JAMES COSMO has been enjoying lots of reflection of late - when he has the time.
The Scots actor has been a regular star of some of the biggest films and television shows in the world for decades, from Braveheart to last year's streaming sensation Jack Ryan and countless credits in between.
But looking back on a lengthy career when his busy schedule allows, the 75-year-old is proud to have taken special delight in the quirky, offbeat, indie or outright bizarre jobs he's been signing up for.
His newest film is one such project. In his stunning new indie drama My Sailor, My Love, he plays a retired sea captain gearing up for one more chance at love, against the odds.
The Irish-Finnish co-production was shot on the remote Achill Island off the west coast of Ireland, and is the kind of project the Clydebank-born acting legend relishes sinking his teeth into.
But while his new film alter-ego has problems balancing past and present, the Scot revealed he enjoys analysing own his life and career - and hopes to have no regrets.
"Where the character and myself diverge is that I'm trying to keep working and do good work because it's something I love," he says.
"I do reflect back on my career and my life, and that's something that comes with age.
"As you get older, you lose the ability to do a lot of things, but you also gain reflection and knowledge as you look at your life, and the stumbles and the great runs you've had.
"Who was it that said the unexamined life is not worth living? That's very pertinent to me. You should examine your life and accept the hurdles, as well as the accolades.
"I think, in fact, you should pay more attention to the mistakes you've made than the accolades."
Those accolades do come thick and fast for James, though, who began his career in The Battle Of Britain in 1969 and seems to have been ever-present on our screens, in all manner of projects, since.
Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra June 2023-utgaven av The Scots Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Bliss Of A Bothy
After a strenuous walk, a mountain shelter can offer all you need
The Long Way Round
When you can only just see the stepping stones under a river in spate, it's time to re-think the route, as two Highland adventurers found out
The New Oyster Cult
A community is helping to restore the once rich biodiversity of Loch Craignish, one species at a time
A Poet's Sanctuary
Hidden on a hilltop, writer Dominic Cooper is inspired by the wild, stormy winters of the Ardnamurchan peninsula
A Rural Housing Crisis
Across Scotland, locals are being priced out and crowded out - but communities are now working hard to address the issue
A Historic Centre
Glasgow's Mercat Cross may not be as old as it appears but it's still seen many changes, along with an ebb and flow in prosperity
A Bird With A Brain
Jim's encounters with the raven in several northern countries have only increased his respect for its intellect and ingenuity
The Warrior King
On the 750th anniversary of his birth, Robert The Bruce's legacy as cultural keystone and historical enigma continues to fascinate
All Going Swimmingly
From Tutti Frutti to Shetland, Monarch Of The Glen to Granite Harbour, Dawn Steele's heart will always be in Scotland - and the sea
Following The Coos
The latest charity art trail aims to a-moos-e and delight visitors to Perth and Kinross this summer
