Stop trying and just be…

Luke is originally from Oxfordshire and has been in London for nearly three years with a lot of Brighton in between. Luke regularly performs with Casual Violence (Sketch Troupe), is currently working on Sherlock: The Game is Now and is part of the studio team at Actors Temple. We spoke to him about Punk Bands, Inspiration and being corny.

How did you get into Acting?

I started doing a lot of acting at uni, although I’d done a lot at school as a teenager, but at uni was where I fell in love with it. We made a sketch troupe with friends in my last year and took it to Edinburgh fringe – and that was that.

What do you love most about acting?

Discovering character – working out what makes someone tick and what my experience would have to be to act the same way. That’s what drives me and why I think its important. As an audience member it’s empathising with human beings that normally you wouldn’t. As an actor you have to go deeper I suppose. That’s what excites me.

What led you to train at The Actors Temple?

I heard about the temple just out of uni while at the fringe….It was always at the back of my mind and I had researched Meisner and Esper because of it. I hadn’t studied at Drama School (English at University) and felt I needed to put the hours in and train, but I didn’t want something full time that would stop my career. About a year ago I was out of work and it popped into my head and I thought I’ve got the time….that was for the foundation and I just started my advanced.

What is the biggest lesson you learnt during your training so far?

To stop trying to get it right, to stop trying to be perfect and to win. We put so much pressure on ourselves, particularly with acting because its so hard to pin down what it is to be good, its so tough, its easy to try do things well and often that can be a hinderence as it takes you out of what you should be doing which is being truthgul to the moment. Yes for me the biggest lesson is to stop trying and just be, as corny as that sounds.

If you could play any character- who would it be and why?

Whenever people ask me I find this really hard, because Ideally it’s a character that doesn’t exist. I see new writing as the most important work, it’s new and relevant and potentially world-changing. That being said roles that already exist that I’d love to play/have played – Johnny Byron from Jerusalem and Dickson in Three Billboards outside Missouri. Because they’re characters you could hate from their actions but because of acting and understanding their experiences you can love them despite of their actions.

If you weren’t an actor, what alternate career would you have?

I don’t know – every time I’ve thought about giving it up something has clawed me back in. But when I was younger I wanted to be a postman, and as a teen I was in a punk band.

What motivates you, when things get tough?

Thinking objectively – I’m in a privileged position and it’s important to remember that. Also my mum inspires me, she waited a long time in her life to do what she really wanted to do with it.

If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say?

I’d tell him to learn to meditate.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about training with The Actors’ Temple?

Be open and be willing to be challenged. That often you learn most from the things that are the scariest or the most awkward and soul destroying.

Whats next for you?

Well I’ve only recently started the advanced training so I’m looking forward to the next year – I’ve got my 10 year anniversary of my sketch comedy group – Casual Violence so making more work with them.

Find out more about our training by calling the studio today on 0203 004 4537.

#actor #sketch #troupe #comedy #improv #inspire #meisner #training #acting #actingclasses #inspire #passion #meditation #actors #drama #theatre #tv #film