Nature voice-over actor is a man of many talents
Thoren Ferguson is back with a new documentary series
Fast-rising star Thoren Ferguson is steadily building his reputation as one of the most versatile performers in Scotland.
Whether it’s being a foil for John Rebus in the forthcoming new detective series, a celebrated fiddle player or voice-over artist in the mould of Sir David Attenborough, Thoren’s career has all the right foundations. And if it doesn’t work out? He’ll simply return to being a builder.
The multitalented actor is voicing BBC Scotland’s new wildlife documentary series, Scotland The New Wild, which begins tonight.
Thoren worked on Edinburgh building sites before moving into showbusiness.
“I was a self-employed stonemason. I’ve worked for different builders and I’ve done more stuff building new walls or repairing traditional buildings around Edinburgh and Scotland, doing things like pointing or rebuilding stone,” he said.
“The last couple of years, because the acting has taken off I’ve been really busy so I’ve not had too much time to do those things, but it’s something I still enjoy doing because I really like working with my hands, doing things like woodworking. It’s something I still want to keep my hand in.
“I feel like a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. I’ve worked as a stonemason, I’ve worked with adults with learning disabilities. I probably wouldn’t see myself as one or the other, just a combination of all of these things.”
In Scotland The New Wild, documentary makers reveal the fascinating lives of animals living in the remote Monach Isles as well as closer to home in our biggest cities. Doing voice work led to inevitable comparisons with Sir David Attenborough, but it was another more local star from which Thoren took inspiration.
He said: “Well, I’ve watched Sir David throughout my life and obviously the stuff he’s done is incredible. I’ve seen all his documentaries and I’ve loved them. I didn’t think I was going to watch him and take inspiration from his style. I just had to go in and try my own sort of spin. And it was very easy in a way because the footage is so good.
“When I joined the agency, I noticed they’d used Ewan McGregor as one of the actors they represent. I thought, well, Ewan’s not always going to be available and people have said I’ve got a similar accent. So I thought there might be an opening there. It’s a real privilege to follow in his footsteps.”
Thoren was born in New Zealand before his parents moved to the Black Isle for several years, then he moved to Edinburgh.
He lives in Musselburgh but enjoys spending time being close to nature.
“Whenever there’s good weather, like we’ve had recently, I’ve been off into the middle of nowhere,” he said. “I just grab the tent and the bag and try to find somewhere new off the beaten track.
“Connecting with nature is good for the soul and I always feel reinvigorated after some time away. Coming back home after that is the best feeling.
“I’ve seen badgers, foxes, peregrine falcons, red squirrels, dolphins. Even those of us who live in cities in Scotland, nature is an hour away and you know you can be in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by the most amazing wildlife. It’s really pretty special.”
Thoren is also an award-winning fiddle player with ceilidh band The Jacobites.
“I think these skills come from my nature because I love doing different things, rather than just sticking to one thing I love to do,” he explained. “I’ve always been interested in trying and doing different things.
“I was at state school and they asked us to put our hand up if we wanted to learn violin and I thought I’d give it a bash.
“We started doing classical music and I was going off it. But we got a new teacher who played Scottish fiddle. She was amazing. I remember the moment she started playing jigs and reels and I thought, ‘Wow’. “I wanted to do it, I thought it was incredible, that spurred me on through my teenage years when there are a lot of distractions.” Scotland’s favourite detective, Rebus, returns in a new series by Viaplay, with John Rankin playing the Edinburgh sleuth. Thoren has joined the cast as methodi cal cop Malcolm Fox.
“They’re brilliant books, ” added Thoren. “I love that gritty Scottish character Rebus has, mixed with that dry humour. I’ve read quite a few of the books.
“Sir Ian Rankin has written a couple of books about Malcolm Fox, it was fun reading them.
“And knowing he has a few books about him means I’m not getting killed off in the first episode…”
Scotland The New Wild, BBC Scotland, tonight, 9pm