1. - Anthony Dowell, Valentino, 1977. The usually outrageous director Ken Russell always wanted Nureyev to play Nijinksy's life. All plans were thwarted, so Ken offered him a two-day cameo as the dancer in his next biopic. Then, when no Valentino could be found, Russell called again - and postponed shooting a year to have a Tartar into a Latin Lover. And a British Dowell into the Russian dancer.
2. - George de la Pena, Nijinsky, 1980. Producer Harry Saltzman's obvious choice to play (and dance) the Russian ballet demi-god when first, Tony Richardson, then Ken Russell, were directing. Never mattered which ballet star had the role for the British - they thought it was about their favourite racehorse!
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