Jacob Fortune-Lloyd: The Man with the Midas Touch

Trench coat & Sweater - Brunello Cucinelli, Earring - Jacob’s own

Creative Direction - Michael Gray

Grooming - Tim Pateman for The Lion & The Fox

“It could have been all hard rock and roll and brutal, but it’s touching, emotional and tender,” says Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, 36, of his portrayal of Brian Epstein, the brilliant, troubled man who discovered The Beatles and masterminded their rise to global phenomenon in a new biopic, Midas Man.

Building on remarkable performances in Bodies, The Queen’s Gambit, See How They Run and Wolf Hall, Jacob’s first lead role as the unofficial ‘fifth Beatle’ in Midas Man, represents a significant mile stone in his screen career.

Suit - Paul Smith, Shirt - Chateau Orlando, Belt - Anderson’s at MR PORTER, Earring - Jacob’s own

“It could have been all hard rock and roll and brutal, but it’s touching, emotional and tender,”

What were the key challenges of portraying a real-life character like Brian Epstein, versus a fictional role?

The useful thing about fiction is you can do whatever you want. You've got the script and your imagination, and maybe some conversations with the director and the writer. I was quite quickly aware that Midas Man was a very different sort of thing. You have huge amounts that you can work from, the tricky thing is to know where to stop and trust that you've done enough. It is daunting because people really know a lot, and they really care a lot, and you want to get it right. You want to honour these people, you want to honour the man himself. And, you're aware it’s someone who's very much still alive, or still connected to people who are very much alive in the public imagination. So, you're joining a world of very dedicated, knowledgeable people who will have strong feelings about it.

What kind of research did you do to prepare for the role?

Unusually, I had five or six months before we started filming, so I had lots of time to research. There are two really good books that I used; a pretty good biography, written not so long after his death, which really explained how fast things moved when it really got going, and a compilation of memories from his friends, family and colleagues, with his own journal entries. The journal entries were really useful to understand what he was like as a young man, and how he felt about himself - which was not always good.

I also met some important people, including Freda Kelly, who was his personal assistant when he was in Liverpool, and she ran The Beatles fan magazine. The production was very keen that she was behind the project and that her support was there. Meeting someone who was that close to him and knew him and still loved him very much, felt very special, and also just made me feel closer to the whole thing.

What do you hope the audience will take away, and how do you think it will resonate with both younger and older viewers?

Unless you've done a deep dive into Brian Epstein, most people don't know much about his private life, or his struggles with his sexuality. So, that’s fresh to everyone. I mean, people have a sense of that, but not actually what happened, or really what it was like. I suppose the difference is older people who lived through that period, they may have had a similar experience to Brian, or knew people who went through something similar. To younger people, perhaps that’s quite shocking. We’re aware that being gay was illegal back then, and unfortunately, it’s still like that in lots of places in the world today.

It also could have been a film that you learned a lot, but you never really got in there. From people's reaction so far, they feel like they get close to the man, yes, they get some access to the human heart, which I think is quite hard to achieve in biopics, especially when you're covering so much ground. I always wanted to bring out the vulnerable, sweet, slightly floundering person, within the extraordinary achievement, and the enormous success and ambition, to do both.

“You want to honour these people, you want to honour the man himself. And, you're aware it’s someone who's very much still alive, or still connected to people who are very much alive in the public imagination.”

Sweater - Brunello Cucinelli, Earring - Jacob’s own

How did your collaborative approach with director, Joe Stephenson, help you capture the emotional depth and humanity in Brian Epstein’s story?

I love working with Joe. He’s brilliant on set. He's very calm, he's very gracious. He wants to know what you think. He's not a director who says, “this is what I want, this is what you should do.” It's always a conversation. He trusted me with my side of things, and I trusted his.

Midas Man has a fantastic cast, and Jay Leno pops up to play Ed Sullivan, which must’ve been fun. What was it like to film that scene together?

I loved that day. It was very, very special. He was great and very funny, and full of stories. It was doubly surreal, Jay Leno, talk show host playing another talk show host, and I got to sink my teeth into burger after burger.

Puppies, spicy wings and chicken shops. What would be your dream chat show appearance?

I grew up watching Graham Norton, that would be a dream. And, for my family and friends, it would be some kind of extraordinary arrival - they might notice what I do!

How often do you get recognised these days?

Usually when something has just come out, like after The Queen's Gambit it was sort of intense for a few weeks, and then it dies away. But, it's at a very lovely level where it's the odd person, and you’ll chat and move on. It's good, I can live with that. I'm very happy, I'm very happy. Largely anonymous, thank you.

Brian Epstein was a dapper man, a rakish gent. How much did slipping into his bespoke suits help you find the character?

A lot, actually, a lot. Actors don’t feel like they’re ‘in it’ until they put the shoes on. With Brian, and things getting fitted to me, makes me realise the kind world that person moved in. It obviously takes you very rapidly to the period and wearing something that is extremely well made with very fine fabric makes you feel differently, it makes you stand differently. It’s this feeling of being on show.

It was an interesting contrast with Bodies. As DS Charles Whiteman, I was wearing this beautiful three-piece suit from the 1940s much of the time, as a man who was big, upright, and bolshy, he was macho, and made me stand up straight and take space. Whereas that's not really what Brian was like. Brian was shy, introverted and if you see him in interviews he comes across as much more cautious, but he’s wearing these very fine suits. I had to resist what the clothing is asking you to do, which is to take space and look very fabulous. Brian did look fabulous, but there was always a slight discomfort in taking that space.

How did you work together with Libby Irwin, the costume designer?

She was very on top of it all, remaking some of the original pieces. All the shirts were properly made and fitted by Turnbull & Asser.

There was a beautiful trench coat from Burberry which was something very, very similar to what he wore, and it was adjusted to make it period specific. I wore it up to Liverpool for the Midas Man premiere, and it felt right.

Vest - Mr P at MR PORTER. Trousers - Dunhill, Ring - Thomas Sabo

When you’re not in costume, how do you like to dress?

I spend so much time such in extraordinary costumes, when I get home I like to just slouch around. Maybe I've gotten a little bit more formal as I've gotten older. Chris Kerr made the suits and I do have a couple as they were fitted to me, and I am tempted to update my wardrobe - just walking around town in Turnbull & Asser shirts, Chris Kerr suits and Burberry trench coats. I save my dress up for my professional work, and in my personal life I have to be comfortable. Dressing up is fun for special occasions. Red carpet is really fun, we partnered with Burberry for the premiere of Midas Man, which felt apt as they were supporting.

“I spend so much time such in extraordinary costumes, when I get home I like to just slouch around.”

Was it nice to be back in Liverpool for the premiere?

I was just thrilled to be in Liverpool. Of course, quite a lot of the story also takes place in London as well, because Brian moves his record company, NEMS Enterprises down there. I think he was always keen to be moving and shaking with the best of them in the capital, but he also loved Liverpool. I love the city, it’s a really beautiful city. It’s true that people are friendly. We filmed in some amazing places; in the old Adelphi Hotel, which is where Brian would have gone for lunch, and in the Philharmonic pub, which is where he would have drunk. Of course, if you know Liverpool, and you see those places, it’s pretty special and exciting for people. But whether you do or not, it makes the film feel authentic.

Who are you listening to these days?

My taste is very eclectic. I’m going to see Say She She, which is kind of disco-pop, and Peter Cat Recording Co., kind of Indian inspired music with British rock and roll and some funk influences. I grew up loving soul music, funk and jazz. My Dad loved classical music. My Mum sometimes played Motown. You can’t talk about genre anymore - most popular music is a complete mash up.

Do you have a favourite Beatles’ album or song?

The first time I sat down and really listened to their albums, properly, from start to finish, was on this film. I love Help! and Sgt. Pepper, but it has to be Revolver because it’s such a masterpiece. You’ve still got a little bit of a feel of the early Beatles, but it’s clearly moving into a different direction. I love hearing the early psychedelia, on Revolver it feels really well integrated, and every song in there is amazing, especially “I’m Only Sleeping,” sung by John Lennon.

Finally, do you have a favourite Beatle?

Well, my favourite Beatle has to be fifth. It’s the only answer I can possibly give.

Watch Midas Man, streaming now on Prime Video.

Follow Jacob Fortune-Lloyd on Instagram.

Tajinder HayerNovember 4, 2024spotlight, long reads, interview, editorial, photography