SPOTLIGHT: Mr Daniel Mays

Daniel Mays is undoubtedly one of the most talented actors working in the UK today. Just watch his performances in some of TV’s biggest series’ over the last few years and you are bound to agree. Whether playing a drug loving, hanging on to his youth DJ in Ibiza in White Lines, or a soldier expressing his views on how the war should end in Atonement, or a gay journalist in the superb Against The Law, he picks roles that stand out, and that reveal an incredible talent.

As Daniel took some much deserved rest and relaxation time (he had spent the day on a paddle board in Salcombe, Devon), we interrupted the calm for half an hour to find out more about him.

White Lines has done really well. Are you at all surprised by its success, or was it expected?

On everything that I’ve been involved in, I have to take a shot in the dark but I knew that with the content of the script on White Lines, that it would be an audience pleaser. It turned out to be the perfect programme for lockdown as everyone could get their Ibiza fix. The ambition behind it was great. It’s a big story, that goes into flashbacks and I loved the characters. I knew that it was capable of being a real extravaganza with the storylines, location and acting.

What was it like to shoot the series in Ibiza?

Well we only actually shot four days in Ibiza! The majority of the shooting took place in Mallorca and all of the other interiors were Madrid. Mallorca is just as stunning as Ibiza so it was a picture perfect place from start to finish.

How did you get into the headspace of a character like Marcus in White Lines that seems to be all over the place?

Of all of the characters that I have played, I would put Marcus really near the top. He was a box of tricks and I loved playing him. There were so many layers to him. He seems to be quite an idiotic character, getting into ridiculous scrapes and struggling to make ends meet. I think everyone knows a guy like that - a party animal that never grows up. I think anyone that lives life on the edge like that can expect things to become unstuck eventually. As the series goes on, the veneer of stupidity gets stripped away and you find a damaged and lonely individual that just wants to hold his family unit together. I’d describe him as the archetypal loveable rogue.

How do you see the entertainment industry changing over the next year to cope with the current pandemic?

Everything ground to a halt in March. I think things are going in the right direction with TV and film. I start filming the second season of Code 404 in the middle of next month and I think people need content as what we have right now will run out pretty soon. Theatre is a completely different ballgame. The sooner we can get audiences back into theatres the better. All of these different mediums feed one another. Loads of great TV and film actors have started in theatre and I’ve always enjoyed going back to do a play. It’s a great medium for an actor to work in. I’ve been blessed that I’ve been quite busy bur it hasn’t been get same for other actors.

What drew you to a career as an actor?

I could recognise the longevity in a career as an actor. I was at stage school when I was very young and I when I was introduced to improvisation and acting something just clicked. It was basically all that I wanted to do and I feel blessed to do something that I love and that there are still roles that I haven’t played that interest me. The wonderful thing about being an actor is that you never know what is around the corner. The more you stick at it, the parts that you get offered are rich and complex.

What is the difference in the dynamic when working on film and TV compared to the theatre?

In terms of the genetics, there are the same thing, Acting is acting. With a play, you get around five weeks of rehearsal time which I love as its a period when you get to shape what the play will be. Once you’ve opened you have a huge responsibility to give the same performance night after night so the stamina sticks in. I did a play called Mojo in the West End with Rupert Grint and we did a hundred shows. I think you have to have a real discipline to make sure that every performance is as good as the first.

In comparison, filming is a completely different ballgame. You’ve got to be in the moment whenever the camera is turned at you. On TV or film you are at the beck and call of the director and its a static, stop, start process whilst the theatre is a journey every night.

What advice would you give to young actors that look up to you?

I always say that they have to have resilience and staying power. It’s an overpopulated and competitive industry and you have to know what your strengths are and what you can offer as an actor. I would say to play to those strengths when you leave drama school. Make sure you are fully prepared for auditions try not to have any regrets when you leave the room.

What was it like to work on a Star Wars production?

It was incredible. I’m a huge Star Wars fan but the experience was quite unreal. I was part of the reshoots, when the casting director called my agent to say that I had been offered a part. It turned out to be a pivotal scene. Obviously I got blown up, but the whole experience was great. I was sworn to secrecy and couldn’t tell anyone. When I went to get fitted for the costume, it was so top secret that I had to be covered with a black cape so no-one could see the costume. I was thrilled that the scene made the movie and it was great to be part of it.

What research did you do for Against The Law?

It was a role that I wouldn’t typically get asked to play. I’m good friends with the director, Fergus O’ Brian. I went out for lunch and initially I was making all of the right noises but to be honest I was vert nervous about all of the intimate scenes. It was a big challenge for me. I had to step out of myself take the responsibility on. My wife convinced me to do it and I’m really pleased that she did. Of all of the parts that I’ve done, the ones that scare you a bit are always the ones that give the most satisfaction. With all my work with Richard Gadd, who played Eddie, I wanted it to be completely believable that they were head over heels in love with one another. Fergus directed it with such precision and nuance and I found the whole story really moving. It wasn’t that many years ago that gay men were being treated in such a barbaric way. It was the most rewarding job that I’ve ever done.

Tell us about Des

Des is really exciting. It’s all about the serial killer Dennis Nilsen, played by David Tennant. It’s told through the point of view of his biographer Brian Marcus, who is played by Jason Watkins and befriended him when he was in prison. It’s a three part drama and I play DCI Peter Jay who was the investigating officer in charge of his conviction. It’s such a notorious case in British crime history and I feel like we’ve really lifted the lid on the story. Having read the book and watching everything that I could that my character had been involved in, I noticed that he had investigated murders before but they had never seen evil on this scale before. Back in the early Eighties, policemen were never given any counselling and were encouraged to go down the pub and drink through it. I loved working so closely with David Tennant who is utterly spellbinding in the part. It's already been picked up by Sundance in America and I’ve seen a rough cut and its really impressive.

What are the prime considerations when selecting a project to work on?

It's always a combination of things. Firstly it’s looking at the quality of the writing. The role needs to be different and something that I’ve not played before. Taking Marcus from White Lines as an example, as soon as I got to the part where he is pulling an inflatable banana full of drugs, I thought that it was imaginative, bonkers and funny that it was a complete no brainer. Of course you look at the other actors involved and weigh it all up. Before White Lines I had never worked with Netflix before so that was a box that I wanted to tick.

Are you conscious of having a legacy as an actor?

Yeah I’m pretty aware of that. I’ve always loved actors like Daniel Day Lewis and Gary Oldman who had such an impressive body of work. If you can look back on your career and be satisfied that you’ve done everything really well. Leaving a body of work that is impressive and its always so nice when people stop and say that they have really loved something that you have been part of.

How comfortable are you with the fame side of things?

It’s something that I have adapted to and gotten used to. I see it as the final hurdle after the acting, to try and sell the product. I was hesitant to go on social media until I saw many other actors that I admired doing it and I thought that I had been missing a trick. I think if you can recognise yourself as a product, it can be enjoyable.

And finally, what makes a rakish gent?

I’m immediately thinking of high leather boots and tweed.

Quick fire questions

Ideal travel destination - Salcombe, Devon where I am right now

Best store in the world - Selfridges

Gadget of choice - My Apple Watch

Go to pair of shoes - White Vans

Brand/ designer of choice - All Saints

Favorite fragrance - Paco Rabanne

Essential grooming product - Matte clay for my hair

Recommended app - the one that counts your calories when you run

Icon - Robert De Niro

White Lines is on Netflix now.

Follow Daniel Mays on Instagram.

Tajinder HayerJuly 22, 2020Daniel mays, spotlight, interview, long reads, editorial, photography