W L INTERVIEW can really do this. They always say you should never meet your heroes, but mine gave me a life changing opportunity and completely changed my life, one I will forever been in his debt for.
Was there a particular moment or opportunity that made you think,“ This could actually work”? I think it was on a movie called Final Score that I did with Dave Bautista and I remember having the opportunity to audition with the director, I remember the team saying learn the lines and oh you need to have a Russian accent. I was like great, haha.. but I did what I needed to, do got in front of the Director and they said they will let me know. Now at the same time this was all happening I lost my Nanny Jean and I was at her funeral when I received a phone call to say you’ ve got the part, I remember thinking to myself of all the times to received the call it was today at her funeral and I thought she was watching over me and you know what, I could actually make this whole thing work.
What was the hardest part of breaking into acting coming from outside the traditional routes? I mean I’ m not going to lie, its a cut throat industry and so testing most off the time, but the rewards are incredible. And I think the hardest part was convincing myself that I deserved to be here, that I was there for a reason. I remember the late great Bernard Hill giving me the best piece of advice and he said“ Son, if you’ re in the room in front of them, they’ ve already seen something that they want”. And I had never looked at it this way, I had always put that additional pressure on myself before stepping in there, so for me it was dealing with that and overcoming it.
Did you ever feel like giving up— and if so, what kept you going? Lots of times, like so many times but when you’ re chasing the dream these things always cross your mind, its having them unbreakable spirit and perseverance to push through that makes you. And I believe that my Martial Arts background give me a little winning edge in this battle because I had been tested many times and many times I had overcome that test, so I thought here we are again, lets do it.
You’ ve now been part of huge productions like Gladiator— what was it like the first day you stepped onto a set of that scale? I remember thinking now this is movie making. We were out in Morocco and we where driven out into the desert to the set which was huge. I recall getting out walking into the castle and thinking wow now this is film making. Growing up as a child every ``Christmas etc we would sit there and watch the likes of Ben Hur, Spartacus, The Viking and they where massive monumental parts of cinema, now walking on to that set I thought“ dad you’ re going to see your son in one of the movies” it was breathtaking.
Was there a moment on set where it really hit you:“ I’ m in this film”? I mean Gladiator 2 aside I would have to say Mission Impossible, and getting to work with Tom Cruise, the biggest movie star in the world. I remember the first day on set thinking sh * t that’ s Maverick ha. A surreal moment but one I got to through years of hard working and dedication, countless hours of pushing my limits. Its funny because the Mission Impossible series is my Mum’ s favourite movies well that and Lord of the Rings ha, and couldn’ t believe I would be there in the movie franchise she loves. And not just in it but battling with Ethan Hunt himself Tom Cruise.
What surprised you most about working on a major Hollywood production? I mean the scale of some of these movies are so big and you can really get lost up in the moment. But the whole journey and process is incredible and to a super fan like myself its a surreal pinch me moment, I have to battle with the nerd in me trying to escape and remain professional. You soon realise that you are just a small part of the engine to get the film complete and that every department and every member of crew is essential for the completion of the movie, not just the people stood in front of the camera, there’ s lots of unsung heroes working day & night to get the job done.
How different is the reality of a film like Gladiator compared to what people imagine from the outside? As with the last question the audience only gets to see what’ s on the screen, but in reality the work that goes into a project like Gladiator II is incredible, and its hardwork. But I guess it’ s just like any job, when you are wanting to give it your all you do the things that are necessary to accomplish that. The time away from family alone is hard, think we were something like 4 months away on that in Morocco and Malta, so not getting to see Rachel and the kids is hard. But I’ m just grateful I’ m with someone who knows how hard I have worked to get where I am.
How has your approach to acting changed since your early roles? I think with more experience you learn to prepare that little bit better, especially for certain roles. Although I’ m quite lucky as I’ m always the bad guy and that’ s such a fun role to play. But preparation is key, not just to acting but to anything in life. Think if you make sure you’ re ready to go and cover all bases then you don’ t worry as much. And I think with experience I’ m a lot more relaxed on set now too, which helps massively.
Do you prepare differently now that you’ ve got more experience and bigger credits behind you? Preparation depends on the role really and this changes from production to production. For me and the roles I play staying fit and keeping in shape is a key importance. My roles always require me to perform, so I’ m always in the gym and making sure I’ m ready. My coach Luke Porter at Elite Strength & Performance is incredible and he got me ready for my last role, always holding me accountable and providing me with my training routines and nutrition, I lost over
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