Rhodri Lewis played Johnny Davies,
Ianto’s brother in law. He lived on a
fairly rough estate but when the Army came to take the children for the 456
selection, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Rhodri Lewis loves talking about his
work and his life and so we took the opportunity to find out more about this
wonderful actor.
Hi
Rhodri, you studied acting at the RWCMD was this before you began acting or
after?
Rhodri: Coming from Wales and from a Welsh speaking family
performing was a part of my life I started very young in the Eisteddfod which
is a big festival of culture. I didn't even think that it was something you
could do as a job. I just did it for fun
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Rhodri: The film was a fantastic experience, very different
from anything I've done before. The film was based on real people’s stories.
They were in Iraq and they gave interviews and spoke about their lives. All the
people in the film sadly died over there. my character was a young soldier who
found out his girlfriend was pregnant and didn't really know what to do or what
to expect, and didn't really know how to deal with what he was doing out there,
he was just very lost I think.
According
to IMDB you played a village child in the film Vive La France (2010) but I’m a
little confused as if you played the child, then you must be younger than I
thought you were! There’s nothing but
the premise on IMDB so did this film make light of day, being as it’s a 13 min
short?
Rhodri: This has followed me around for ages and I do get
asked about this all the time, it wasn't me I’m not sure if there was a child
actor with the same name as me and it’s just been a bit of a mix up on IMDB.
Torchwood
Johnny
was well matched with Rhiannon in the series and although I felt at first he
was a bit of a lad, he showed loyalty to the family and wasn’t afraid of
getting into the thick of it. Are you
anything like Johnny in real life?
Rhodri: I wish I was
that would be a lovely thing. He was a bit of a lad you're right, but you could
always count on him to do the right thing
They
say never work with animals or children, were you ever upstaged by the children
on set of Children of Earth?
Rhodri: All the time. They
were an absolute pleasure to work with far more professional than I was
Although
there were no outtakes in COE were there any funny moments during filming
between you and Katy Wix and the kids?
Rhodri: I don't remember any specific moments I do remember
it being a warm fun environment to work in. The only funny story I can remember
is the moment before I had to do the naked in bed scene the costume ladies
knocked on my door to show me what they had designed for me to keep my modesty,
the options were, holding a cricket box over myself the alternative to that was
a 'hands-free' version in the way of a cricket box thong, which is a fantastic
look and I encourage people to try it, I guarantee you won’t go back to normal
underwear. The last option was very low tech, I thought with it being the BBC
and a sci-fi production there would be loads of cool gadgets and solutions to
things, I was wrong, the costume girl basically whipped out a skin coloured
sock and suggested I use that.......
In
the scenes involving the fighting on the estate between the army and the
residents, to show real animosity for the enemy what did you do to get psyched
up or to get in the mood?
Rhodri: I’m quite a lazy person and the thought of spending
a day running up hill helped me get some of the way there also the extras were
brilliant they were well up for it and that spurred me on.
Although
the fight scenes or scrum would have been stage managed was there ever any
moments when a few punches would have connected?
Rhodri: Somebody told me a while later that I broke one of
the army guys shoulders, I felt awful about that, I'm not really a fighter or
anything, just a big softie. There was a little bit of choreography with the
fighting just to make sure we were where we needed to be for the camera but
most of it was a free for all, so I’m sure there were loads of punches that
connected
When
you got the role of Johnny had you tried out for any other roles prior?
Rhodri: Not in Torchwood or Dr Who but hundreds of other
things, I couldn't tell you how many auditions I've had, but it feels like your
life is a constant job interview after a while
Although
a lot of COE was pretty harrowing in terms of losing children, the death of
Ianto, do you have a favourite episode in the series? And do you have a favourite episode in the
Series 1 & 2 and perhaps in Miracle Day?
Rhodri: Any scene with Eve Myles in it really......I did
like the scene at the end when Ianto dies very moving. It's hard to say really I
have a strange thing in my head that if I've been in something I can’t watch it
anymore, which is a shame because sci-fi is my favourite thing and I loved
Torchwood up to the point I was in it. I always loved the very first episode I
didn't really know what to expect, I thought it was going to be like Dr who,
but it was a bit more risqué and I love that about it
Prior
to joining Torchwood, had you seen any of the series?
Rhodri: Yes, I loved it I’m a massive sci-fi fan
Non Torchwood
During
spells of resting have you worked as anything other than acting?
Rhodri: I think we would be here for a fortnight listing all
the jobs I've done like most actors the list is long. Everything from a bar man
to a gardener to a call centre person. I also worked in a nature reserve. I’ve
also been Father Christmas in an amusement arcade in Barry Island
What
is your favourite genre?
Rhodri: Sci-fi (and I’m not just saying that)
Have
you ever done voice overs for video games or adverts and if so, which?
Rhodri: I’ve never done that but I’d love to do the video
game thing
When
you’re not acting, how do you relax?
Rhodri: I like writing
stories
What
was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Rhodri: Guardians of the Galaxy.....amazeballs
Are
you involved in any new projects you can share with us?
Rhodri: I’m on a two year sabbatical at the moment, doing
some writing in Belfast with my partner.
Do
you have a website?
Rhodri: No but you can follow me on G+ or Twitter, not that I
have anything interesting to say
Many
actors seem to be in a band these days, or have performed in bands; do you have
a musical flair?
Rhodri: Never in my life. I play a bit of guitar but I'm
fairly terrible at it
Did
you like the guy you played in CoE? Johnny seemed to be a chav at first, but in
the end, but he also was more clear-sighted and politically aware of what
government was doing to his family, the children.
Rhodri: ha-ha yes he was a bit of a chav. I thought he was
great family first type of guy
Acting
under "normal" conditions can sometimes be pretty hard already but
acting naked, waking up and having a gun put to your head, answering the
question about the whereabouts of your brother in law when you are supposed to
just have woken up from sleeping is even harder. What was the hardest part about that scene?
Reacting to the guns, pretending to just have woken up, being naked and
vulnerable or stating that the character you are playing is a married man -
once again a remark to the fact that Ianto is with a man?
Rhodri: The hardest part was
trying to make sure I didn’t mess up the punch line
How
do you prepare yourself for getting into that moment? Do you remember what time
it was when the scene was shot?
Rhodri: You sort of take yourself off to a corner and just
get your head in the right place try and relax a bit because your nerves are
going a bit mad
Was
it in the script that your character was supposed to be naked in bed? Or did it
just happen to end up that way?
Rhodri: He was always naked in the script, I did have to
read it again when I first got the script just to make sure
Thanks to Rhodri Lewis for a wonderful interview and to Betty
Dee and Claudia Lindner for their questions.
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