SPOTLIGHT: Mr Luke Newberry

Photography - Nicholas Andrews

Interview & styling - Taj Hayer 

Grooming - Tom Fraser using Maria Nila Stockholm & Rodial 

All clothing - Gieves & Hawkes 

Luke Newberry’s young age (he is aged just 29) belies the intelligent and unique roles that he has inhabited to date. Perhaps best known for the leading role of Kieren in the BBC’s supernatural In The Flesh, for which he earned a BAFTA nomination portraying a reanimated zombie, he has gone on to roles that have fundamentally been of interest to him but that also seem to make sense of the times. Dusty & Me (2016) told the story of a young couple that bond over a greyhound, and put to bed the long held belief that one should not work with animals. On stage, at the National Theatre he played Haemon in the 2012 production of Antigone and more recently was awarded an Ian Charleson Award for his role as Malcom in the 2018 Royal Shakespeare Company of Macbeth.  Those themes of love, family and ambition are as relevant now as they have ever been. 

His next big project, scheduled to hit screens in early 2020 is as Monty Blackett in The Singapore Grip. Set during the Second World War, it tells the story of a British family living in Singapore at the time of the Japanese Invasion. Adapted from the JG Farrell novel by screenwriter Christopher Hampton and producer Damien Timmer, the ITV series sees Newberry appear alongside heavyweights such as Charles Dance, David Morrissey and Jane Horrocks. 

Here at The Rakish Gent, we have a honed list of personalities that we feel are worthy of having the Spotlight on them. Luke has been top of that list for quite some time, so when he returned from shooting The Singapore Grip we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to sit down for a bottle of water and two bananas.

Tell us about The Singapore Grip

It’s a book by JG Farrell adapted by Christopher Hampton into a six part series. In it, I play Monty Blackett who is the son in a very wealthy family living in Singapore in the Forties, during the Second World War. They are a pretty extravagant family, that come from the rubber business. It’s interesting because it covers a period that I wasn’t taught at school and in fact, I don’t think is taught at school, that being the fall of Singapore and Colonialism. It was a great experience and should be on screens in the first half of the new year. 

When did you first know that you wanted to take acting seriously?

I think it would have been when I was about 16 and at college. I’d already been acting for quite a while from the age of around 10 but concentrated on school, growing and everything else that comes with that awkward age. I went on to do my A-Levels and studied film-making and was possibly interested in being a Director of Photography as we were making short films every week and we had to learn lighting and things like that and the technical elements were all really useful. I knew I wanted to go to drama school so the time came to pursue that properly. I think I’ve always been pretty one track and never seriously thought of doing something else. It’s only now that I’ve wondered whether I want to try and learn something else, like a language and I’m curious to try new things as its all been so singular minded. 

What are you proudest of, to date?

In The Flesh was a very magic job where the writing, directing and actors all slotted into place and it just seemed to work, which doesn’t happen very often. I did a film called Dusty & Me which was shot in about 5 weeks and it was then hardest shoot I’ve done because it was intense. It was morning to night, long days so at the end of those five weeks I was proud of what it was and I’d never done a big part in a film before. It was a big challenge and there was a lot to reckon with, with the animals and stuff and there were lots of obstacles to overcome. 

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now I’m on a shoot for The Rakish Gent! Aside from that I’m trying to get better at being between roles and looking at what roles I want to do and why I want to do them. I would work every day if I could but I think making the right choices is important. 

On those days involving long and tiring shoots, what do you do to switch off?

I’ve never really struggled to leave the work. On Dusty & Me I was doing an accent which made it easier. I’ve always found that I’m busy when I’m not working, which is normally when I am taping for things or learning a lot of lines very quickly. When I have a role I can focus on that as opposed to being spread too thinly. I love working so when finishing a job, I’m often looking for the next thing but I think I’m getting better at not working and just being me. Weirdly, most people do the job that they do every day so feel purposeful everyday. As an actor, it's easy to feel useful when having a character to play and I’m doing what I need to do. I think you just have to keep yourself active and ticking over. 

How important is it for an actor to have a social media presence?

I would hope that it's not important. I’m on social media but try not to share too much. It can be a source for good but I have to be quite strict with myself. I recently uploaded some pics from a summer trip where I was taking loads of photos and not really doing anything with them and I enjoyed that. 

And finally what makes a rakish gent?

A maverick, or a man that evokes an eccentricity. 

Quick fire questions 

Ideal travel destination - Japan

Best store in the world - Liberty's 

Gadget of choice - Film camera 

Go to pair of shoes - White trainers 

Brand /designer choice - Vivienne Westwood as I like her ethics 

Favourite fragrance - Burberry Touch 

Essential grooming product - Kiehl’s moisturiser 

Recommended app - Podcasts 

Icon - Grayson Perry 

Follow Luke Newberry on Instagram.