Michael Smiley: A Great British Shadow. INTERVIEW.

Michael Smiley, a great British actor, a man of both serious and comedic range starring in TV Series’ like Luther and Wire In The Blood as well as starring in award nominated comedic film The World’s End. Michael greatly enough answered a few of questions about getting into acting, favorite roles and more great Smiley work we can look forward to.

Here is my interview with borderline legend Michael Smiley, a talent I believe is wrongly kept in the shadows sometimes. Enjoy the words of something that is slowly becoming rare; an honest and greatly talented British actor.

How did you get into acting?

In my early stand up years I wrote one man storytelling shows that then became a trilogy of plays, for Edinburgh Fest in the late 90s...Then when Simon Pegg and Jessica Stephenson were getting Spaced together, they wrote 'Tyres'  and that's how it started.

What is your favourite role you’ve played so far and why?

Well Tyres was fantastic fun, as it was my first real role on TV and to be working every day with your best mates was a buzz beyond belief....Gal in Kill List was another highlight of my career, for very similar reasons!

What are your inspirations, if any?

Well written indie dramas turn me on...My fav films are all the American indie films of the late 60s-late 70s, encapsulated in that Easy Riders, Raging Bulls book. Plus I love old British movies like Billy Liar, The Hill, The Offence, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning, Taste Of Honey and all the classic Ealing comedies.

What future projects are you involved in that we can start to get excited about?

There's two films coming out later in the year I'm very excited about...Black Sea directed by Kevin Macdonald with Jude Law, Ben Mendehlson, Scoot McNairy, Bobby Schofield and David Threlfal , a submarine drama, it's a bit like Treasure on the Sierra Madre meets Kellys Heroes, very tense!
Orthodox written and directed by David Leon with Stephen Graham, Rebecca Callard and Giacomo Mancini, it's a film about a jewish man on the fringes of his orthodox community. I'm really proud to be part of both of them. They're great stories and it's a real buzz working with actors of that calibre. It puts you on the balls of your feet, to say the least!

I am extremely excited for these future features and excited to see more of Michael Smiley this year and the next! This is an interview with a talent that truly enjoys and respects working in this industry.

Keep up to date with Michael Smiley and follow him on Twitter: @mrmichaelsmiley

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