RADA? i went to clown school!

Rupert’s entry into the acting world was an unconventional one – via a Government YTS (youth training scheme) and the circus. A bizarre combination? ‘Very much so,’ he says. ‘A friend’s mum worked in the job centre. She knew I was interested in acting and she phoned up and said, “This weird thing has happened: they’re looking for a trainee clown. Is Rupert interested?”’

Who knew circuses were so savvy about the YTS? ‘I don’t know if it was quite honest,’ he laughs. ‘One of their clowns had run off, and I guess they didn’t want to pay the full wage, so they cleverly got the Government to pay £25 for me to be called a trainee clown, but it got me into the industry because it got me an Equity card.’