The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of the most iconic films of all time. Now that the film is being adapted by Netflix into a limited series, we can't help but applaud its carefully selected cast. Who does Eliot Sumner play in Ripley?
Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for Ripley, so proceed with caution.
Who is Eliot Sumner?
Before anything, let's talk about who Eliot Sumner is. Born Eliot Paulina Sumner, they are an English singer, actor, and songwriter.
The combination of music and acting is strong in Sumner background as it is in their blood, after all. Sumner is the child of Sting and Trudie Styler.
As a musician, Sumner plays with their band called I Blame Coco, with a mix of pop, ska, electronic, and punk genres.
As for their acting background, they have appeared in numerous films and TV shows, such as No Time to Die, The Gentlemen, and Infinite Storm.
So who does Eliot Sumner play in Ripley?
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What Role Does Eliot Sumner Play in Ripley?
Sumner portrays one of the film's iconic characters, Frederick "Freddie" Miles. In the movie, the character was brought to life by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
The books describe Freddie as an "overweight American with carrot-red hair." He is a "self-styled playwright" with hotelier parents.
This is pretty interesting since Sumner is British and brings something fresh to the role that Hoffman popularized. The latter gave attention to the entitled American traveler troupe that Europeans disliked. Not to mention, his character is a womanizer.
Sumner, on the other hand, brings an air of sophistication to the role. This is precisely why show writer, director, and creator, Steven Zaillian, decided to cast Sumner for the role.
“I auditioned literally 200 people [for that part] and I would say 95% of those people were doing a [Philip Seymour] Hoffman impression. You know, he was so good in that movie. He’s indelible to people in that in that part, that when actors came to read for the part, they kind of did him. And Eliot didn’t.”
It will definitely be interesting to see how they breathe life into this infamous character.
What do you think about Sumner's casting as Freddie Miles in Ripley? Let us know in a comment below.
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