A Different Side…
No one was more surprised – and pleased – than Ioan Gruffudd to be cast as such a dark character as Andrew Earlham. He is better known for nice guy roles such as Horatio Hornblower in the TV series Hornblower, kindly Kevin Sheperd in 102 Dalmatians and Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four movies.
“It’s been an incredible opportunity to play someone like this and I’ll forever be grateful for somebody believing in me, that I could present this sort of character,” he says.
“I hadn’t quite imagined how much impact it would have on me personally. There were moments when I was playing a scene and then we’d cut and I’d burst into tears, because you have to invest so much to make it believable. Also, you are trying not to comment on it, as a human being, but you are very aware of what you are doing and having to represent him. It makes you feel a bit sick.
“The role was a turning point in my career. As an actor you believe you can do everything. You have to have that sort of confidence. But then the reality kicks in that how you look and what you have done in the past are big factors because a lot of people don’t have imaginations at the higher up level, so you tend to get the same sort of things.
“I’ve had an incredible career and to have this moment now is immensely satisfying that
I am still acting and getting the chance to show a different side of myself, which I always knew was there but I probably hadn’t grown into somebody who would be believable.”