One of my favourite moments as an actor is when a director offers an angle I haven’t considered. I arrive with my own understanding of the character, and then a suggestion opens up something else. They see a possibility, I bring my interpretation to it, and together we discover something neither of us could have arrived at alone. Now that I also direct, I recognise that exchange from both sides. I can have a clear idea of a scene in my head, but an actor arrives with a whole

The first take on the first day can carry a particular kind of pressure. I know that feeling as an actor. You’ve prepared, you’ve arrived, and suddenly it’s time to put everything into practice with a camera pointed at you. It’s something I think about when I direct. Where the schedule allows, I like beginning with a less demanding scene—perhaps a smaller transition that lets the actor spend time inhabiting the character without immediately reaching for the most emotionally i

Having spent time on the acting side of auditions, I know how intense they can feel. That experience stays with me when I’m casting. I want to remove as much unnecessary pressure as possible and create a space where an actor feels comfortable exploring. There is already a reason I’m interested in working with someone. I’ve seen something that connects with the character. The audition gives us an opportunity to discover more about that connection and what it feels like to work