Premium Content:

Matt Smith to play Robert Mapplethorpe

Matt Smith has signed on to play Robert Mapplethorpe in a biopic about the provocative photographer’s life.

Smith, best known for playing the title role in the TV series ‘Doctor Who’, will play Mapplethorpe. ‘Girls’ star Zosia Mamet will play his girlfriend Patti Smith. The news first surfaced on the website Deadline.

- Advertisement -

Mapplethorpe created large scale photographic works, predominately in black and white, that featured nudes, still life and self-portraits. His most controversial works were images focusing on the underground BDSM culture.

The photographers work spurred discussions about public funding of art works and censorship. His work was noted for its homoeroticism.

Mapplethorpe lived with punk singer Patti Smith for a decade between the 1960’s and 1970’s before he realised he was gay. Mapplethorpe died in 1989 of an AIDS related illness at just 42 years of age.

Matt Smith previously played gay author Christopher Isherwood in a high-profile TV movie ‘Christopher and his Kind’. Prior to taking on the role of the Doctor in ‘Doctor Who’ Smith starred in the TV series ‘Party Animals’ and ‘Moses Jones’.

Since leaving the high-profile role on the long running sci-fi series Smith has appeared in the film ‘Terminator: Genisys” and played Patrick Bateman in a theatrical production of ‘American Psycho’.

The Mapplethorpe biopic is set to be directed by Ondi Timoner who was behind the documentary ‘Dig!’

Zosia Mamet is best known for playing Shoshanna Shapiro on the TV series ‘Girls’. She is the daughter of famed playwright David Mamet and actress Lindsey Crouse.

OIP Staff

Latest

Author Joe Ransom wins the Polari Prize for ‘The Gallopers’

It's the second year in a row Ransom has picked up one of the awards.

Evelyn Rae from Sky News wants all police, emergency services and military out of Mardi Gras

The pundit has brushed off recent findings about police failures in relation to gay hate crimes.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras knocks back proposal to ban police

Mardi Gras members voted to keep the police in the parade in 2025.

Bibliophile | ‘Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist’ is a smorgasbord of tales

Some of Australia's top authors have penned short stories inspired in some way by Kylie.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Author Joe Ransom wins the Polari Prize for ‘The Gallopers’

It's the second year in a row Ransom has picked up one of the awards.

Evelyn Rae from Sky News wants all police, emergency services and military out of Mardi Gras

The pundit has brushed off recent findings about police failures in relation to gay hate crimes.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras knocks back proposal to ban police

Mardi Gras members voted to keep the police in the parade in 2025.

Bibliophile | ‘Spinning Around: The Kylie Playlist’ is a smorgasbord of tales

Some of Australia's top authors have penned short stories inspired in some way by Kylie.

Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out

New music from DJ Koze teaming up with Damon Albarn, Nicky Doll, Haute and Freddy, Tom Aspaul and Cloth.
Old Lira. Delicious roman sourdough pizza since 2013.

Author Joe Ransom wins the Polari Prize for ‘The Gallopers’

It's the second year in a row Ransom has picked up one of the awards.

Evelyn Rae from Sky News wants all police, emergency services and military out of Mardi Gras

The pundit has brushed off recent findings about police failures in relation to gay hate crimes.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras knocks back proposal to ban police

Mardi Gras members voted to keep the police in the parade in 2025.