Paul Newman - A real star

BRANDO, Wayne, Peck and McQueen had it, Streep Binoche and Hackman have it. Paul Newman had it in spades.

He had that inner, animal magnetism that brings something more than a human presence to a film. He was a force of nature made real through performances well beyond anything that the vast majority of us nine-to-five day foot soldiers are capable of producing.

Paul Newman was a real star from Hollywood’s golden age and, even after 57 films and three Oscars, hoped, until cancer could be deflected no longer, for “one more memorable script”.

He may have done his most memorable work for the screen but his greatest work may have been helping terminally ill young children cope with their illness. He set a standard so few can match and thrilled and entertained us all as he did it.