The Rakish Gent Paper 5 - Sean Teale

Photography - Alan Gelati at Werth Represents

Roll neck - Connolly, Coat - Oliver Spencer

Actor Sean Teale has a particularly busy autumn with the release of the film Rosaline playing Dario opposite Kaitlyn Dever. The comedy also stars Minnie Driver and Kyle Allen. Over recent months Sean has also been filming new series Palomino, created by the makers of The Crown.

Tell us about Dario, the role that you play in Rosaline

Dario arrives in Verona a decorated soldier/sailor in the Genoese Navy, but doesn’t have many prospects on land and is realistically more comfortable when at sea. He’s this sort of honest, quick witted, soldiery type that acts like he doesn’t want to get involved or is unaffected by people’s lives, but deep down is good hearted and cares. I don’t want to give it all away but there’s a rugged strength about him that comes from living and fighting in those times - the question is is he a loveable man too.

Do you enjoy working in comedy? Does it present any unique challenges?

I guess I’ve found myself in more dramatic projects than comedies so to speak so it was a really nice change of pace. All of it’s about chemistry anyway and you kind of have to just completely commit to the tone, and the world you’re living in. Luckily medieval times were hilariously and shockingly awful. There’s just this endless amount of moronic backward ideals and then bizarre superstitions and styles across everything in life - the movie highlights a lot of them. I grew up watching Princess Bride, Robin Hood Men in Tights, A Knight’s Tale etc so making a medieval comedy was great.

What was it like working with such a popular comedy actress like Kaitlyn Dever?

Oh man it was just a pleasure. I have to say she’s a popular Everything actress, if we’re to label in any way. She’s basically just prodigiously talented across the board, in all genre’s. That said she’s hilarious in this film and we got to have this great wind up, antagonistic relationship that deep down is really affection. At points it was seriously hard to focus.

You filmed in some amazing locations in Italy. What was a highlight for you during filming?

The highlight for me was leaving that god forsaken place. I’m kidding it was incredible. My apartment in Rome sat directly opposite the colosseum so I can’t deny waking up to that view every morning was special. Looking back, the whole shoot was absurd - we were spoiled. These ancient castles had endless hedge mazes and vineyards and there we are, eating ice cream at lunch, talking absolute rubbish in our tights. Some of the moments in Tuscany, or at the lake Dario docks his boat at, almost made my brain explode.

What can you tell us about the project you’re filming in Spain?

Not to be irritating but I’m actually not sure! I’m worried my doors going to get kicked in by studio heavies as I answer this. I can say it’s a Netflix show set in the suburbs of Barcelona, and that it’s ultimately a story about my wife Erin, and whether she is who she claims to be. It’s part action thriller part family drama with violence and some comedy so there’s lots of shades to it. They’ve just blown my door off its hinges..

How has filming in Barcelona been?

Honestly it’s been as lovely as it sounds. It’s one of the greatest cities to visit but living and working here has been something else. The people, the food, the culture, history, the nightlife, all of it. It’s a double edged sword part of the job - you get to move to new places and immerse yourself in them but you’re also away from home. Luckily it’s close enough everyone that wanted to visited, so we genuinely feel very lucky. I’ve actually just wrapped today on series 1 and it was a real moment. This cast and crew has a very special bond and that admittedly doesn’t always happen.

Have you had to do any specific preparation for the role?

My character Jordi is Spanish, and bilingual. Having to act in two languages was a challenge that drew me to the show. Outside of the usual prep, working on my fluency in Castellano was vital because ask any Spaniard they could tell my Latin American or British roots from a mile away. Shout out to my mum the tutor! Jordi’s also a nurse at the local hospital so I did some work with medical professionals and on set medics on day to day nurse care and things such as suturing that was invaluable. The hours spent trying to put Latex Gloves on quickly..

Do you have fond memories of Skins?

I do! It was such a wild ride whichever way you look at it. I mean just being that age for a start.. I got the part on my 18th birthday, the same day as my last A-level so I was finally 18, free from school and presented this new madness all at the same time. It didn’t get much less intense after that feeling, frankly. That’s not to say it was easy. There were a lot of really tough, trying situations mixed in with these special moments with some wonderful people.

Did you know at the time how much of a milestone it would be?

More than anything it was a hugely invaluable experience that I’m still grateful for. I mean in retrospect, I do think we were reminded of it at the time. Of how fortunate we were or should feel, in interviews or just at work. That’s not to say we weren’t grateful or aware, we were! Completely. I knew how incredibly fortunate I was and I was wracked with insecurity about it. But I will say after a lot more time doing this I feel the sense at work should be that you are lucky to have that job, and that said job is lucky to have you. I know we were young, but at times I think it leant too strongly towards the former than the latter and looking back there’s some things I know now should’ve been done differently.

How do you choose the roles that you play? They have all been quite unique and different to one another

To be honest, part of the answer is in your question. It’s about variety - I want to try everything. I’ve seldom met anyone that wants to sit in the same creative space over and over. There’s of course characters that you love that you’re willing to play for a long time, or types of roles that people align with more and are content with, but I’d like to experience every type of situation I can. Acting is the closest I’ll get to having superpowers or actually performing surgery - I’m up for more challenges.

What made you decide to pursue acting as a serious career?

I feel bad for my parents because I was quite a performative child as it was. But I’ve always gravitated towards film, theatre and everything else that story telling permeates. I was useless at school but needed an outlet for all this irritable energy and started performing and writing as much as I could. Growing up I didn’t feel like I had a thing or a place, and acting gave me that. It gave me my life.

A full version of this feature can be found in The Rakish Gent Paper issue 5.

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