What’s your first acting memory? A school play or a drama club?
It probably would have been… well, what I can first remember is reading Robert Burns poems out in class. I got my big break in a Ken Loach Movie, I still vividly remember going to meet his researcher in my school. I took my best friend with me to keep me company. I remember thinking that I shouldn’t swear around and authority figure, but she just told me to go for it!

Did you ever watch something on TV or witness anything on stage that inspired you to take up acting?
Tons! The big thing was a Ken Loach Movie, called “My Name Is Joe”. I saw that film by accident when me and my friend took these girls on a double date. I can’t remember what we missed, but that was all that was on. It was set in Glasgow, I knew where it was, I knew the streets and I really related to it. I didn’t think it was possible for a person from where I am from, to follow that career. But I thought “well if these people can do it”.  So the next year, Ken Loach held open auditions at my school and I thought – I’m going!

Your first film, “Sweet Sixteen” featured at Cannes Film Festival, that’s quite an impressive credit so early on! How did it feel to know you were being displayed at a festival?
I’m glad I got to do it, I did it again with “Red Road” an Andrea Arnold film, because I didn’t get to take it in, although I did have an absolute blast! They took my parents with us, walking down the croisette in the sunshine, beautiful women everywhere you looked. One thing I remember, was the food – Being 17, going to all these ridiculously fancy restaurants. My taste is a bit more refined these days, but back then I couldn’t handle it and just kept eating in McDonalds.  With that being my first film, it was like “you do a film and you go to Cannes”, evidently it’s not that easy. But a couple of years later, I went again with Red Road and I really got to take in the magnitude and scale of the place, it was an incredible start. In someways, it was a bit of a monkey on your back. It was a great start, but I was playing someone of the same age from the same town.

Speaking of abroad, is there anywhere you would like to film that you haven’t?
I’ve filmed in New York, Rome and London, which were incredible. I’ve been to Japan but I’m yet to film there. I’d love to go back, it’s such a fascinating culture. They were the loveliest people I’ve ever met, they couldn’t do enough for you, just so happy all the time. Theres something, apparently called the Kochenco, which I’ve always wanted to see if its a myth or if it still happens. Where we have a slate, *clap* ACTION!, apparently the Japanese have some who flips in and then flips back out. He’s only allowed a certain amount of frames.

In A Guide To Recognising Your Saints, you were along side pretty high profile cast, do you see a lot of different acting styles amongst the actors or do they tend to follow similar methods?
It was quite varied, 21 years old, filming in Queens – seeing where they filmed “Goodfellas”, it was mind blowing. The energy was great to be amongst. Shia and Channing went on to do incredible things, everyone went on to do well after it. Definitely amongst a talented group of people. Channing has this amazing presence, Shia has a heart of Gold but he’s haywire, a handful. He’s just got that something, if you’d bottle it you’d be a millionaire. Pure charisma. It was very humble, still is. I went out for coffee, well – tea with the director after 10 years. We stay in touch with emails, we all live within a few miles of each other and were saying we want to meet up.

What has been your most challenging moment on set?
In “True North”, I was up a mast, recreating being in storm weather out at sea. In “Line Of Duty” that we are renowned for, it was the first time I’d done a bigger scene, it was daunting. Doing it with an accent, talking about forensic police nonsense.

Outside of acting, is there anything else you are interested in pursuing?
I was going to be a footballer, I played for a year. I was also going to Uni to be an accountant. The dream is to play for Celtics, but you’ve got to be aware of your limitations.  But I’m very happy where I am.

Quick Fire Questions, Romance or Action?
Well, if my wife was reading i’d say romance…but, Action!

Prosecco or Whiskey?
Whiskey!

Nightclub or cocktail bar?
Nightclub.

Vintage or latest trend?
Vintage

Interview by Ian Casey
Photography by Andrea Vecchiato
Grooming by Stan Watts @ The Kings Canary Salon, Fitzrovia.
Clothes by Antony Morato