Which actor, living or dead, do you most admire?

Probably Richard Burton – I admire how he started off in the theatre and was hugely respected as a stage actor, he had ups and downs in his career but has such power on screen – and I would imagine off screen as well. People become so animated when they talk about his performances – I think he’s got to be the one for me.

When were you bitten by the performing bug?

Always really. What made me seriously consider being an actor was seeing Mathew Reece’s performance in House of America when I was about 14. It made me think: Wow I’d love to do that.

What’s difficult about your job?

There’s a lot of pressure. If you do a long series like Misfits, you tend to lose track of a lot of friends because of the early starts and late nights. You can’t really complain, but you go into a tunnel in a way so that after you finish filming six months later you have to re-find relationships with your friends: It’s like “hello, I am still alive and sorry I’ve been a bit neglectful.”

Where are you happiest and most relaxed?

I suppose being in a room with people and not having to be in control, sitting back, letting the banter flow and chilling out with nice people who aren’t stressful.

What books are on your bedside table?

I’m not a massive reader because often you find yourself reading scripts all the time. At the moment I’m reading To Have and Not to Have by Ernest Hemmingway. It’s wicked. I was in an airport and I thought why not give Ernest Hemmingway a little go.

What do you like to drink, tea or something stronger?

It depends what I’m doing. I mean obviously tea if you’re sitting around, coffee right now, but a couple of beers if I’m out, whisky: single malt. And my flatmate works for a wine merchant so we drink some fine wines… which is very good.

What’s the best gift you’ve been given recently?

My old friend Lewis, who I live with, gave me a lovely decanter in crystal cut glass. I haven’t used it yet though. I need to buy some whisky to go in it.

Did you enjoy your sudden rise to fame?

That’s an interesting question because I don’t really feel that famous. I think I lead quite a normal life with the occasional something a bit different. I like getting on the train and normal stuff like doing the dishes, because you can so easily lose your mind in this world where everything’s done for you, you get picked up, driven to things, given stuff for free and all that madness.

You tend to play rather off-beat characters. What were you like at school?

Off-beat… no. I was just into skateboarding and playing in bands. I wasn’t a little weirdo or anything. I think I was kind of normal.

Can you tell me about your new release?

This new EP’s called Bang Bang. It’s a little bit different to Changing Times. Changing Times is a lot more produced and polished with more of a band feel where as this time we’re going for stripped down, raw and not 100 per cent produced. I think it’s the best thing I’ve done so far. Now the next step is to make a full-length album but I need to write it first.

What triggered your decision to leave Misfits?

I think I wanted to do something else. At the end of the second series it was different because I wasn’t obliged anymore contractually. I went to the producers and asked “What are you going to do, where is my character going?” I think I already had in my mind that I’d do one more series and leave because although I love it and I’m grateful for the opportunity it’s given me. I’m going to have to do something else: new challenges and all that malarkey.

A lot has happened and although you can’t reveal your character, how has filming Game of Thrones been?

It was brilliant, I really enjoyed. It’s such an epic production. It was really cool to do something different. I really like the show and watched it all in a week when I got offered the part. I was gutted at the end of the second series, I wanted to know what happens but had to wait until we got scripts.

Check out Iwan Rheon’s bandpage here.

Words: Ellie Sigman

The post IWAN RHEON: Interview appeared first on Wonderland.

Would you say that there is any part of your ‘real’ persona that you envelope onto your character Mac?

Mac definitely is one of life’s optimists. He tries to see the best in everything and everyone and I would like to hope I do the same. Mac is one of the nicest guys in the world.

How’s Mac different from the rest of the boys in the series?

Mac is all American. He grew up on a farm in a small town in Wyoming and has never really ventured out the state. He’s got real American values and is completely wide eyed to the goings on at Beaver Falls. He’s clean cut and loves his sport, especially basketball and doesn’t really go in for sitting up on the roof having a joint with the boys- well, not to begin with anyway.

You have very diverse range, from stage to the big screen. What would you consider to be your favourite thing about your chosen career?

I think just that – the diversity! In the last year I’ve got to travel the world and see amazing places doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been lucky to work with some amazing actors on fantastic scripts and feel like I’m learning and growing with it all the time. I love that you have no idea what tomorrow will bring let alone where you might be in a year or twenty years down the line.

What was your first ever role?

I played a rent boy in Shameless on Channel 4. I was just running round talking about fucking, stealing babies and handcuffing prostitutes to beds. It was a proper baptism of fire for my first job. I don’t think my Nan was pleased.

You must have to take a completely different approach to playing a character like Rafaello in The Borgias?

Doing something period always throws up so many different challenges. Stepping into a pair of knee high leather boots and a cape was always going to be a bit more of a stretch, but if you break it down they are still just people and The Borgias is so well written you see those people so clearly and can learn about them.

You’re also going to appear in the fresh series of Misfits. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you’ll fit into the show?

It’s a very small part but I’d always wanted to get involved. I’ve always loved the show and the way it’s shot are unlike anything else on TV. It’s really exciting for that, but I don’t have a power. I just get controlled by someone else’s.

What other parts are you interested in exploring?

I’ve spent the last while playing the good guy – the caring guy, the lover, the romantic… I love all that BUT I’d love to play someone really fucked up and demented and go a bit mad with it.

What else can we expect from you?

I’ve just got done filming a small part in an adventure movie called Legendary in Beijing and I’m currently on location in Paris shooting a new thriller detective series with Jean Reno called Jo, playing his right hand man, which is awesome. Hopefully everyone will like it as much as we do when it hits the air.

Words: Shane Hawkins

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I have to say the last few weeks have been pretty hectic, my eyelids keep wobbling begging me let them sleep. But as they say, the show must go on and last weekend I found myself bang in the middle of Latitude, with my eyes wide open. I’d describe it as the more whimsical, well-read & clever sister in the festival family tree. I walked the tightrope of artsy bliss and delirium (plus some coherent presentation for Sky Arts and hosting a Q&A with cast of “Misfits” in the Bafta tent). The lake, the woods, the poetry, the theatre. Do you surrender? Course I do..

Afternoon tea was served with some woodland nymph’s!

Loved The Cribs set on the Saturday afternoon. Both anarchic & tongue in cheek. Was good to see a set that packed a punch of pink punk.

I’m good friends with Ryan & his girlfriend. They have a pet rabbit called Fluffy. We joke that Fluffy has the most extreme of altar egos. Fluffy is wild & probably picked the wig. Was also glad to see that my pink hues complimented Ryan’s new tresses.

This is the Sky Arts studio where they were filiming the bulk of the coverage presented by Zoe Ball and Shaun Keaveney. It perfectly captured the festival, often studios and sets make me cringe but not this one..

I gave Kate Tempest the brief of ‘pensive’ for this snap. She was just about to wax lyrical live on telly. So ‘pensive’ seemed apropiate.

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In the eve, I filmed a tour of a ‘Winter’s ball’ & this was the setting, right in the forest. Latitude is unique in how much attention to visual detail goes into the secret and theatrical performance areas. That, you don’t get anywhere else.

Some astonishing contemporary dance in the middle of the night. Another example of what makes Latitude so spontaneous.

Brigitte Aprodite practicing before her poetry tent extravaganza in that dressing room, I mean camper, of hers.

And an insight into my friend Bri’s (granny rather than trendy) camper squished with a weekend’s worth of treasure.

This tee made me smile.

On the Sunday I was honoured to be asked by BAFTA to interview the cast of E4’s “Misfits” – they are an almighty cracking bunch of individuals – who created a lot of excitement with people responding to them like they were a band! Here we are sipping emergency berrocca in wine glasses before the Q&A.

In truth, I was bricking it to interview them live onstage in front of a jammed tent full of over six hundred people, but it was fun! Oh and check this lovely one – Joey [Joseph Gilgun] or Woody (as most know him) from ‘This is England’ who is new to the group & will be in series 3 of Misfits and plays the part of Rudy.

Until next time!

Words and photography: Gemma Cairney

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