It’s hard to say because you go through so many changes. The character goes from a boy to a man in the film, that’s what Martha wanted. I don’t know. I did bring some of myself into the character. It’s hard to say what is there of myself. I mean he’s a bit goofy at times – and I can be a bit goofy (laughing). I don’t know. As an actor you use a lot of your imagination and I suppose I did that mostly with the character rather than it being anything like me.
I read in the production notes that the director said you brought a hidden bad boy, streetwise quality to the character. Do you see that in yourself?
(Laughing) Ummm, I’m a bad, bad boy. I didn’t know that – is that what she said?
She said you brought an edge to the character that was missing from the other actors who auditioned.
Well you know most of the characters I’ve played before this have been like that, like that streetwise folks. This is my first nice character. But I don’t come from that kind of royal life at all. I live in London and I’m a city boy, and I suppose I am quite streetwise. So yeah, I guess I brought that to it.
Did you and Julia Stiles do anything special to help connect on the set? Did you work on anything off the set that helped you get that onscreen chemistry?
I think Julia does such a wonderful job, actually. She made Paige so real and that was always my concern with the Prince. I didn’t want to make him a caricature. There’s always that worry. But the way Julia and I worked, we didn’t rehearse a hell of a lot. We never read the scenes out loud. We never really heard each other say the lines until we actually were turning over on set, shooting it. So it was a nice way of working. It kept it fresh and kept us on our feet. And we didn’t talk too much off camera. I think we kind of purposely decided to do that. We were discovering ourselves as we shot the movie. It was an interesting way of working.
Do you prefer not to rehearse?
It really depends what kind of project you are doing, and the material and the character. I think it has a lot to do with the job I do, each project you do is a different director and a whole different feel. I’m still learning as an actor and I don’t really know how I work and what my set ways are. But each job you do, you learn a little bit more. You have to adapt to each job you do to whoever you’re working alongside – and I like that.
What’s the most outrageous thing you’ve ever done to impress someone?
You mean like to impress a girl?
Sure.
I’m terrible at these questions.
Hey, at least I’m not making you to complete sentences, okay?
The most outrageous thing I’ve done… Well actually I had a girlfriend at college who was in London while I was in college in Birmingham, which is like three hours away. I drove down in the middle of night in my old car and blew it up because I was driving so fast. But that’s a terrible story – it’s really boring! (laughing) I have no idea. I’m sure there’s something but I can’t think of it.
Fans will be getting to know you and searching for info on you because of this movie. What fact about your background would surprise people?
I don’t come from the background of this movie at all. I didn’t go to a private school or anything like that. I went to some pretty rough, comprehensive schools in South London. What surprised me about this is that I feel like I was just sort of a budding actor in London. I didn’t really expect to get a lead role in a movie, just suddenly like this. It’s been a real shock. I was just tiptoeing in the shallow end and I feel like somebody picked me up and shoved me into the deep end. I feel very privileged to have this opportunity because I have a lot of friends, other actors I went to college with, and it’s a real tough, very competitive business.
So what was the audition process like for you?
I met with Martha in London and we read through some of the scenes in the movie. I mean, she phoned me two days later and said, “Can I meet with you again?” I went, “Yeah, of course.” She said, “I really like what you’re doing and I want you to play the role.” I was like, “Brilliant. Have I got the part then?” She said, “You’ve got to go to New York and do a screen test with Julia Stiles and Paramount will have to say ‘thumbs up.’” She said, “If it was my choice, I’d want to have you.” Two weeks later we went out to New York and did a screen test and shot some scenes from the movie. I met Julia and then a few weeks after that I got a call from my agent saying they wanted me for the role. It all happened so quickly – like in the space of a month. And it’s kind of been crazy ever since (laughing).
PAGE 4: Luke Mably on Memories and "Colour Me Kubrick"
ADDITIONAL "THE PRINCE & ME" RESOURCES:
Interview with Julia Stiles
"The Prince & Me" Photo Gallery
"The Prince & Me" Credits, Trailer and Movie News
