SAM BUCHANAN is steadily making his mark in British television and film with a range of roles that showcase his talent and dedication.
In this interview, he discusses his approach to playing Nick Shymansky in the upcoming Amy Winehouse biopic Back to Black, his role in the film My Fault: London, and his experiences working on the BBC drama We Go Again.
Sam shares insights into how he prepares for his roles, the challenges of portraying real-life figures, and his thoughts on the direction of his career in the years to come.
Back To Black, the Amy Winehouse biopic, has been getting a lot of buzz. How did you prepare to portray Nick Shymansky, and what was the most challenging aspect of this role?
Playing a real person brings additional responsibility as an actor. You want to try your best not to just impersonate that person, but to understand their thought processes and the events they experienced. I spent a lot of time researching footage and interviews of Nick to understand him as a person and his relationship with Amy. I also changed my body physically, gaining around seven kilos for the role.
What can you tell us about your upcoming film, My Fault: London, and your role in it?
My Fault: London is an awesome project based on the Spanish book Culpa Mia by Mercedes Ron. It follows Noah, an 18-year-old girl who moves from America to London with her mother and wealthy stepfather. She meets her stepbrother, Nick, and a strong attraction brews despite all efforts. Her estranged father is released from prison and attempts to track her down and will stop at nothing to find her. I play Ronnie, one of the two antagonists of the film. A very proud, painfully troubled man with a passion for violence and a hatred for the rich, who is eventually hired by Noah’s father. Expect bare-knuckle fights, car chases and everything in between.
You’ve got another exciting project with the BBC drama We Go Again. How does working on a drama series compare to film work, and what excites you about this role?
I’m immensely excited about We Go Again. Written by Janice Okoh, it tells the story of three young siblings and their mother’s hapless drug dealer (whom I play), who attempt to navigate life and try not to be split up by social services. This script is phenomenal. Janice so beautifully weaves between laugh-out-loud funny and guttural sadness. As the audience, we never know which way we’ll be taken and it’s beautiful.
I suppose the biggest difference on a show like this compared to a feature is the amount of material to shoot. We Go Again will consist of six 45-minute episodes, as opposed to My Fault being a two-hour feature film. Both projects were shot in a similar time of three months. There is a pace required in television that isn’t always required in film, and to get the quality in the shorter time requires immense skill from all departments.
As an up-and-coming actor, how do you navigate the challenges of building a career in such a competitive industry?
I’m thankful for every opportunity, and any chance to show your work in front of people is something that should never be taken for granted.
What have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned from your recent projects, and how have they influenced your approach to acting?
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some incredibly experienced actors. One of the best things I’ve learnt is to take my time and don’t ever feel rushed. If you’re in front of that camera and don’t feel fully confident, you’ll be the one who pays the price as it’s your performance that will be critiqued.
Can you share a bit about how you select your roles? What type of characters or stories are you most drawn to?
I’m drawn to complex, three-dimensional characters, because that’s what we are as real people; even Ronnie, a troubled antagonist. It’s not my job to judge him, it’s my job to understand him and his decision-making. No ‘evil’ person in history thinks they’re evil. I find peeling back those layers of characters fascinating.
What do you hope to achieve in the next few years of your career, and are there any particular actors or directors you’d love to work with?
I want to keep being involved in brilliant writing and storytelling. Stories that impact people, maybe change their opinion or perception on a certain matter. Stories that make people think.
Back To Black deals with real-life figures and events. How did you approach portraying a living person, and did you feel a sense of responsibility in doing so?
Hugely. As I touched on earlier, I didn’t take the opportunity to play a real person lightly. I wanted to tell Nick’s story in Back to Black as honestly as possible to respect him, and of course, Amy and her family.
Can you tell us about a scene or moment from any of your recent projects that particularly challenged or excited you as an actor?
There are some beautifully challenging scenes in We Go Again involving loss. I was deeply moved by the writing and so proud of the work we all produced. I look forward to being able to share it.
Looking forward, what kind of roles or projects do you see yourself pursuing? Are there any genres or stories you’re especially passionate about exploring?
Again, the writing is always what draws me to a project first and foremost. To have the privilege to take great writing and characters and mould myself into that work is something I hope I’m lucky enough to keep having the opportunity to do.
Photography & Grooming: Edo Brugue
Styling: Bethany Knight
Interview: Adam Crookes
