What made you want to become an actor?
I didn’t have a lightbulb moment as such but I think the realisation that I loved it and that people seemed to think I was good at it drip fed into me over the years. Every time I had to choose a school subject, a university, a course to study etc, they gradually became more and more drama focused. I distinctly remember at senior school thinking that the only lesson in which I was gutted when the bell went was drama.

Do you draw inspiration from any long-time actors?
I think there’s always something to learn from any and every actor I see or work with. Specifically I think Tom Hanks inspires me to be a nice person as well as a great actor. Leonardo DiCaprio shows that it’s possible to almost never make a bad movie. His choices are immaculate. And Christian Bale inspires me to go there, go that extra mile, to push yourself.

Which is your favourite genre to act in?
They all have their own pros and cons of course. I find period stuff gives us a real chance to step back in time and come as close to experiencing what the world was like at a given time and that’s fascinating. I’ve done a fair bit of comedy on stage but I’d say that’s a genre I’d like to dip my toe into more on screen.

What was the hardest thing to overcome in your acting career?
As probably any actor will agree, it’s the time not acting that makes being an actor hard. Whether it’s 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years, not getting a job and landing slap bang back at square one every time is something you never get used to. The prospect (however realistic) that this might be it, I might never work again, is always impossibly hard to get used to. And overcoming that I think is a full time, never going away, type of affliction that we are subjected to throughout our careers. But we love a challenge us actors!

What has been your proudest moment?
Getting in to RADA one of (if not the) greatest drama school in the world is pretty hard to beat to be honest. It’s such a tangible achievement, it’s known and respected across the world and getting a place there really means something. I think it also finally convinced my parents that I was maybe meant to do this acting stuff, and that made them proud and in turn concreted my pride. I had the best time there and still feel lucky to have gone.

Have you ever been star struck while acting? If so, by who?
Twice most notably. The entire time I was around Tom Hardy on Legend I was star stuck. He has such an energy and presence that it’s easy to feel that way. I had no idea had to broach a conversation with him at first. He was lovely when I plucked up the courage to though! Secondly I did a chemistry read with Rowan Atkinson for one of the Johnny English films and I simply couldn’t stop finding him so brilliant and hilarious that it meant I essentially screwed up my audition – couldn’t stop laughing. Just to stand next to him and act out a scene was a real treat. I was still at drama school, so I give myself a little benefit of the doubt in hindsight.

What would your dream role be as an actor?
I’d love a crack at a biopic. There’s something special about being able to recreate and honour someone special’s life in a film. I look at the likes of Ray, Ali, Theory of Everything, Beautiful Mind etc and day dream about who I could play. As a musician I reckon I could take a crack at someone like Elton John or Paul McCartney maybe. They often win the odd Oscar too, which is nice.

Nick can be seen in Midsomer Murders on ITV in 2017.

Interview  by Ian Casey
Photography by Andrea Vecchiato
Hair by Stan Watts @ The King’s Canary Salon
Make up by Bella Costanzo
Clothes by Anthony Morato, Shoes by Converse.