for this claim that Stephen Fry is related to C.B.Fry. Any suggestions of a link have been removed from the C.B.Fry article due to the fact that no one had been able to produce any proof other than Stephen Fry claimning so (perhaps in an attempt to purposely misinform) during an episode of QI. I think therefore that this claim should be removed, unless someone can cite a more reliable source.
[edit] Clarification
Bold text==National Treasure?!?== Is Wikipedia supposed to be a fan site or an encyclopedia?
- Well, that statement details his public image, it's not a direct comment. And yes, that is within wikipedia's remit: to accurately (and with sources) reflect opinion on a subject, as wll as giving the facts. Perhaps we should source that particular bit. Amo 21:23, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
[edit] The Stars' Tennis Balls
Why is it "probably a coincidence" that they are all anagrams or puns of their Monte Cristo counterparts? It seems very likely to me, given Stephen Fry's kind of humour. — OwenBlacker 21:40, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
- I've removed the comment — OwenBlacker 21:50, Feb 9, 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Categories
This article needn't be in both Category:British actors and Category:English actors, nor in both Category:British comedians and Category:English comedians. Tim Ivorson 5 July 2005 08:47 (UTC)
- Why not? He is both English and British. Isn't it correct and thorough to include the article in all four categories? (I didn't categorize the article, and I see that someone has since removed the alternates.) Canonblack 20:49, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
- I think that the reasoning is that since all English actors are also British actors (and Category:English actors is a subcategory of Category:British actors, it's redundant to use both. The same goes for British/English comedians. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 01:35, 31 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Stage fright
The mention of 'stage fright' is a little too euphemistic for my liking. He was mentally unwell and has acknowledged this. - written by richardcavell in August 2005.
- Sign your posts. If you have details on this, especially if you have references (not that I'm doubting you, but something like that should be backed up with references), please change the wording. Canonblack 20:42, 30 December 2005 (UTC)
-
- When I wrote my comment I did not know how to sign posts; thanks for inviting me to. Stephen Fry spoke about it on an episode of Parkinson, but I can't get the ITV website to give me the transcript because it was too long ago. - Richardcavell 15:03, 29 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Trivia; the book about his mannerisms
In the trivia section, on the book Tish and Pish - how to be of a speakingness like Stephen Fry (ISBN 1840244666), the article states: "However, this... does not accurately reflect his mannerisms, and contains various grammatical errors (most notably in the title)." - Surely this is POV, and need not be included, has anyone noteworthy said this? And surely the fact that it is not grammatically correct is the whole point. I haven't personally read the book so I wouldn't know, but this just seemed to jump out at me. M A Mason 20:21, 28 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Harry Potter
I cut the ref to the reader of Harry Potter in the US, as entirely irrelevant to Stephen Fry article, but I can't work out where to add this info in the mass of HP pages. So here it is for anyone who cares enough to find a home for it: "(this is Jim Dale's job in the US)"
-- I don't understand why quite a large part of his work is "entirely irrelevant" to this article? -- Chris G
- I think that what the editor above was saying is that it's not relevant to an article on Stephen Fry that the US editions of the Harry Potter audiobooks are narrated by Jim Dale. Obviously, the fact that Fry narrates the British versions is relevant, and it is mentioned accordingly. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 15:59, 13 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] NORCAT
NORCAT is Norfolk College of Art and Technology, in King's Lynn. Stephen took his A levels there after expulsion from school and had his first (only?) hetrosexual experience with a fellow student. Is discussed in "Moab" but I don't have a copy to hand for reference.Epeeist smudge
- I myself am somewhat sketchy about referring to Moab as a source for events in Fry's life. I think that, like the Bible, it conveys a story of salvation without historiography as its chief concern. Carolynparrishfan 20:35, 14 March 2006 (UTC)
- I'm not sure if your point there justifies discrediting his autobiography.
-
- Although I can maybe believe he might have embellished the sexual experience for comic effect (the description of the perfect suitablity of the vagina for sexual purposes was beautiful), I struggle to believe that he would make up going to NORCAT, even with his understated yet hyperbolic style. As the previous (anon) contributer says, I don't think we sure ignore his autobiography here. Epeeist smudge 04:50, 20 March 2006 (UTC)
[edit] University Challenge
Stephen also appeared on an anniversary edition which featured the then-current champions against a team of famous UC-alumni. Charles Moore is the only other competitor I can remember. Stephen completely dominated the show, winning it for the old-boys nearly single-handed.
[edit] Daniel Cohen
I've taken out the link to the Daniel Cohen, because I felt it was causing more then a little confusion, what with the Cohen linked being a totally different one to the one being referred too. Voici 20:04, 20 April 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Vehicle
- He drives a former London Taxi (Black cab) when driving in London due to ease of manoeuvre. This was documented 25 January 2006 on his segment on the BBC 2 genealogy series "Who Do You Think You Are?". [4] Also in an earlier column in his Paperweight, describing a natural and possibly fictional misunderstanding with a member of the public.
I'm pretty sure he no longer drives a black cab- if I find a source and remember to return, I'll alter this. EvocativeIntrigue TALK | EMAIL 23:19, 23 June 2006 (UTC)
- As referenced in the webchat here (14 June 2006): [1]
- Q: Who is the most interesting person you ever had in your Taxi?
- A: . . . I take my friends if necessary.
- Present tense, I mean.
- Minervamoon 08:37, 26 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive
I couldn't help noticing that most of the sufferers with bi-polar disorder that Stephen Fry spoke to (or about, with regard to the Swartz's daughter) on his programme (and of course Stephen himself) had Jewish ancestry. Is bi-polar disorder more prevalent (or more diaganosed) among Jews or was this just a coincidence? Jooler 22:55, 27 September 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Fry's Mother
Marianne Neumann, an Austrian of Jewish descent.
Didn't his recent appearance on the BBC's genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are? establish that his mother's family were actually from Slovakia? Indisciplined 21:11, 12 October 2006 (UTC)
- Yes, he said this as well in a talk at the Hay Festival 2005. --Spudtater (talk • contribs) 16:42, 23 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Atheism
I removed references to Fry's supposed Atheism. He may well be an Atheist, but I cannot find any reference to suggest that he is. Not conforming to organised religion does not necessarily mean that one disbelieves in the existance of a god. 219.90.233.149 03:45, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Twinings
How can you source the fact that he does Twinings adverts (btw not just voiceovers, he appears physically in them and addresses the viewer)? He definitely does it though, I've seen the adverts...
Check the link: http://www.twinings.co.uk/everyday_tv_advert_intro.asp Arthur Holland 15:49, 12 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Prince Charles
A previous version of this page mentioned Fry's sympathy for the Labour Party. The next sentence said, "He is on friendly terms with Prince Charles, however..." Since the monarchy is apolitical (and New Labour has not indicated a wish to abolish the monarchy) I feel that the "however" seems out of place. I have restructured the sentence too - I hope people feel this works better. "He is also on friendly terms with Prince Charles..."
Also - how can we go about sourcing the fact that Fry does lots of work for the Prince's Trust?
--Philipdw 23:15, 11 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Robbie Williams Bipolar?
The article says that in "Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic-Depressive", Fry
interviews celebrities (such as Robbie Williams, Rick Stein, Carrie Fisher, Richard Dreyfuss, and Tony Slattery) and non-famous persons, all of whom also suffer from the illness.
I'm pretty sure that the programme said that Robbie Williams suffered from depression, not bipolar disorder. Fry interviews Williams because of the apparent 'mania' that Williams displays in public, but this is attributed to his stage persona rather than a symptom of bipolarity. --Stratocastermagic 23:43, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
- The paragraph is a little confusing as written. Fry's bipolar struggle has gotten mixed in with the documentary which is about Manic Depression of which bipolarism is one example (at least that is my best guess). You, or someone who has seen the documentary in question, may want to try to make the paragraph a little clearer. MarnetteD | Talk 00:34, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
-
- Bipolar disorder is manic depression, as should be clear from the name. No subsets; they are equal. The documentary focuses upon Stephen Fry's struggle with the illness, but he also goes around Britain and America interviewing fellow celebrity and non-famous sufferers alike. I'm not quite sure what to make of Robbie Williams, though. The documentary did try to question whether Williams' mania was simply a persona and not a symptom of bipolarism, but there are other sources which state that Williams is indeed manic depressive.
- Minervamoon 02:29, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
- The programme seemed to be pretty clear in saying that Robbie Williams wasn't manic depressive. Also Rick Stein is not manic-depressive. He was interviewed because his father WAS manic depressive and committed sucide by throwing himself of of a cliff near the family home in Padstow. Jooler 03:49, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
[edit] His nationality
It's either British (legal, civic national) or Jewish/English (ethnic national). But certainly not simply English. I amended this line last week, and have had to do so again. (I think British is best, but stick with the ethnic national theme that my betters insist on - only correct it). —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.47.159.12 (talk) 01:59, 2 January 2007 (UTC).
- Why "certainly not simply English"? [2] a reliable source that in no uncertain terms describe Fry as English. Can you quote any source to suggest he isn't? You seem to be on a crusade to rid Wikipedia of all mentions of Englishness in English citizens who happen to have a Jewish ancestry. This is disrupting Wikipedia to push a point of view. Please stop Gwernol 02:09, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
I agree with Gwernol. Personally i think it's good to be as specific as possible. We know he was born in England, we know he has been referred to in the media as "English", i'm sure you could find a number of sources where he self identifies as "English".Amo 03:55, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
- I also agree — Fry clearly identifies himself as "English". If he also identifies himself as Jewish, the article can reflect that, but not everyone who has Jewish ancestry so identifies. I don't believe that he's a practicing Jew, and to say that he's "Jewish/English" could be read as an indication of his religion as well as his ancestry. The article accounts for his mother's Jewish ancestry, but it really doesn't seem like it's a big part of Fry's identity. Given that, I think it would give undue weight to indicate it in the intro. —Josiah Rowe (talk • contribs) 04:13, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Needs a photo?
Why no photo for the brilliant Stephen Fry?
He deserves at least one photo here.
68.53.87.116 23:37, 28 January 2007 (UTC)C Nosangles
I have just added a picture, There used to be a picture here but it was removed due to copyright violation. Dorkules 14:38, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Born to be Wilde?
I altered the (unsourced) comment indicating Fry himself said he was "born to play" the part of Oscar Wilde in the 1997 film. I altered it to say that many commentators at the time used the epithet "born to be Wilde". I did so for several reasons:
- I couldn't find a source for the assertion that Fry said this (I'm not suggesting there isn't one, just that I couldn't find one and none is given in the current article).
- Although it's difficult to source an assertion such as "many commentators said...", a simple Google search indicates beyond reasonable doubt it is true.
- This alteration made clear the allusion to the song that explains why the idea of "born" was used so commonly, perhaps at all.
My change was reverted within a few minutes to the similarly unsubstantiated (but IMO less plausible and less informative) earlier version with a comment that my change wasn't sourced... 82.15.52.66 10:43, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
