In the closet

The soapland villain loves to shine in sequins and bright colours

Hollyoaks star Nathan Sussex reveals his style secrets

As Hollyoaks’ Buster Smith, 43-year-old Nathan snapped up the Villain of the Year award at last month’s British Soap Awards. The actor, who has appeared in Da Vinci’s Demons, Judge John Deed, Coronation Street, Doctors and Emmerdale, plays Hywel Morris in the film Last Summer and will soon be seen as Chris Albright in BBC’S Casualty. He lives in Cardiff. How would you describe your style? Casual but prepared to “zhuzh” it up a bit. I love a sequin. Which colours do you like? I’ve become more adventurous with colour. Lately I’m into bright blues, yellows and mustard. But my favourite colour is purple. I’m starting to care less about what people think and have the confidence to be more of a magpie. What were your style influences

growing up? As a teenager in the 90s I loved the denim, dollar medallions and high-top trainers. Club music was a huge influence. I totally embraced the fashion. I’d get the bus to Cardiff where there was an amazing fashion emporium. Sadly, it’s a coffee shop now.

Do you have a style icon? It’s about being able to pull off a style and look funky but age appropriate, too. David Beckham nails it.

How does it feel to have won Villain of the Year? I was over the moon. It was a great end to what was a crazy, challenging Hollyoaks storyline. I really enjoyed playing Buster. At first he came across as so likeable, but he had this horrendous dark side. When I saw he was a football coach, I knew I’d never get the part based on my dribbling skills. I know nothing about football. The script was brilliant. It was right that Buster was found guilty. What do you think of Buster’s wardrobe? He had money and the costume department kitted me out in a lot of Ted Baker. It’s a good fit, the quality is good and I love the flamboyant linings. I was lucky to keep some of Buster’s pieces. Who designed the jacket you wore to the awards? Nathan Palmer, a tailor in Penarth. He’s known for his jackets in amazing fabrics, florals and velvets, and dresses a lot of our rugby players. You are playing Chris Albright in Casualty soon. Tell us about him… He’s a helicopter emergency surgeon involved in a dramatic storyline that I can’t say too much about yet. But I get to massage a heart and it’s pretty gory. What do you wear to auditions? I tend to wear black so what I’m wearing doesn’t distract from what I’m saying. That said, I went for an audition for a painter and decorator character, so I wore clothes that had paint on them.

How do you keep fit? I run pretty much every day. I do about four miles and that keeps me in shape but also makes me feel good. What are your must-have grooming products? Terre d’hermès is my treat, but I like Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Acqua. I also like Acqua di Gio and Givenchy Ultramarine.

Which is your favourite fashion era? Apart from the 90s for the fun, I think the 50s for the sharp suits, skinny ties and crisp shirts. Which are your favourite highstreet stores? Ted Baker. I also like Zara and Asos online. Do you own anything vintage? My one vintage piece, and it’s a favourite, is a leather satchel I had in a play for the Cultural olympiad in 2012. I use it all the time.

Do you wear jewellery? only a watch my partner Jamie bought for my birthday. What is your favourite accessory? I have started to wear Peaky Blinders-style caps. What is the most outrageous

item in your wardrobe? A black and gold diamond patterned sequin shirt from Asos. How much do you spend on clothes each month? Not much because I do like a bargain. Probably a couple of hundred quid. What is the most expensive item you have ever bought? And best bargain? At £300, my Ted Baker peacoat is the most expensive. My best bargains are all the Ted Baker clothes I bought in a sample sale. Do you have a fashion pet hate? Crocs. They would be the first thing in the bin on Room 101. What is the oldest item in your wardrobe? In 1996 I went shopping with my mum and she bought me a T-shirt with 1996 on it. It’s got holes in, but I keep it for sentimental reasons.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? About 20, most gathering dust, as I tend to wear a handful of favourites.

Which item of clothing would you save from a burning house? My All Saints leather jacket. It was a Christmas present from my partner Jamie a few years ago.

Nathan has recently become more adventurous with colour and loves this yellow Zara jacket, which he teams here with a purple T-shirt from French Connection and Topman jeans

“I love a sequin,” confesses the actor, who wore this Nathan Palmer jacket for this year’s soap awards. He teams it with a black shirt and jeans from Topman and Kurt Geiger shoes

Below: Nathan keeps in shape by running four miles a day, typically in these pink shorts by Asos and this Ellesse sports top Above: Nathan bought his mulberry jacket and lime green T-shirt from Ted Baker, his favourite high-street store

Sporting a blue and purple floral blouson jacket and a cerise V-neck sweater, both by Ted Baker, and Topman jeans

Below: The “most outrageous” shirt in his wardrobe is, like his leopardprint jacket, from Asos. He bought the black jacket from Zara

Below: He wears a “handful of favourite” shoes like these by Kurt Geiger, his pink leather Ted Baker trainers and his “audition” shoes from Dune

Right: This vintage leather satchel goes everywhere with the actor

Right: Nathan loves his aftershave. Among his favourites are Terre d’hermès and Tom Ford Costa Azzurra Acqua. His Preston Smith watch is his only piece of jewellery and was a gift from his partner Jamie