少年特工成名记

2015年3月27日，《王牌特工：特工学院》（以下简称《王牌特工》）在国内上映，绅士大叔与痞子少年的特工故事大受好评，也让痞子少年的扮演者塔伦·埃格顿人气飙升。那么，影片中由痞子逆袭为高富帅的年轻男主角在现实生活中又有怎样的逆袭故事呢？且看塔伦·埃格顿在该片上映前接受采访时的独家爆料！

Taron Egerton stands a lean1）， muscular five foot eight inches tall and he has the type of cheeky2） grin. At the age of just twenty-four， since coming out of RADA3）， Taron has two television series under his belt4） and three big-budget films—The Rise of the Krays， Testament of Youth （which saw him nominated for Best Newcomer at the BFI London Film Festival Awards） and Kingsman： The Secret Service， a British action film adapted from Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar's comic book The Secret Service， which sees Taron co-lead with the nation's most-loved actor， quintessential5） English gentleman， Colin Firth.

Meeting Taron is a pleasant reversal6） of expectations. Not that I thought he was going to mirror the east London juvenile delinquent7） he's playing in Kingsman： The Secret Service， but you know， it's always hard to pre-empt8） the situation. "Brooke meet Taron，" his publicist's9） voice rang through the room. I had just stuffed my mouth with half a tube of Smarties10）， so it wasn't the way I envisioned myself meeting a guy who's sure to be listed in GQ's11） hot one hundred in a matter of months， but we continue all the same.

In conversation he frequently lets out a sonorous12） laugh that instantly makes you warm to him13）， whether he's talking about his childhood （"I was cheeky in school， but rarely in a way that would get me in trouble. I thought I was a bad boy but I most definitely wasn't！"）， working alongside Samuel L. Jackson （"He is officially the coolest man on the planet， isn't he？"） or talking about his pastimes14） （"I don't really have any cool or interesting hobbies—I wish I was that interesting."）. That's another thing I note about Taron. He's awfully15） modest.

Judging by his recent success， it may come as a surprise that Taron was a latecomer to the realm of performance. "I was always pretty arty when I was younger. I liked drawing and stuff， but I didn't start acting until my mid-teens，" says Taron. "I joined the Youth Theatre and realised how much I liked it." But starting late has by no means stopped him. Since leaving RADA in 2012 Taron has been fully immersed in his art. Starting with a play at the National Theatre， Taron's first television role in ITV16） detective drama Lewis came next， followed by a part in No Quarter at the Royal Court Theatre and another in Sky 1's firefighting drama， The Smoke.

In the midst of this whirlwind17） of events， Taron found himself auditioning for the lead role in a film directed by the mastermind18） behind Snatch， Layer Cake and Lock， Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. None other than Matthew Vaughn （whose wife Claudia Schiffer offered to make Taron a sandwich at their country residence）. Matthew took a chance19） on the then unknown actor and after watching the first three scenes of the film， it's easy to see why he did so. "He called me one morning and just said： 'Look， I think we're about to offer you this part.' But I think it took him quite a lot to convince the other people who had money in the film. He really fought my corner20），" says Taron modestly. "Matthew is a bit of a genius in my eyes. There's no crap21） with him and he says exactly what he thinks when he thinks it. Being the sensitive little daisy22） I am， it took me a while to get used to that， but when you get to know him you realise he's actually got the biggest heart23） in the world. He's done so much for me and not just in terms of Kingsman."

The film sees Taron play troublesome youth Gary Eggsy Unwin， who Colin Firth's character， secret agent Harry Hart， owes a debt to. By giving Eggsy the chance to compete for a place in the Kingsman Academy， in turn keeping him off the street， they get even so to speak24）. So what was it like working with Colin？ "He's just an absolute dreamboat25）—he's lovely and he was really good to me，" says Taron. "He went the extra mile26） to make sure I was happy and he treated me like an equal， which is ridiculous because he's an Oscar-winning actor and I'd never made a film before." But it wasn't plain sailing27） for Colin either with Kingsman being his first foray28） into action. And as Taron puts it， it's serious. "He's so badass29） in it. You've never seen him like this before. We had loads of fight training and gym time， to ensure we looked like spies. We had a lot of time to get to know each other and I really hope that chemistry30） shows on-screen."

Their odd coupling and dysfunctional31） father-son type relationship is precedent32） throughout， whilst the underlying themes of class tension， power struggle and self-belief also simmer33） on the surface. "Colin's character always reiterates34） that being a gentleman has absolutely nothing to do with where you're from or how you speak， it's to do with how you act，" says Taron. "So there's the whole rags to riches35） underdog36） story and the mantra37）—'It doesn't matter where you come from， or how hard it is， you can do anything'." A sentiment38） that proved true for Taron on many levels. "Every single one of those shots39） is 100% Egerton，" laughs Taron. "I'd never done any sort of scuba-diving40） before so my natural reaction when I'm underwater is to just freak out and take a huge lungful of water."

With such hard-hitting41） action stunts42）， I can't help but ask if there were any notable behind-the-scenes mishaps43）， but Taron tells me there are none he's allowed to talk about. Of course， a little probing44） can work miracles. "I can't believe I'm about to tell you this，" he smirks45）. "I remember landing this massive jump I do at one point and my trousers basically exploded open as soon as I landed on the floor， in a scene filled with about three-hundred extras46）. I had to run out of the room covering my dignity. I'm supposed to seem all cool when I'm definitely not." Well Taron， you had us fooled.

塔伦·埃格顿身高5英尺8英寸（编注：约1.73米），长得清瘦而又健壮，咧嘴笑起来一副调皮模样。塔伦不过24岁，但从英国皇家戏剧艺术学院毕业至今，就已参演过两部电视连续剧，还拍过三部大制作电影：《科雷兄弟成长记》《青春作证》和《王牌特工》，更凭借《青春作证》一片赢得了英国电影协会主办的伦敦电影节最佳新人奖提名。《王牌特工》是一部英国动作片，改编自戴夫·吉本斯和马克·米勒合著的漫画书《金牌特工》，由塔伦和英国最受人喜爱的男演员、英国绅士的典范科林·费斯领衔主演。

和塔伦的会面是一次颠覆预期的愉快经历。这倒不是说我原以为他会跟《王牌特工》里他饰演的那个伦敦东区的不良少年一个德性，而是，你知道的，总是很难预估会发生什么。“布鲁克和塔伦会面。”房间里响起他的公关人员的声音。而我刚刚往嘴里塞了半管的“聪明豆”牌巧克力豆，所以呢，我和这位不出数月必将登上《GQ》杂志百大名人榜的人如此见面，还真不是我曾设想的那样。但我们的采访还是照常进行了下去。

在交谈中，不管谈及什么，他都不时大声爆笑，让你立刻就喜欢上了他。他谈及他的童年：“我上学的时候是个调皮鬼，但调皮归调皮，却很少捅娄子。我那时觉得自己是个坏孩子，但实际上绝对不是！”他谈及他跟塞缪尔·L·杰克逊一起共事：“他是公认的全球最潇洒的男人，不是吗？”他还聊到了他的爱好：“我真的没有什么时髦或有趣的爱好，我倒希望我能那么有趣。”这也是我在塔伦身上注意到的另外一点——他超级谦虚。

从塔伦最近的成功来看，他在演艺界出道晚似乎有点出人意料。“我小时候一直很文艺。我喜欢绘画什么的，但直到15岁左右才开始演戏，”塔伦说，“我加入了青年剧院，意识到了我有多喜欢表演。”但出道晚这件事丝毫没有阻止他的脚步。2012年从皇家戏剧艺术学院毕业后，塔伦一直全身心投入于自己的演艺事业。他首先参演了国家剧院的一出舞台剧，接着接拍首部电视剧，出演了独立电视台的侦探剧《督察刘易斯》，之后又参演了皇家宫廷剧院的舞台剧《绝不留情》和天空电视台第一频道的消防主题剧《烟》。

在这一连串的大事发生期间，塔伦发现自己不知不觉间已在为一部电影的主角试镜。而这部电影的导演不是别人，正是一手推出《偷拐抢骗》《夹心蛋糕》和《两杆大烟枪》等影片的马修·沃恩（试镜是在沃恩的乡间寓所进行的，期间马修的妻子克劳迪娅·希弗还主动给塔伦做了一个三明治）。马修冒险起用了当时籍籍无名的塔伦，但看完这部电影的前三场戏后，你就很容易理解马修为什么这么做了。“有天早上他给我打电话，直接就说：‘听着，我想我们会让你来演这个角色。但我觉得他肯定花了不少工夫去说服影片的其他投资人，他真的是在为我力争这个角色，”塔伦谦逊地说，“在我看来，马修是一个近乎天才的人物。他不讲废话，心里想到什么就说什么。我这个人非常敏感，过了一段时间才适应他这点，但当你了解他之后，你会发现他其实有着世界上最宽广的胸怀。他为我做了很多很多，不仅仅是在《王牌特工》中。”

在这部电影中，塔伦饰演的加里·埃格西·昂温是一个惹是生非的毛头小子，科林·费斯饰演的特工哈里·哈特欠了他一笔人情债。哈里给了埃格西一个通过竞争进入特工学院的机会，同时也免得他混迹街头，这样他们就算年扯平了。那跟科林一起拍戏又是一种怎样的体验呢？“他绝对是一个魅力四射的人。他和蔼可亲，对我真的很好，”塔伦说，“他超乎你的期望，付出了更多的努力，好确保让我拍戏开心。他还对我平等相待，这简直不可思议，因为他是奥斯卡影帝，而我之前还从没拍过电影。”不过，拍摄这部影片对科林来说也并非一帆风顺，因为这是他首次尝试动作片。正如塔伦所说，这是一部毫不含糊的动作片。“他在片中的表现非常令人钦佩，展现出了前所未有的一面。我们有很多武打训练和体能锻炼，来确保我们看上去像特工。我们花了很多时间去相互了解。我真心希望我们之间的亲密关系能展现在银幕上。”

两人的奇怪组合和异常的类父子关系贯穿影片始终，而阶层冲突、权力斗争和个人信仰等深层主题也逐渐酝酿爆发。“科林饰演的角色不断强调：你是不是有教养的人跟你的出身或谈吐根本没关系，而是要看你的行为举止，”塔伦说，“因此，影片完整地展现了痞子逆袭成为高富帅的故事和‘无论你从哪儿来，无论有多困难，你都可以做成任何事的口号。”对塔伦来说，这一见解在许多层面上都证明是正确的。“我在戏里的所有镜头百分之百都是由我自己完成，”塔伦笑着说，“我之前从没进行过任何形式的潜水，所以我下水后的自然反应就是惊慌失措，灌了一肚子水。”

动作特技这等给力，让我不禁问塔伦电影幕后有没有什么重大的意外状况，但塔伦告诉我剧组不准他谈论此类话题。当然，稍微打探一下总会创造奇迹。“简直不敢相信我会跟你说这件事，”他得意地笑着说，“我记得有场戏我有一个大幅度的跳跃动作，结果我刚一落地，裤裆基本上就全爆开了。当时那场戏里还挤着300名左右的群众演员，我不得不捂着裤裆跑出了片场，还得装出很酷的样子，而那一刻的我绝对算不上酷。”行啊，塔伦，你把我们都给骗了。

1. lean [li?n] adj. （壮健而）清瘦的

2. cheeky [?t?i?ki] adj. （人或行为）冒失的，调皮的，放肆的

3. RADA： （= Royal Academy of Dramatic Art）皇家戏剧艺术学院，位于英国伦敦，是英国历史最为悠久的戏剧学院之一，建于1904年。

4. under one's belt： 已经取得（或完成）

5. quintessential [?kw?nt??sen?l] adj. 典范的；典型的

6. reversal [r??v??sl] n. （过程或趋势的）反转，倒转，逆转

7. juvenile delinquent： 少年犯

8. pre-empt [pri?empt] vt. 抢先行动；预先制止；先发制人

9. publicist [?p?bl?s?st] n. 公关人员；宣传员

10. Smarties： “聪明豆”牌巧克力豆，一种著名的巧克力豆品牌，这种巧克力豆外层包裹着五颜六色的糖衣，有盒装的，也有管装的。

11. GQ： Gentlemen's Quarterly的缩写，中文名为《智族》，是一本男性月刊，内容着重于男性的时尚、风格、文化等。

12. sonorous [?s?n?r?s] adj. （声音）深沉响亮的，洪亮的

20. fight one's corner： 维护某人的地位（或利益）

21. crap [kr?p] n. 废话

22. daisy [?de?zi] n. 雏菊

23. big heart： 宽阔的胸怀，慷慨的气度

24. so to speak： 姑妄言之，可以说

25. dreamboat [?dri?mb??t] n. 极漂亮的人；魅力十足的人

26. go the extra mile： 付出比别人期望中还要大的努力

27. plain sailing： 一帆风顺

28. foray [?f?re?] n. 初次尝试；涉足

29. badass [?b?d?s] adj. （人或物）令人钦慕（或印象深刻）的

30. chemistry [?kem?stri] n. （人与人之间的）感情关系

31. dysfunctional [d?s?f??k??nl] adj. （关系、行为等）出现障碍的，不正常的

32. precedent [?pres?d?nt] adj. 在前的，在先的

33. simmer [?s?m?（r）] vi. （冲突、争吵等）酝酿，激化

34. reiterate [ri??t?re?t] vt. （通常为了强调）重复讲，反复说，重申

35. rags to riches： 从赤贫到巨富

36. underdog [??nd?d?ɡ] n.

潦倒者；（竞争、竞赛等中的）劣势方，弱者

37. mantra [?m?ntr?] n. 口号

38. sentiment [?sent?m?nt] n. （用言辞表达的）见解，感想

39. shot [??t] n. （电影的）一组镜头

40. scuba-diving： 佩戴水肺的潜水

41. hard-hitting： 强有力的

42. stunt [st?nt] n. （电影中的）特技表演

43. mishap [?m?sh?p] n. 晦气；不幸；小灾难

44. probe [pr??b] vi. 探究；探查

45. smirk [sm??k] vi. （占了便宜或知道了别人不知道的事情时）洋洋得意地笑，自鸣得意地笑

46. extra [?ekstr?] n. （电影中的）临时演员，群众演员

13. warm to sb.： 开始喜欢上某人

14. pastime [?pɑ?sta?m] n. 消遣；娱乐

15. awfully [???fli] adv. （与表示特征的形容词连用，用于强调）极度地，非常

16. ITV： （= Independent Television）独立电视台，是英国第二大无线电视经营商，成立于1955年。

17. whirlwind [?w??lw?nd] n. 一连串的突发事件

18. mastermind [?mɑ?st?ma?nd] n. （常指罪案）主谋，出谋划策的人，幕后操纵者

19. take a chance： 冒险；碰运气