People Features

Titus Pullo, come to Los Angeles

By April MacIntyre Jan 28, 2007, 2:05 GMT

Ray as Titus in "Rome" courtesy of HBOThis is a completely shameless request, inspired by the rampant Britification of my city of Angels. But I will confess there is one son of the British Isles who needs to be here in L.A., Irish born and raised in England, actor Ray Stevenson. Every Sunday night, I am unavailable to the world as the second season of "Rome" is played on HBO. It is sick and wrong how much I love his character, Titus Pullo.Every time I turn around, Jane Seymour is in front of me at Malibu's Pacific Greens or Daniel Craig is holding up a Jamba Juice line. It's endless, and now Posh Spice and her family will be here any minute, with her SUV motorcades ferrying her to various shopping districts, adding a new layer of hell to our futile attempts at commuting. We like Ray, a lot. By "we" I mean every American woman I've met hooked into this wonderful series which will be ending too soon. My friends and I talk about Ray as if we knew him, like a bunch of sappy 15 year olds. My son gives me the dreaded teenager eye roll. I don't care.Stevenson is so wonderful as Pullo, delivering coarse EastEnder tinged turns of phrase; he just reeks testosterone in that good sort of way. If you haven't watched "Rome," you are missing something very special. Pullo is a mensch-y, loyal and not-too-terribly smart legionnaire for Rome, his impulsivity and sh*t luck have him in some delicious scenes when paired with other great actors in this show. Kevin McKidd plays Lucius Vorenus, his somewhat passionless, by-the-book superior in the Roman legion, a cold fish who gets tips on wooing women from Pullo. They have great chemistry. Stevenson credits actor John Malkovich as being the inspirational turning point for him vocationally. Setting out in college to become an engineer, it was a performance of "Burn This" starring Malkovich that lit a fire in him to pursue acting, according to his website.Stevenson came to the acting game a bit late, age 27, was when he began studying his craft at the Bristol Old Vic Theater School.Ray made a name for himself in the UK with several key television roles, then broke in 2004 "King Arthur" as Dagonet, starring with Clive Owen and Keira Knightley.Stevenson recently completed production on the second and final season of "Rome." But there is a flicker of light for all the Titus Pullo obsessed out there; he has a film in production."Outpost" is directed by Steve Barker, and is described as a gore-filled action horror film in the tradition of "Alien" and "The Descent," and is set in war-torn Eastern Europe.World-weary mercenaries undertake a dangerous mission into no-man’s land at the behest of a mysterious businessman. The cast includes our man Ray, and actors Julian Wadham, who appeared in "The Madness of King George" that starred Helen Mirren, Richard Brake, who appeared in "Batman Begins" and "Hannibal Rising," Michael Smiley, Enoch Frost, Paul Blair, Julian Rivett and Brett FancyShooting in the west of Scotland near a place called Dumfries, and studio shooting in Glasgow, the film is scheduled to wrap in February 2007.The film is produced by Black Camel Pictures and Cinema One in association with Matador Pictures and Regent Capital. Producers are Arabella Page Croft and Kieran Parker of Black Camel. Nigel Thomas of Cinema One is Executive Producing, with Jamie Carmichael and Graham Begg of sales agent ContentFilm, which has acquired worldwide distribution rights.There is light at the end of our grotto indeed.

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MagnoliaSouthJan 28th, 2007 - 03:50:04

Agree, agree, agree, agree, agree! I absolutely and positively love Pullo. He's a big teddy bear in a cold-blooded killer's body. ;) Eirene is one lucky woman indeed.

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MrsPulloFeb 3rd, 2007 - 00:39:44

I could not agree more.

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Dagonet's DearestFeb 9th, 2007 - 01:26:17

Hear, hear! Ray Stevenson is absolutely amazing as an actor and man. Someone ought to get him in a new series and quick so I can have a weekly fix after Rome goes dark.

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Crazy for PulloFeb 12th, 2007 - 04:40:02

I just can't get enough of him. The way he looked into Eirene's eyes and playfully said he loved her best... sigh... I could just eat him up! I am foolishly addicted.

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Pullo's secret girlfriendFeb 12th, 2007 - 16:53:13

Last night's show was great, he is the best part of Rome....Ray, come to the US, asap!

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Canadian girlFeb 23rd, 2007 - 19:45:38

Oh I so agree, he is the best part and the chemistry between Kevin and him is great. Last week at a dinner party the host said 'someone was saying her that her husband looked like 'Pullo' from the Rome series and he is a hunk. She has never watched Rome. I said Yes, Pullo is a hunk and proceeded to describe him as you have. Her husband said 'why thanks'. I think he would have made a great BOND too. Oozing with maleness, sensitivity, cuddly, menacing, etc. etc. Yes, we need a life after ROME. Maybe something with Stevenson and McKidd or a ROME MOVIE along the lines of Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

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Julie GarrettFeb 23rd, 2007 - 20:38:39

What's this? The final season of Rome? Is HBO out of their minds??? I have on-demand because of this show...and ONLY because of this show! It's not like the history of Rome ends w/Augustus' assention to emperor or 'first among equals,' so I definately think they're giving up too soon on a veritable gold mine...besides, the emperors are REALLY fascinating. Can't you see it? Nero burning Rome?? GEEZ....and the worst part...no more Pullo. I couldn't agree more. I don't know anyone who doesn't love him either. Although, while I'd love for him to be closer to us, I'm not so sure I'm keen on Hollywood ruining his simple life charm. Isn't that what we love about him? That rustic, simple, beautiful sould behind those shining blue eyes? sigh. Definitely can't get enough!

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inluvwithpulloFeb 24th, 2007 - 02:35:36

Rome is the best thing on television and I'm devastated this is the last season. All of the actors are wonderful. James Purefoy is pure fun to watch as Antony and Mckidd is a great character, but Pullo is definitely the heart and soul of the show. And though most see him as not too smart, he is the one making sense lately, trying to direct Vorenus back in the right direction. My fear is that the season will end with Pullo(on Octavian's side) and Vorenus (loyal to Marc Antony)meeting on the battlefield having to fight against each other for the first time. I hope Hollywood has taken notice of all these actors and that we will be seeing muuch more of them to come. Especially Ray Stephenson who is simply yummy. It's so nice to see a real man on television instead of being barraged by wimpy metrosexuals like Orlando Bloom and Jude Law!Ray can come visit me anytime.

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hitchin62Feb 24th, 2007 - 13:31:55

Ray is wonderful to watch, having watched him for years on Brit TV in excellant parts, he is a joy. I hope he stays away from the HOLLYWOOD circuit, they wouild not give him the kind of material that makes him shine. He is excellant at his craft, hopefully he will never become a HOLLYWOOD STAR....

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wearing titis pullo tattooFeb 24th, 2007 - 15:04:15

Yes, I did get a tattoo of Ray Stevenson, ad Titus Pullo on my left calf. I based the design fron episode 11 'The Spoils'. I had my artist watch the entire 1st season, but concentrated on that episode. It is beautifel, & I do plan on winning some awards with this one! What is HBO thinking? Cancelling Rome? I only found out about this in the last 2 weeks, & have been in a funk ever since. I have learned more from watching Rome, then I ever did in school, or college. I even went to the library to check out books on Roman History. Truthfully, HBO is making a huge mistake. I wish they would reconsider their decision. Hey Ray, I am sending you a photo of the tattoo!

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