Tom Bateman - Giuliano de' Medici

Since graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art where he was awarded the prestigious Leverhulme Scholarship for 2009-2011, Tom has made his mark on the theatre world. His most recent theatre role was in March 2012 when he appeared in Jamie Lloyd's revival of John Webster’s “The Duchess of Malfi” at the Old Vic alongside Eve Best. In 2011, Tom took on the role of Claudio in the critically acclaimed production of “Much Ado about Nothing” at the Wyndhams Theatre in London co-starring alongside Catherine Tate and David Tennant. He has also appeared in Trevor Nunn’s production of “Lion in Winter” with Robert Lindsay.

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May I say that is a very dashing moustache you have there!
It’s horrible isn’t it!
Is it for the plays you’re in at the moment?
Yes – and I’ve got no-one to blame but myself – it was my idea. It’s such a cliché, a man gets a part and says, ‘I’m going to grow a beard or a goatee or a moustache or shave my head or something’. I decided on a moustache. I’m massively regretting it now.
You weren’t tempted to have it whipped off during the photo shoot in the barbers?
Ha! Accidentally. Or get really drunk and shave it off. No…
Well, you’re managing to work it.
You’re kind. But I don’t believe you for a second.
[...]
Do you ever get star struck by your fellow actors – working alongside the likes of Judi Dench, Kenneth Branagh and Zoe Wannamaker?
Every day, it never goes away! And working with Richard E Grant, Donald Sumpter and Sinéad Cusack in Jekyll and Hyde. But that’s the joy of it – these are my gods. Judi has a thing where she says you should watch the play – the scene that goes before you – to know what play you’re in. So every evening I’ll come down and watch a couple of scenes. You’re sat four feet away from Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh, watching them and talking to them every day – it’s a huge privilege. It’s annoying when the star struck thing gets in the way – but them being the wonderful people they are you can almost forget it.
Was playing the role of Will Shakespeare in the stage production of Shakespeare in Love (a part played by Joseph Fiennes in the movie) the moment you thought you’d really made it as an actor?
I think fear came first! The role came along, and somewhere deep down I knew I could do it. I worked my ass off for the audition and throughout the process. It was a point in my life I thought I can really do this, and without really knowing it I became the lead in a West End show. I was very proud of it, it was a bit of a game changer.
The creator of Downton Abbey – Julian Fellowes - ruffled a few feathers by saying the Bard’s language is inaccessible without ‘a very expensive education’. Reckon there’s a truth in that?
I completely disagree. The Bard himself came from a relatively working class background - he didn’t have any special education – and he was a genius. Ken Branagh’s the perfect example, he came from very humble beginnings and he’s now the king of Shakespeare. So I respectfully, massively disagree. I think Shakespeare’s for all.