School bud was real Spud

Trainspotting T2 star Ewen Bremner says ‘super funny’ friend inspired his role as Spud

The star revealed a boy he attended Edinburgh's Portobello High with provided the inspiration for his role in iconic movie

By Fraser Clarke

Published: 15:35, 27 Jan 2017

TRAINSPOTTING star Ewen Bremner has revealed he based his character Spud on a “super funny” pal he went to school with.

Bremner, who has reprised his role for the sequel to the iconic 1996 movie, said he was inspired by a classmate at Edinburgh’s Portobello High.

Ewen Bremner says a boy he went to school with provided the inspiration for Spud

Speaking in a radio interview, the 45-year-old explained: “In order to play someone and do a part justice, there has to be something in it you recognise, things about people you’ve loved and known.

“And for me, there was a kid I was at school with when we were starting high school, which is a scary time and there was something fantastic about him.

Bremner was inspired by the indomitable spirit of his fellow pupil at Portobello High

“Whatever he said was super funny but at the same time everybody made fun of him because of how he walked and talked and dressed. I loved that guy.

“There was something so endearing about him and no matter how much people tried to ridicule him, he bore it and didn’t let it crush him or grind him down.”

Stars Bremner, Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle have reunited for T2Credit: PA

Bremner revealed the boy left a lasting impression on him – despite leaving after just one year.

Bremner reprises his role as feckless junkie Spud in the Trainspotting sequel

He said: “I never saw him again after that first year. I think he went off to a different school, maybe to a special needs school as it was called then.”

Bremner also revealed he went through a full range of emotions when he watched the new film for the first time.