Whishaw was born and raised in Bedfordshire, the son of Linda, who works in cosmetics, and Josey Whishaw, who works in information technology. He has a twin brother, James, and was a member of the Bancroft Players Youth Theatre at Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre. He attended Henlow Middle School and then Samuel Whitbread Community College in Clifton, Bedfordshire. During his time with the group, he first rose to prominence during collaborations with their offshoot theatre company, Big Spirit. He was involved in many productions – perhaps most notably, If This Is A Man (also performed as The Drowned & The Saved). This was a piece devised by the company based on the book of the same name by Primo Levi, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz. This harrowing and moving book was adapted into a physical theatre piece by the group and taken to the 1995 Edinburgh Festival where it garnered five-star reviews and great critical acclaim. Whishaw played the character of Levi in this and subsequent productions of the show.
As the lead in Trevor Nunn's 2004 young-cast production of Hamlet at the Old Vic, he received highly favourable reviews. The role was shared with Al Weaver in an unusual arrangement that saw Whishaw playing all nights except for Mondays and matinées. Nunn is reported to have made this arrangement due to the youth of the two actors playing the lead, to relieve some of the pressure on each. It was Whishaw, however, who featured most prominently in the marketing materials and in the majority of reviews.
Whishaw's film and TV credits include Layer Cake and Chris Morris's 2005 sitcom Nathan Barley, in which he played a character called Pingu. He was named 'Most Promising Newcomer' at the 2001 British Independent Film Awards (for My Brother Tom) and, in 2005, nominated as best actor in four award ceremonies for his Hamlet. He also played Keith Richards in the Brian Jones biopic Stoned. In the spring of 2005, Whishaw received lots of press for his turn as a drug dealer, acting alongside Robert Boulter and Fraser Ayres in Philip Ridley's post-apocalyptic fringe play Mercury Fur.
In Perfume, Whishaw plays Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a perfume maker whose craft turns deadly. The film was released in Germany in September 2006 and in the U.S. in December 2006. In the same year Whishaw worked on Pawel Pawlikowski's abandoned The Restraint of Beasts.
Whishaw appeared in I'm Not There in 2007 as one of the Bob Dylan reincarnations; in Criminal Justice, a Tiger Aspect series for the BBC, in 2008; a new adaptation of Brideshead Revisited; and ...some trace of her, an adaptation of The Idiot at the National Theatre.
At the end of 2009 he starred in Cock, a new play by Mike Bartlett at the Royal Court Theatre. In 2009 he also starred as the poet John Keats in the film Bright Star, which was written and directed by Jane Campion.
In February, 2010 Whishaw made a very successful off-broadway debut at MCC Theater in the US premiere of the awarding winning play The Pride by Alexi Kaye Campbell. The performance co-starred Hugh Dancy and Andrea Riseborough and was directed by Joe Mantello.
He appears in Julie Taymor's forthcoming big-screen adaptation of The Tempest and is attached to work on the film Kill Your Darlings (in which he plays Lucien Carr).
Ben Whishaw's most recent project is The Hour, a BBC Two drama series, written and created by award-winning screenwriter Abi Morgan.
Trip a Little Light Fantastic
Ben Whishaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So when they tell you that you're finished
And your chance to dance is done
That's the time to stand
To strike up the band
And tell 'em that you just begun
You must choose to be a trooper
For your light comes with a lifetime guarantee
As you
Trip a little light fantastic with me
(Went to the bank! Rattle and clank! Met with the boss!
Pitch and toss! Got lost in the fog! Lump on a log!)
Trip a little, trip a little, trip a little, trip a little
Trip a little light fantastic!
In the song "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" by Ben Whishaw, the lyrics convey a message of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The line "I may be circling the drain, but I got a few steps left in me" reflects the idea that even when feeling drained and close to giving up, there is still some fight and energy left. It's a metaphorical reference to the feeling of being on the edge of losing hope or motivation, yet realizing that there are still moments of strength remaining.
The following lines encourage listeners to embrace these moments of strength and not let others define their capabilities. When people say that one's opportunities are over and they should stop trying, it's actually the perfect time to rise up and prove them wrong. The call to "stand and strike up the band" signifies the importance of standing tall, taking charge, and demonstrating that there is still so much more to achieve. It's about showing that one is just beginning and refusing to let discouragement define them.
The chorus, "Trip a little light fantastic with me," encourages people to embark on a journey of illumination and embrace the magical aspects of life. Despite the challenges and setbacks, there is always a choice to face them with positivity and resilience. The song promotes the idea of finding joy and creating a brighter future by taking those small steps forward and choosing to see the beauty even in the darkest moments.
Line by Line Meaning
I may be circling the drain, but I got a few steps left in me
Even though life might be tough and I feel like I'm losing, I still have the strength and determination to keep going.
So when they tell you that you're finished
When others try to convince you that it's over for you
And your chance to dance is done
And they say you no longer have the opportunity to succeed or enjoy life
That's the time to stand
That's when you should stand up
To strike up the band
To take action and make things happen
And tell 'em that you just begun
And prove to them that you are just getting started and have a lot more to offer
So when life's a real pea-super
So when life is really difficult and challenging
You must choose to be a trooper
You have to decide to be brave and resilient
For your light comes with a lifetime guarantee
Because your inner light, your spark, is something that will always be present and will never fade away
As you
As you embrace this mindset
Trip a little light fantastic with me
Experience the joy and wonder of life together
(Went to the bank! Rattle and clank! Met with the boss! Pitch and toss! Got lost in the fog! Lump on a log!)
Engage in various adventurous and challenging activities with enthusiasm and determination
Trip a little, trip a little, trip a little, trip a little
Enjoy the journey, take small steps, and continue moving forward
Trip a little light fantastic!
Embrace the magic and radiance within you
Lyrics © WALT DISNEY MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind