We shoot Da Vinci himself – or rather, the actor who plays him in Da Vinci’s Demons, the best (only?) swashbuckling Renaissance-era drama around.
After profiling the lovely Laura Haddock (aka Lucrezia in Da Vinci’s Demons), we got a hankering to shoot the bad boy genius of the series itself, namely the actor Tom Riley. We weren’t initially sold on the idea of a leather-jacketed Da Vinci, but the Kent boy really sold us on the idea of a sexy polymath. Brains over brawn every time, right?
Most vivid childhood memory? I remember being at a story-reading in a local library as a 5 year old. It was a story about a dragon. Halfway through, a bunch of local students burst into the room dressed as a Chinese dragon. Despite being five, I laughed it off.
What was the last lie you told? I told you I laughed the Chinese dragon off when actually I wept so much I was thrown out of the library.
Fantasy or sci-fi? Sci-fi. The narrative rules in that world make for stronger story-telling, whereas fantasy can rely on magic to get you out of corners. If someone says that the trolls are coming over the Bridge of Orthonolingoshire I tend to switch off.
What’s your favourite item of clothing? I have a beautiful leather biker jacket from All Saints with sheep wool lining that is both awesome to look at and warm to be in.
Are you a lover or a fighter? A lover. Every time it looks like I might be getting into a fight I just kiss the guy till he surrenders.
What would you rather die without having? No material possession is better than life itself.
Marmite or Nutella? Nutella wins the thick brown paste war.
What’s your biggest fear? That I’m going to get found out.
What would you do if you were king? Be quietly smug in the fact that I had Helen Mirren waiting for me at home.
Favourite co-star? It changes from job to job but I have a very soft spot for three terrific actresses, who also became three of my best friends. Jemima Rooper, Imogen Poots and Laura Haddock.
Images: Jessie Craig
Words: Zing Tsjeng
Styling: Francesca Turner
Producer: Seona Taylor-Bell
Video: Joe Connor
Look 1: Patterned jumper by DSQUARED2, trousers by ALL SAINTS and brogue boots by GRENSON
Look 2: Knitted oversized sweater by MCQ and jeans, boots and necklace Tom’s own