The Leading Man

The Leading Man

100 mins | Thriller | Dec. 12, 1996

Successful playwright Felix Webb has a new play, 'The Hit Man', in rehearsal. Directed by his old friend Humphrey, it is already being hailed as a masterpiece; but Felix can't enjoy his success. He has fallen passionately in love with Hilary, a beautiful, fiesty young actress, and is preparing to desert his perfect family, his wife Elena and three lively children. His intolerable situation is further complicated when Humphrey casts Hilary as one of the leads in 'The Hit Man'. Enter Robin Grange, a charismatic young Hollywood actor making his London theatre debut. Robin is attractive, charming and dangerous, and soon inveigles his way into everyone's life. He ingratiates himself with the cast and, quickly grasping Felix's dilemma, sets about weaving his web of mischief. He suggests that if he were to seduce Elena, she would be distracted from Felix's affair, regain her self respect, and perhaps even willingly part from the unfaithful husband to whom she clings...

The Leading Man

100 mins | Thriller | Dec. 12, 1996

The Leading Man
Successful playwright Felix Webb has a new play, 'The Hit Man', in rehearsal. Directed by his old friend Humphrey, it is already being hailed as a masterpiece; but Felix can't enjoy his success. He has fallen passionately in love with Hilary, a beautiful, fiesty young actress, and is preparing to desert his perfect family, his wife Elena and three lively children. His intolerable situation is further complicated when Humphrey casts Hilary as one of the leads in 'The Hit Man'. Enter Robin Grange, a charismatic young Hollywood actor making his London theatre debut. Robin is attractive, charming and dangerous, and soon inveigles his way into everyone's life. He ingratiates himself with the cast and, quickly grasping Felix's dilemma, sets about weaving his web of mischief. He suggests that if he were to seduce Elena, she would be distracted from Felix's affair, regain her self respect, and perhaps even willingly part from the unfaithful husband to whom she clings...
IMDb rating 5.6
Producers J&M Entertainment, BMG Independents
Original title The Leading Man
Directors John Duigan
Writers Virginia Duigan

Cast

Jon Bon Jovi

as Robin Grange

Anna Galiena

as Elena Webb

Lambert Wilson

as Felix Webb

Thandiwe Newton

as Hilary Rule

Barry Humphries

as Humphrey Beal

David Warner

as Tod

Patricia Hodge

as Delvene

Diana Quick

as Susan

Harriet Walter

as Liz Flett

Nicole Kidman

as Academy Awards Presenter

Tam Dean Burn

as Henry

Claire Cox

as Serena

Kevin McKidd

as Ant

Victoria Smurfit

as Annabel

Laura Austin-Little

as Miranda Webb

Danny Worters

as Danny Webb

Camilla Ohlsson

as Jessie Webb

Geoffrey Freshwater

as Attendant

Neve McIntosh

as Cashier

Ginny Holder

as Georgina

Billie Piper

as Girl (uncredited)