ROSS LYNCH

IS YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND…

ADisney Channel darling on Austin & Ally and pop sensation with R5, Ross Lynch now proves his indie credentials with My Friend Dahmer. “I’ve always wanted to do something like this,” he grins. Playing serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in his teen years is the perfect way for the 22-year-old Colorado native to shatter that wholesome Mouse House image…

Was Dahmer a disturbing role to play?

It definitely affected me. When you’re a young actor – and I blame this on all the on-set romances I’ve had as well! – you’re saying and believing certain things. If you don’t believe it, the audience won’t believe it either. It was never too overwhelming. I wasn’t crying inside. But I definitely felt a layer of clouds.

You show Dahmer as a lonely teen. Did you come to sympathise with him?

I don’t know if I can say I understand [him], because to understand you have to somewhat justify what he did. How could you? You should be able to go through anything and not have to do [what he did]. But I do sympathise with him in a weird way. He’s just a kid going through all this stuff and no-one’s there to help him.

Will you carry on juggling acting and singing?

Yeah, that’s the idea. So far we’ve been able to do it pretty well. In the middle of this movie I was shipped off to Japan for five days for a music festival. Right smack in the middle of filming. Then I flew back and was Jeffrey Dahmer again!

You briefly popped up in Muppets Most Wanted. How was that?

It was a fun experience! At the time, it was the biggest production I’d ever seen. It was really cool to be at the Tower of London, where we shot. Also to interact with Muppets! JM

ETA | 1 JUNE / MY FRIEND DAHMER OPENS NEXT MONTH.