Wonderland talk to Luke Pasqualino, a young actor back from the dead.

Bomber jacket by PAUL SMITH

“We’re going to kill you. Sorry, you’re going to die.” Not Wonderland on Blue Monday, but the talent agent of one Luke Pasqualino, Italy-via-England’s new pretty boy soubrette. 2009 saw him shoot to fame as the weed-smoking, skateboarding adolescent Freddie McClair from Skins’ Second Generation, until his character met a grisly end. “They took me out to dinner to tell me,” he says. “I lost my appetite pretty soon after that.” This year, Camrbridgeshire-born Pasqualino bounces dramatically back, starring in both historical melodrama The Borgias alongside Jeremy Irons and sci-fi action thriller Snowpiercer – shot in Prague with “dear friend” John Hurt. Wonderland caught up with the actor just after he’d finished dusting off his barnyard-appropriate attire, playing D’Artagnan in high budget BBC series The Musketeers.

Shirt, jacket, trousers and embellished slippers all by PRADA

Explain your miraculous career bounce-back! Freddie is dead… long live Freddie.

I think just not losing your enthusiasm, basically. I was aware from the very start that you know you’re never going to get every role that you go up for. I think you have to be quite a resilient soul and if you can get over that, the rest of it will come easy. It’s never going to come easy, but easier for sure.”

The likes of Nicholas Hoult have used Skins as a really successful springboard. How did it help you find bigger and more interesting parts, do you think?

“Skins has got quite a knack to cultivating very good young talent like Joe Dempsie, Hannah Murray, Jack O’Connell, Kaya Scodelario… quite a few of those young actors who’ve come on to do really well. You never know until it happens, but you have to keep it in the back of your mind.

Hawaiian print jacket, shirt, trousers and belt all PRADA

Tell us about playing D’Artagnan.

It was one of my biggest roles to date. It’s up there. I was over the moon when I found out I got it: such an iconic character in literary history.

What sort of training was involved for the part?

They put us through a one week boot camp – which involved everything, really. From getting up at five in the morning, to getting down to the stables making sure the horses are washed and cleaned. Then we’d start riding lessons for a couple of hours, then two or three hours of stunts. Then we’d head out into the woods for a few hours and carry on sword fighting. Obviously, you learn as you’re going.”

If you had free reign to pick any role to play, what would it be?

I’d love to do a biopic… I’d love to depict someone like Marlon Brando and do more theatre as well. As the material is good and is something I can commit to and invest in.

Any words of advice for wannabe actors?

“The quote that my dad told me from a young age was: “successful people do what unsuccessful people can’t be bothered to do.” Amen to that!

Words India Blue Van Spall
Photographer Harry Carr
Fashion Madeleine Ostile
Grooming Louis Ghewy at The Book Agency using NIP + Man and BUMBLE AND BUMBLE
Fashion Assistance Charlotte Davy