Q&A WITH JAMES RUSSELL
Since rehearsing I’ll Be Fine in his Wadestown garage last year, James Russell has made the move to Auckland to study at The Actor’s Program. In a Q&A James shares his journey so far as an actor, and his advice for others thinking of following in his footsteps.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?
I knew I wanted to be an actor after my first role in my High School production of the musical Chess. The director of performing arts had to drag me along, and I sang Happy Birthday for my audition. I was just a chorus member and I loved every second of it. Before that I was pretty sporty at school, and hadn’t been involved much in the arts.
After Chess I did school plays and tried to get in with the film production scene at school. I was in a few short films, and got as much experience as I could behind the camera as well as on stage. When I left high school I did Young and Hungry in Wellington and performed in a play called Second Afterlife – a show about living our lives online, now in its second season at Circa theatre.
How did you end up joining the cast of I’ll Be Fine?
Ben and I went to primary school together. We met up again at university, he knew I was into acting, and he approached me with the script. I read it, and I saw a lot of my life in the story. I was particularly drawn to the confusion that Brian and Jude experience at the start of the play. They’re questioning how they fit into the world and what they’re meant to be doing. At that stage I’d gone from being an athlete, to acting, and at university I was studying film, theatre, and Spanish, and I didn’t know where I was going.
Ben and I rehearsed in my garage alone for a while before realising we needed to bring a director on board. Once Ryan joined the team as director, we knew we were on the right track. Staging I’ll Be Fine at BATS theatre was exciting. Once we escaped the garage and had a stage and an audience it was amazing.
How are you like Jude?
Like Jude, I operate at a slower and calmer pace than some of my friends. Jude is the central driving force of the play, and he is confused, but he focuses that confusion inward. He just wants to be heard, but finds himself doing all the listening. Throughout the play he is battling for Brian to listen to him. In my friend group I am definitely an introvert. I prefer people to come to me, to find out about me.
When we first performed the show at BATS I was still figuring out what I was doing with my life. And now, I feel much more certain about my own personal direction. Going back into the earlier scenes in the play during these recent rehearsals, I found myself more distanced from Jude as a character. I’ve had to change my approach to the script, and work in a different way to recapture those feelings.
Why did you choose The Actor’s Program?
I have met a lot of cool people who have helped steer me towards follow acting as a career. Miranda Harcourt had talked to me about The Actor’s Program, she pushed me to audition, and gave me confidence to try. I have so much respect for her.
I was attracted to the one-year industry based training The Actor’s Program offered. Every week we have people coming in and working with us who are currently active in the industry, who will eventually be our colleagues and employers.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learnt at The Actor’s program so far?
Just to play. You need to have the freedom within a scene to explore all the parameters of the script. Even if you do something ridiculous, and the director wants to go in a different direction, as an actor you might discover something in what you’ve just done to colour your work. It’s about trusting yourself to follow your impulses.
Who inspires you as an actor?
I’m inspired by transformative actors like Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey who can just completely change who they are for a role. In terms of a career path, I look up to people like the Hemsworth brothers. I’m Australian and seeing actors can come out of New Zealand and Australia, and make it in Hollywood gives me confidence. If it is possible for them it is definitely possible for me.
I love Auckland theatre, and I would love to stay here for a while and get as much experience as possible, so that when the time is right I’m ready to make the move overseas.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
You have to have the confidence to just try. As an actor you have to go to the places you don’t want to go, to get where you want to be. And if you don’t absolutely love it, you’ll find it hard.
When did you decide you wanted to be an actor?
I knew I wanted to be an actor after my first role in my High School production of the musical Chess. The director of performing arts had to drag me along, and I sang Happy Birthday for my audition. I was just a chorus member and I loved every second of it. Before that I was pretty sporty at school, and hadn’t been involved much in the arts.
After Chess I did school plays and tried to get in with the film production scene at school. I was in a few short films, and got as much experience as I could behind the camera as well as on stage. When I left high school I did Young and Hungry in Wellington and performed in a play called Second Afterlife – a show about living our lives online, now in its second season at Circa theatre.
How did you end up joining the cast of I’ll Be Fine?
Ben and I went to primary school together. We met up again at university, he knew I was into acting, and he approached me with the script. I read it, and I saw a lot of my life in the story. I was particularly drawn to the confusion that Brian and Jude experience at the start of the play. They’re questioning how they fit into the world and what they’re meant to be doing. At that stage I’d gone from being an athlete, to acting, and at university I was studying film, theatre, and Spanish, and I didn’t know where I was going.
Ben and I rehearsed in my garage alone for a while before realising we needed to bring a director on board. Once Ryan joined the team as director, we knew we were on the right track. Staging I’ll Be Fine at BATS theatre was exciting. Once we escaped the garage and had a stage and an audience it was amazing.
How are you like Jude?
Like Jude, I operate at a slower and calmer pace than some of my friends. Jude is the central driving force of the play, and he is confused, but he focuses that confusion inward. He just wants to be heard, but finds himself doing all the listening. Throughout the play he is battling for Brian to listen to him. In my friend group I am definitely an introvert. I prefer people to come to me, to find out about me.
When we first performed the show at BATS I was still figuring out what I was doing with my life. And now, I feel much more certain about my own personal direction. Going back into the earlier scenes in the play during these recent rehearsals, I found myself more distanced from Jude as a character. I’ve had to change my approach to the script, and work in a different way to recapture those feelings.
Why did you choose The Actor’s Program?
I have met a lot of cool people who have helped steer me towards follow acting as a career. Miranda Harcourt had talked to me about The Actor’s Program, she pushed me to audition, and gave me confidence to try. I have so much respect for her.
I was attracted to the one-year industry based training The Actor’s Program offered. Every week we have people coming in and working with us who are currently active in the industry, who will eventually be our colleagues and employers.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learnt at The Actor’s program so far?
Just to play. You need to have the freedom within a scene to explore all the parameters of the script. Even if you do something ridiculous, and the director wants to go in a different direction, as an actor you might discover something in what you’ve just done to colour your work. It’s about trusting yourself to follow your impulses.
Who inspires you as an actor?
I’m inspired by transformative actors like Meryl Streep and Kevin Spacey who can just completely change who they are for a role. In terms of a career path, I look up to people like the Hemsworth brothers. I’m Australian and seeing actors can come out of New Zealand and Australia, and make it in Hollywood gives me confidence. If it is possible for them it is definitely possible for me.
I love Auckland theatre, and I would love to stay here for a while and get as much experience as possible, so that when the time is right I’m ready to make the move overseas.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors?
You have to have the confidence to just try. As an actor you have to go to the places you don’t want to go, to get where you want to be. And if you don’t absolutely love it, you’ll find it hard.