“Actors spend their lives in a nervous state of energy, and there are awards on the other side of the nerves.”
Transitioning from a semi-professional footballer to an actor presents unique challenges. Can you share how this shift impacted your identity and self-perception?
There wasn’t a transition. It just didn’t work out. When I reached the top level, I always wanted more. As an actor, when I achieve more, I feel more comfortable. Honestly, I think that I am a better actor than a footballer. Also, there are fewer injuries.
It didn’t change my self-perception. I have always kind of been the same person. I just followed my dreams.
Your roles in productions like To Kill a Mockingbird place you in intense, emotionally charged situations. How do you prepare mentally for such demanding roles?
You do your work. You must understand the text. My background in theater has trained me for this. I try to prepare mentally, but I don’t know if you can. The more immersed you get in a piece, the more emotionally demanding it becomes. When there are demanding roles, like in To Kill a Mockingbird, the audience engages with you differently every night. You put faith and trust in your co-actors. You make friends very quickly. It’s beautiful. House of the Dragons was like that too. It was very dark, but we kept journeying to take us where it took us.
In your diverse career, including roles in Coronation Street and EastEnders, how have you managed the psychological impact of constantly shifting between different characters?
I love working and following my dreams. I am always humbled and grateful when I am selected to be in someone’s production.
I love the psychological shift. That’s what love is. I need constant shifting between characters as it keeps me very engaged.
It would actually be more worrisome if the characters I played never changed.
Could you describe a moment on set that profoundly changed your personal or professional outlook?
So many.
I was on the set of Children of Men for my 30th birthday, and the director, Alfonso Cuarón, called me to set and had everyone stand in a circle and sing Happy Birthday to me. It was Michael Cane, Julianne Moore, Clive Owens and others. I only had a couple of lines as the policeman character. It was so inclusive and special to me. Other “pinch me” moments happened when I had one-on-one talks with directors on films. On a personal level, the message I take from work and bring to my children is to follow what you love.
Acting often involves uncovering emotional truths. How do you handle the vulnerability that comes with such deep emotional explorations?
I handle vulnerability by having good people around me. A solid cast, great friends, and family keep me able to compartmentalize work from life. I speak out if I am struggling, and it helps me to have a good balance in life. I learned that I need to reach out to good people that I trust. Vulnerability is important for everyone to tap into.
What terrifies you?
Everything. It can all be terrifying. I live with imposter syndrome and one day; I will be found out. It scares me, but it excites me. Actors spend their lives in a nervous state of energy, and there are awards on the other side of the nerves.
It’s all terrifying at times. As an actor, it’s not the rejection—it’s the ghosting. Sometimes, you go for a role and never hear back. Then, you see that role on the screen—which is your answer—you don’t get the role. That can hurt at times.
As someone who has portrayed both real and fictional characters, how do you navigate the psychological differences between these types of roles?
The real characters are the hard ones to play. It’s a real person that existed. There are actual film clips of them with real people who knew them. That means that you really have to do your work while being very respectful.
Can you share an experience where a role allowed you to confront a personal fear or challenge?
As I have been on my own mental health journey, I draw from my own experience, yet it opens other emotional channels. You feel vulnerable and emotionally jarred, but you have to go with it. You have to be open to it. It’s a beautiful part of the job as I can help someone with very difficult topics.
What are you most looking forward to creatively?
I just love working, being busy, and meeting new people.
If your life thus far had a soundtrack, what song must be on it?
“Drops of Jupiter” by Train and “One Day Like This” by Elbow.
I used to listen to it every day on my way to drama school, and it represents a very important time in my life.