Shoebox Zoo
Anthony Donaldson
is Professor Toledo
As master illusionist Professor Toledo, Anthony Donaldson
is evil personified.
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"Yes, it's true, I'm not a nice character,"
admits the actor, who lives just up the road from the set of Shoebox
Zoo, in Leith Walk.
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When the annals of TV Baddie history are written, Professor
Toledo will no doubt be a good contender for top spot. Toledo,
who always dresses in white, is a truly dangerous adversary.
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"I play a classic baddie," Anthony explains.
"The kids who have come on set to work days here and there have
compared me to Simon Cowell from Pop Idol."
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But there are reasons behind Professor Toledo's evil
streak.
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"The Wizard Michael Scot created me and was ashamed
because I didn't turn out the way he planned.
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"Toledo is able to do anything he wants. He has
magic powers and a complete disregard for human life. He treats people
like little insects to be played with so that he can achieve his goal."
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A graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and
Drama back in 1994, Edinburgh-born Anthony worked in theatre for several
years before landing parts in Scottish Television's Taggart and Inspector
Rebus as well as the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Scotland soap River City.
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In his scenes with Shoebox Zoo animal Wolfgang, voiced
by Simon Callow, Anthony has had to learn how to act with nothing, which
he admits has been an "odd experience".
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"It's a bit weird staring into space and keeping
up your concentration. You have a marker and then it goes and you're
just left with the voice to act with.
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"But the relationship between Toledo and Wolfgang
is very interesting. Toledo knows exactly what makes him tick."
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However, Anthony is a bit concerned with always landing
parts which involve him playing a dark character.
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"I don't know why I keep getting cast as the baddie.
I played a drug dealer called Mental Minto in Inspector Rebus and in
River City I popped up again as a drug dealer. Maybe I have a bad boy
look.
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"But this is a dream job for me."
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