Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

jburrill — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:47:38 GMT

Uh..... The wee knife worn in the hose is actually called a skein dhu.... the dirk is a much longer blade and is worn hanging from the waist.

But what do I know... I am only an American of Scottish decent who reenacts Scottish soldiers from the 15th Century through WW2 (15th Scottish Reconnaissance Regt - Bash On!)

Seriously, I expect for the purposes of the interview that Mr. McGregor just didn't wish to get into the fine points of Scottish natioanl dress with an interviewer who is egging him on about "what is worn under the kilt".

As a highland dancer myself, I wear dark briefs. Soldiers in the highland Regiments are, well... "regimental".

Slainte

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

cyndrel — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:10:37 GMT

I grew up in Scotland, wearing a kilt when required. We knew it was called a Skein Dhu, but we always referred to it as a Dirk. Yes, we also knew that a Dirk was a short-sword, but no-one ever wore one of these for fear of being arrested.

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

factchecker2 — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:38:00 GMT

A dirk is worn on the hip and can be 18 inches long - not very comfortable on the leg. The little knife worn in the hose is the "sgian dhu" - the "black knife." The short sword was the cle beag (small sword) often with a basket hilt as opposed to the two handed "claymore," i.e. "cle mohr" such as the one that Mel Gibson carried about in Braveheart which was filmed up in Glen Nevis. As to Galic spellings, variety is the spice of life.

With respect to the what's worn issue - jburrill has addressed it perfectly - dancers wear black "wee pants>'

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

banain — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:31:52 GMT

I've always heard that nothing is worn under a kilt - its all in working order.

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

jburrill — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:40:01 GMT

Cyndrel - Thank you!

That explains his comments better than my guess.

Yes, my Gaelic spelling is pretty thin these days.

When I do 1753 Highland soldier in Montgomery's 77th Regiment of Foot for the French an Indian War living history displays, I have a Sgian Dhu (but not in the hose... it is in a scabbard sewn inside my sleeved waistcoat under the armpit), A Dirk hanging off my waistbelt centre front next to my sporran, a basket-hilted clebh beg in a baldrick over my shoulder, a belly cartridge box and a bayonet over my great kilt (brecan fille) and sleeved waist coat, along with my Long Land pattern Brown Bess. If I am turning out in the Grenadier coy, I add a pair of steel pistols on occasion.

Some reenactors who portray Ogalthorpe's Carolina militia look like the Jacobites that the originals actually were, wearing all that, plus a targe as well.

Talk about upsetting the American version of Health and Safety!

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

senarra — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:36:19 GMT

Surely a sophisticated publication like Newsweek could have come up with a more mature interviewer for an actor of McGregor's caliber and a movie as big as Angels and Demons promises to be. McGregor denied any controversy around the movie, but Gostin challenged that assertion four more times. Three times she asked the same question (Did you feel left out? Did they gang up on you? Did they treat you like a third wheel?); and "Was it fun to wear a... dress.", "Do you wear undies?" "La-di-dah." La-di-dah? Please send Gostin back to Interviewing 101 and bring out your more capable staff for future articles.

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

Qidisrupt — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:24:05 GMT

I can only hope that I am speaking to adults...this is ONLY A MOVIE...it will not ruin your life, it is a fictional movie designed to be an action/thriller. If you believe that this movie is based on any kind of reality, you need to seek professional help.

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

deju-vu — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:14:08 GMT

Thank you senarra, I was thinking the same thing, the interviewer was less than childish, and thank you Qidisrupt, It is a movie made from a very well written and intriguing book. It is merely a suspense novel.

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

CriticalGuy — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:20:27 GMT

This is the dumbest interview of a film actor that I've ever read. THIS makes Newsweek?!

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

jbz7879 — Sun, 17 May 2009 12:50:01 GMT

ewan being interviewed is like listening to the washing machine -only it gets your wash clean -this is the worst movie of the year from a good book being wasted by wooden actors

re: Ewan McGregor on the Vatican, Kilts & His Accent

Adaiga — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:40:57 GMT

Seriously it seemed like Ewan was mildly offended/annoyed throughout that entire interview. Not to mention the interviewer asked all the easy, boring questions. boooo