James Floyd won Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards this year for his role in My Brother The Devil, a film about gangland London from the perspective of two young British Arab brothers.
The following interview took place at the Moet British Independent Film Awards in London on 9th December 2012.
GG: You gave a very heartfelt speech about your award win,
directing many thanks to your family. So how important is family to you as a
new actor? Are you still getting to grips with the industry?
James: Yes, I’m still getting to grips with the lights [this
interview took place after a red carpet stint with the paparazzi and his win on
stage] and people asking me questions and press conferences – this is all new
to me, but nice. It’s taken about six, seven years to get here – that’s why
family is so important. During the
tough years you need that support system to keep you going. It’s not easy being
an actor who is working but has no money. For that reason and many others, an emotionally
supportive family is the most important thing – and that’s not just your blood
family, but people who are close; your loved ones.
GG: ‘Being on a film set is a bit like being in a big family’
I’ve heard many actors say, did the cast and crew of My Brother The Devil take on a second family feel to you?
James: It can do if you are having a good time, this film
certainly did. I met some of the most important people in my life so it’s
definitely had that temporary family feel.
GG: I also loved your nod to Terry Gilliam in the audience
tonight, rating his film Time Bandits
in high regard. Name some other films, say your top 3 that you applaud?
James: Top 3 is really hard; I really love King Of Comedy; the incredible Scorcese film. A film very close to
my heart was a trilogy called the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray as I’m half Indian. [Struggling to cherry
pick] Many, many films, this year I loved Searching For Sugar Man, It has a beautiful story which I’m a real sucker for.
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| Most Promising Newcomer Award winner, James Floyd at the British Independent Film Awards 2012 |
GG: What would be your dream projects?
James: I’d like to be in the next Terry Gilliam film obviously.
I admire lots of actors, Meryl Streep for me is probably the most interesting
actor, I think if she were a man she’d get even
more respect on top of the immense amount she gets already. Daniel
Day-Lewis is another actor I’d love to work with. The ultimate actor for me
though is Marlon Brando, he’s just so interesting. I‘d like to do films that
are really innovative and new and fresh if I can. First of all I just want to
work, to do roles that move as an art form; when you read it, it surprises you.
I love the element of surprise and I think that’s why I think My Brother The Devil is doing so well.
It’s a very surprising film, lots of twists and turns but no one expected it to
be what it was which is all because of [Director] Sally El Hosaini as a filmmaker,
who is a very surprising and original person.
GG: Do you have any tips for new actors or people trying to
break in to the industry, other than ‘right place, right time’?
James: ‘Right place, right time’ still is a part, I hesitate to
give advice, I’m 27, I’m very young with a lot of life and career still to
lead, but if I had to I’d say just persevere. Be careful who you take advice
from, go with your heart try and be you if you can and as honest as you cans –
if you are, you’ll naturally gravitate towards people of similar mind.
GG: When you say be
careful who you take advice from, has that come from past experience, a word of
caution perhaps?
James: [Laughing] No not particularly I just think in life, especially a career in this industry,
you do come up against a lot of ‘expert opinions’, but it’s all subjective; one
person loves that film another hates it. It doesn’t matter; you’ve just got to
go with your heart.
My Brother The Devil trailer:
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