There’s
not an awful lot about you on the Internet regarding your private life. Wikipedia mentions only briefly that you’re
married to a female actress. Are you a
very private man, do you prefer to keep as much of yourself off the internet as
possible?
Paul: I don’t go out of the way to keep
private or to publish anything about myself. It all just happens (or doesn’t as
the case is) around me. I’m not married to a female actress or a male one for
that matter!
You
appeared as Jamie in As If, a Channel 4 drama featuring 6 young adults living
in London, having relationships and seemingly following the same format, as Sinchronicity
where you played Nathan, who seemed to have the same kind of life. When you were cast as Eugene did it feel as
if you were being typecast, having played this type of role before? Eugene
again is someone who holds a torch for another, is young free and single,
albeit a bit ‘out there’ in terms of his obsession with the alien whose eye
he’s looking after.
Paul: The Sinchronicity series was made by
the producers and director of As If and though the character was very similar
and the show similar in style I wasn’t worried about being type cast. The job
was a completely new experience and one that I really enjoyed. That’s important
to me.
You
have a voice that I could listen to all day, it was one of the things that I
liked most about Random Shoes, the narration.
Have you narrated before, and have you done any audio dramas, or audio
books?
Paul: Thanks very much. I read a lot of Audio
books and love this type of work. I mainly read kids books and young adult
novels and this best suits my voice. I love being in control of a story from
beginning to end and children’s novels are full of exaggerated characters and
crazy plots which are great fun to read aloud.
In
Sherlock, Series 1, Episode 2 you played DI Dimmock in The Blind Banker. What was it like playing a completely
different role to Eugene, and being on the set of Sherlock?
Paul: It being the 1st series I
had no idea it was going to be the phenomena it has become. I’ve loved watching
all the episodes and being part of it was great.
I’ve
just watched the trailer for Private Peaceful and it looks a brilliant
production despite the mixed reviews on IMDB.
Can you tell us more about your role within the film and what it was
like playing a film which shows so much of the grittier side of WW1 that we
don’t often see in films?
Paul: I’ve a long history with the Private
Peaceful story. It was first adapted by Simon Reade to be a play for one actor
in 2004 and I was the first actor to do the show back then at the Bristol Old
Vic. I’ve done the radio version and audiobook download for the BBC and I’ve
now returned to the play and am about to embark on a tour round the UK with it.
So the story means a lot to me and I have a strong relationship with it. The
film was also adapted and produced by Simon Reade and he asked me if I’d like
to be involved even though there wasn’t really a part in it for me. Private
Peaceful is 17 years old and as a 38year old (young looking!) man I can just
get away with it on stage but not on screen! So I went along to the set for a
weekend and shot a couple of scenes. So basically I’m barely in the film but it
was amazing to see Simons dream, that was being talked about in 2004, finally
coming to life in 2011.
The
film release date for Private Peaceful was October 12th 2012 are you
currently working on new productions and can you share any of this with us?
Paul: The Private Peaceful show takes me to
July and beyond that we’ll have to see….
In
the role of Eugene you had to play a character that was dead but following the
crew of Torchwood in order to find out WHY you were dead, how difficult was it
for the cast to NOT look at you during the entire filming until the end when
you appeared before Gwen? And how often
were there bouts of uncontrollable giggles during scenes with Gwen (Eve Myles),
because I just think there would be and if there were can you share them or any
of them with us?
Paul: Working with Eve was just brilliant,
she was a real laugh and a fiery presence. You’re right the invisibility thing
was a bit tricky to negotiate. We had a scene going along in the car singing to
a song (I can’t remember which) with Eve not being able to acknowledge me.
Singing on camera is embarrassing for me anyway and the situation was just
weird and we got the giggles then for sure.
Eugene
had a rare collection of alien artefacts, bits he’d collected over the years,
when you were growing up were you ever a collector of anything, trading cards,
mugs, fossils, etc? (obviously I just went through my list!!!)
Paul: Yeah I was a big collector of stuff.
PG tips cards, skulls, fossils, crisp packets, beer mats, stamps, sticker
books, alien artefacts, you name it I loved collecting things.
During
periods of resting how do you fill your time when you’re not acting, and have
you, when you were first starting out as an actor, take other work to keep a
roof over your head – as I’d imagine there must have been a few lean months
when you first started out?
Paul: There tend to be more months when
I’m not working than months when I am! I’ve got kids so when I’m not working
I’m doing my best at bringing them up.
What
vehicle do you currently drive and what vehicle would you love to own? Are you a petrol head or do you prefer to
commute?
Paul: I love train journeys and will always
choose that over a car for getting about. I’m heavily considering a camper van
at the moment, as I’d like a project and the idea of getting away with the kids
for a weekend at the drop of a hat really appeals. They love camping anyway and
it’s the natural upgrade from the tent. Tent+.
For
anyone who wants to become an actor, be it stage, television or film, what
advice would you give them?
Paul: Feel entitled.
What
advice would you give your 12 year old self if you ever had the opportunity?
Paul: Always be kind.
When
you were growing up in Hampshire, what were you like as a child, were you
sporty, did you have a wild imagination, were you into music, head in a book,
avid tv fan, what was your favourite programme growing up, favourite bands etc
and how have your tastes changed over the years?
Paul: My dad loves his sport and we were
brought up playing sport, mostly racquet sports, and I still play these now.
I’ve taken up golf too but alas too late to be any good at it!
I loved Wham. I loved
Wham bars too!
You
changed your surname presumably when you became an actor, where did the name
Chequer come from?
Paul: It’s my name.
Fans
Questions:
Mickie:
What was it that drew you to the role of Eugene? And was there anything of
yourself in him?
Paul: Hi Mickie, the whole series seemed
like a really exciting project. Eugene was a special character because he was
always there and yet alone. He had real desire and a need to discover how he’d
died and this made him a brilliant part to play.
Mia
Thompson: When is your birthday? Who do you prefer playing: Eugene or D.I
Dimmock on Sherlock??
Paul: Hi Mia, My birthday is on 15th
November and now I’ve told you that I’m expecting a card! At least a card! Eugene
was a more interesting character to play, because he was a ghost and it’s not
everyday you get to act as a ghost and go to your own funeral! That was creepy.
Very Creepy.
Photo Source
©BBCTorchwood 2006
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