He is also an actor so he spoke to me well, some directors are not very tactful and some are from a visual perspective rather than an acting perspective.
For someone who was doing his first feature I think he did a great job, he had done other things before; I enjoyed his directing I thought it was great.
- You kicked off you career in theatre in the West End so how did you find the transition from stage to screen?
It was actually pretty scary to be honest with you because you go from, I have done theatre in the West End and out here… you have to make it slightly bigger because the audience 300 seats back have to be able to read it.
So as soon as I got to LA they were like ‘why are you moving you hands?’ You have to keep yourself in the shot and not be distracting so I had to readjust myself to the screen. So it did take a lot of time of watching myself back in classes - after a while you d get use to it.
- How much did your theatre background, I know you said you had to retrain yourself, but did it any way prepare you for the work that you have done in TV & movies?
Yes I do. I trained as a dancer and I trained in musicals so I think that having training, stability and putting in the work is a real help. From a young age I was in classes and you are constantly training yourself - having that training and that backbone to take on new things means that you are always going to be learning, I don’t ever want to stop learning.
So I completely believe that theatre… and I love going back to the theatre because you are never more alive when you are on stage because you only get that one take - my favourite thing is being on stage. Film is a wonderful thing because you can share it with a larger audience but being on stage as an actor is an ultimate.
- You were born here in the UK but now live in the States so how have you found the move to America?
It was really challenging (laughs) it has been a rollercoaster if I am honest with you. The first two years I had so many strange experiences - there are a lot of people here with dreams that probably won’t come true.
So one you realise that that is part and parcel of LA you just have to get over that. But I really miss the UK, I came out here to really make things happen and now they are happening more I really hope that I can come back to the UK and do some more work there. My ideal situation would be to be based between the two.
- I Want To Get Married is another movie that you have in the pipeline so can you tell me a little bit about that?
It’s coming out in the U.S. in December and I play Terry who is a very career driven, arrogant, money on the mind will do anything to get ahead kind of guy - so I can relate to him (laughs). But the movie has a real character arc for him as he realises that all of the things that he has been doing are wrong.
It is a coming of age movie and it has got an amazing cast. I think that my character has a really good moral storyline and I can relate to him and I think people will also relate to him.
- Recently you have moved between TV, shorts and film so are you looking for anything in particular when you are selecting your roles?
I would like to say I am choosey but right now, as an actor, you just have to go with what is given to you. Luckily I am getting more offers and I have reclined some offers because I thought that they were just not the direction that I wanted to go in. I get excited from a few things; working with a really great director is important, working with a great script is equally as important, and I always want to grow and be happy.
- Well you have touched on my next question really - your film career really is just kicking off are there any actors or directors in particular that you would like to work with?
People like Leonardo DiCaprio; I would really like to work with him. There are a lot of TV people and TV show; I would really like to work on True Blood. There are a lot of opportunities that I am definitely going for - there is a chance for me to possibly do a TV show next year. Director wise there are so many good ones it’s hard to choose (film).
- You have already stepped into a producing role with Walk a Mile in My Pradas and you are set to do again with Isolation so how much is what goes on behind the camera something that interests you - any plans to write or direct?
Basically I set up a production company two years ago because I have always found that I am very creative and I am good at connecting people - I know a lot of talented writers as well as a vast amount of really good actors and directors.
Being a producer is a connecting thing really and so I set up this production company with another business partner and we have now produced two movies, one of them was called The Harrowing which has just been chanced to The Lucifer Effect - we shot it in the UK in January and we got locked in this mental asylum.
We have got two other things going on. I sometimes feel that you lose the power as an actor because you are at the mercy of the producers or whatever. But as a producer you have a bit more creativity - I am creative person and I love reading a script and making it happen.
Right now I am not the best writer, I will put my hand up to that, but one day I would love to direct. Directing is something that I will eventually do but I sometimes feel that people do spread themselves a bit too think so I am just concentrating on the acting right now.
- The stage is where you began so have you any plans to return?
I did a play earlier this year in Los Angles called Entertaining Mr Sloane and I was very honoured to win Best Lead Actor In A Play - it was probably one of the best days of my life.
We are actually going to New York with the play next year we will be heading to Broadway in April. It’s going to be my first time on Broadway so I am excited but really nervous. I have never performed in New York so I am really looking forward to that.
- Finally what's next for you?
There are a couple of opportunities coming my way, one being this TV series, and the other being a musical movie sort of based around Cinderella, I will be playing a Prince Charming character.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw