Hi Chris, You played three
roles in Torchwood from S1, Ghost Machine, S2, Exit Wounds and S4 Miracle Day:
Categories of Life – the characters were completely different in each
episode. As a walk on actor would it be
fair to say that you could have appeared in all episodes of Torchwood, in
different guises and not affected the continuity of the show?
Chris: Yes quite possibly, as you say, the
characters I played were all so different so you could probably get away with appearing
in say every third episode, without being recognised. People tend to focus on
the main actors not the people in the supporting roles.
A lot of your
characters seem to be from the Emergency services – police and paramedics and a
few military roles, is this a role you are cast more for, or part of your
profile that you prefer these kinds of roles.
I mean I have to say you do look the part in uniform!!! But are these
the roles you’re more likely to be chosen for than any other roles?
Chris: Yes that’s very true; a few years
ago all I was playing were Police Officers. Once Producers, Agents, and Casting
Directors see you in uniform it is inevitable that you will receive offers
based on this president, as you have proven that not only can you play the part
but that you also look convincing in the part. I see a lot of people playing
uniformed roles that just don’t carry it off! These days however, I make a
concerted effort to play a wide variety of characters as well as uniformed
roles.
Currently (probably due to my age and the grey hair) I seem
to be playing more High Rank Police Officers such as Assistant Chief Constable
on Harry Brown, a Commissioner on New Tricks, Deputy Commissioner on Babylon
and more recently, Police Commissioner Cummings in a new film called Kicking
Off, due for release around 1st June 2015. I also continue to play
Military Roles, including Herman Goering, George Patton, Wilhelm Bergdorf, and
many others.
What was your first
ever role?
Chris: My first ever “Paid” role was
around 1969 for a Richard Attenborough film called Loot (by Joe Orton) I was at
Brighton Racecourse with a few of my school mates and someone from the crew came
over to me and asked if I wanted to be in the film. All I remember was that I was
watching and reacting to a hearse being chased by a Police Car? I think they
gave me a tenner for what was my first reaction shot.
A few years later when I was a musician (bass guitar) and
not very old, I was asked to cover a bass player who was ill and would not be
able to appear on the talent show “Opportunity Knocks” hosted by Hughie Green.
This was filmed at Teddington Studios. I agreed and learned the song in the van
travelling up to Teddington. When we
arrived we went into the canteen, where there were a number of Romans, and
German Soldiers sitting eating (at the time very bizarre). I later found out
that the Benny Hill Show, and the Kenny Everit shows were both filmed there
around this time, hence the Romans and Germans!!
I loved this and thought that’s the way to earn a living.
Who is your role
model?
Chris: I don’t really have one, but I
greatly admire and respect Ray Winstone, Michael Caine, Michael Gambon, Pierce
Brosnan Kelsey Grammer and Alan Ford. All of which, I have been lucky enough to
work closely with on various productions. They are all effortless in their
work, and are the ultimate professionals.
You were / are a stand
in or body double for a number of A list actors, including Richard Griffiths in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1, Kelsey Grammar, Alan Ford, Ron
Perlman, Mark Addy, Martin Trenaman,(Simons dad in The Inbetweeners) and as
body double for Ray Winstone in Father’s Day, and did you say you were also standing
in for Ray in another film? I am in awe of you – Ray Winstone!!! #bitofafan
Chris: Yes, that’s true. I have very recently
been working again for Ray (Winstone), but unfortunately I am unable to reveal
any further details at this time. However, I am able to say that I was Ray`s
stand in on The Gunman, recently released at the Cinema, working alongside Sean
Penn, Edris Elba & Javier Bardem.
I also stand in for a number of other great actors. Every
time I am on set, I learn something new, I am just extremely lucky to have the
great honour and absolute privilege of working alongside, some of the world’s
greatest talent.
How do stand in and
body double parts come about – is it about being in the right place at the
right time?
Chris: No, it’s a lot more than that, firstly
you need to be the same size and build as the principal actor. In some cases
you are playing their roles, in others you are just standing in. This is where
the main actor is off set, and you, the stand in simply stands on the actor’s
marks whilst the lighting and cameras are set up. Sometimes you will duplicate
the actor’s moves for a camera rehearsal, perhaps sometimes even running the
dialogue for timing purposes. It does vary from actor to actor or Director to
Director each normally has their own individual way of working, and you have to
learn and adapt fast. Which I love!
Is it fair to say that
in this job you travel a fair distance for roles? What is the furthest you’ve travelled for a
walk on part?
Chris: For me it’s not about distance, It predominantly
depends on what it is that’s on offer and the production. If it is a stand in
or body double job, the production office always take care of everything, I
just turn up, and do as instructed. If it’s a programme I like, I will go out
of my way to get a part, or to get involved somehow. I’m a great fan of Touch of Frost and managed
to wrangle my way onto two episodes. ‘Dead End’ where I play the Police Officer
interviewing the bus driver and ‘When Dogs Run Free’, the final episode, in
which I play a Dog Fight Ringleader. That part was only small but it was an
absolute privilege to be involved.
You’re in the new film
Fury, now out on DVD and Bluray, what was your role in the film and were any of your scenes with Brad Pitt?
Chris: I played the 2nd
armoured Division Chaplain. I don’t think the scene made the current film edit,
but I understand there may be other edits so this scene may still end up in one
version. However, the still from the scene was used as publicity for the film and was also used as a
Lobby Card, which is a great honour. Brad Pitt was indeed present, he was on
the Sherman Tank which drove past my back as I was conducting a sermon for the
GIs.
As a walk on actor,
your characters are often a case of blink and you’re gone, as folks are only
ever interested in the main characters in a programme (unless they’re
me!!!). Out of the three episodes of
Torchwood that you were in, which of the scenes took the longest to film and
which were the most memorable?
Chris: On ‘Exit Wounds’ where I played the
Police Assistant Chief Constable, we didn’t shoot in order, so in the first scene of the
day I was laying dead, and covered in fake blood. After this we rehearsed
another scene, one before we were all killed! When this scene was lit, my hair
reacted to the fake blood and on camera it looked fluorescent green. Quite
funny at the time, I think they ended up having to dye it.
On ‘Everything Changes’, I was booked as background. This
was the first of the new Torchwood series. At the rehearsals for whatever reason;
I was asked if I could do a simple stunt with the Stunt Coordinator. This
involved being pushed out of the way of a principle character that was being
chased down an underground pedestrian tunnel by Gwen (Eve Myles). Very
memorable and great to be involved in the action!
On ‘Categories of Life’, once again I was booked as
background, but as production knew me I was lucky enough to be escalated to a
Walk On character, seen arguing with the holding camps management about not
being killed.
Although you’ve played
characters visually, have you ever played characters heavily disguised, such as
monsters wearing some form of prosthetics and if there were such a possibility
of doing this, would you?
Chris: No not heavily disguised, although it’s
something I would love to do. I once doubled for Alan Ford (Bricktop in Snatch)
where, on one shoot, he had been killed by a Werewolf, I played this part for
him, with Sarah Douglas (Of Superman Fame) I think this is possibly the closest
I have come, been made up to look like you have been mauled by a werewolf, but even
then not a great amount of makeup required.
Not only a Walk On
you’ve also been involved behind the scenes roles, such as production runner,
production assistant, location assistant, production manager and third
assistant director and assistant director, are there any roles that you would
still love to do within the film industry?
Chris: I love everything about Film and TV,
and just love being involved, but I would love to do more on the comedy side.
On the subject of crew side of film and TV, I was lucky enough
to work as a Production Runner on The Tube, (The Tube was a live Music
Programme from Newcastle Upon Tyne starting late 1982) Again, I love the
pressure, and just being involved, and the fact that anything can happen.
You’ve worked in
television and films but have you worked on stage productions also?
Chris: Yes, quite a few, I appeared live
for a few nights at the 02 Arena as a (badly) dancing postman with Lee Evans,
(on The Big Tour & DVD). I have also worked on the live elements of, Not
Going Out, Miranda, Eastenders, Green Green Grass, Teenage Kicks (Ade Edmonson).
In a previous life I was a session musician, for around 17
years, I played bass guitar, for many bands, comedians and shows, mainly on cruise
ships but also many theatres all over the world.
You’re a really
interesting guy, from the list on IMDB that is so impressive (gee I sound like
a prospective employer – sorry), out of all of the roles that you’ve been
involved in, from The Bill, Torchwood, Harry Potter, to the television
commercials, to your latest outings, what have been the most memorable that you
could tell us about?
Chris: I am very lucky, over the years, I
have worked on some brilliant productions; but most definitely one of my
favourite films to work on was the Dark Knight. Heath Ledger was simply superb and
Chris Nolan allowed so much freedom to ad lib during the scenes.
My favourite TV series was Extras. I played the cameraman on
the Daniel Radcliffe and Warwick Davies episode. Again Ricky Gervais just allowed so much
freedom to those involved.
The IMDB profile doesn’t really touch the surface of the
work I have completed over the years.
This year alone I have worked on some great productions, unfortunately
I am under various NDAs (Non Disclosure Agreements) so I’m unable to disclose any
details as yet.
As long as I am working and learning I am happy.
Do you have any advice
for anyone wishing to become an actor and do what you do?
Chris: I didn’t do any formal acting training
until around 10 years ago, I wish I had done this sooner, but you live and
learn. I do not market myself as an
actor and as such I do not feel qualified to give advice. However I would say
to anyone thinking of going into acting, you need to join a good reputable
drama school, study hard, listen well and don’t be afraid to take on new
challenges. Also most importantly, don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself,
something I have done on many occasions!
On your list of
Alternate Names on IMDB, where does the name Timothy Dolphin come from, and why
is there often a need to change your name for roles?
Chris: I have no idea, where the name originally
came from it just made me laugh, (I have a very immature sense of humour) I
have tried to use it on a number of credits but production always end up using
my real name. But I am determined to get Timothy Dolphin in the credits
somewhere!
When you’re not filming how do you
relax?
Chris: I don’t really get much time to
relax but when I do I just prefer chilling out at home, watching tv with my
partner Jacqui and our cat Harry. I also love going to the cinema and enjoy a
good curry.
Thank you
for an awesome interview, Chris!
All photos courtesy of Chris Wilson
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