Principle spoke to the actor about his new project, what else he’s been up to this year, and the impact some of his other work has had on the world.

Overcoat Boss / Jumper Boss / Suit Vintage Dolce and Gabbana / Shoes Grenson / Watch Orient

Hello Iwan! Let’s get straight into it. You’re about to star in the upcoming BBC film Men Up. Your character Meurig is such an innocent, good guy who just wants to solve his problem to find that romance with his wife again. What was it that drew you to the character before you got cast?

I think it was more about the whole project and it’s obviously nice to play a nice guy. The script itself, when I read it the first time, it read so well. I thought all the characters were so well formed. And I thought the story was so touching and funny about what unfortunately can be a taboo subject with such sensitivity. It’s a subject that could very, very quickly become a bit of a laugh, you know, when you wink, nudge, nudge type thing. But it’s not dealt with as well, I mean, there are laughs to be had and I think humour is a very good way for people to connect and in order to open up. It’s often the first way we do it. But also it’s a very serious subject and the effect that erectile dysfunction has on men and their families, partners, everyone around them, and their friends, it’s pretty severe so it was important that the film dealt with that very sensitively.

Overcoat All Saints / T-Shirt Vintage Armani / Trousers All Saints / Shoes Grenson

Talking about that, what kind of message do you hope for viewers to take away from that for today’s society because it’s still a bit of a taboo subject, isn’t it?

Absolutely yeah, I think what’s interesting about the film when you look at it is that it was nearly 30 years ago, and how difficult it is for men to open up, especially Welshmen perhaps. And I should know, I am one. It’s how far have we actually come, and how ready are people to open up and communicate in this way. But in this film, I think the main thing that is interesting is every individual story. It’s a film about the drug Viagra, which is groundbreaking, and all that.  It was changing the world and changing a lot of people’s lives. But in the film, what we see is that every character’s journey sort of got better, or they are on the road to a more positive mental outlook. I think that’s what it is. I think it’s about talking and communicating. Especially this time of year a lot of people are very lonely and it’s about reaching out and communicating and talking to people that is so important. And to be open to other people as well, to be there for them.

Jumper Joe Brown / Trousers Stylist’s Own / Shoes Grenson

I totally agree. Did you face any challenges portraying Meurig, and equally did you have any highlights?

It was just really fun. It was a fantastic cast. Everyone’s fantastic. Everyone’s performance is amazing. The script was fantastic. We had a wonderful director, Ash. I was on a great crew and team. It was a real joy to do, from the read-through. The read-through was so touching and I’ve never enjoyed a read-through in my life. And this one, I was like, wow, this is incredible. And then it’s lovely to get to work with Alex Roach again. We worked together a lot and she plays my wife, Ffion. And I also got to work with Aneurin Barnard because we hadn’t worked together since Spring Awakening which was nearly 15 years ago. I heard that they were going after him and I was like on the phone to him, come on man, you’ve got to do it, come on, you’ll be great. So there were some funny scenes, scenes with the two of us in there. It was great to get to work with him after so many years. I’d love to do it again. So it’s just generally this fantastic cast that tells the story so beautifully I think.

Shirt and Blazer Emporio Armani / Trousers All Saints / Shoes Grenson

I can really tell that the cast had such a good bond because the chemistry in the film seems to just flow. It was portrayed well when they formed such a brotherhood by supporting each other during the trial. How great that you had so many reunions as well, especially the one after 15 years! What was it like to film it in Wales, considering you are a Welshman?

It’s lovely. I love working in Wales. I’ve been lucky enough in the last few years to work a lot there so it’s always a treat to go back. I think Wales has got so many amazing stories to tell and perhaps sometimes they’re not told, and this is a great example of one. Nobody knew about this trial. If you tell people, they’re like, “What? There was a trial for Viagra, one of the original trials for Viagra was in Swansea?” No one can believe it. People from Swansea don’t know. Everyone’s just shocked. But yeah, we’ve just got this immense amount of talent, actors, great crews, infrastructure for making films, great directors and writers, and people to make these films and tell these stories. It’s great to be a part of it.

Suit Vintage Dolce and Gabbana / Jumper John Smedley / Shoes Grenson

Yeah, 100 percent. Did you do a lot of research about the trial itself before starting the film? Or did you just dive straight into it?

Well, you know, I just didn’t think my character would have known much about the trial, haha. It was kind of one of those that isn’t necessary. It was all in the script for me because he’s learning about this trial as it goes along. It’s something that appears in his life. It’s like this thing that some almighty being has given him when he was in such a desperate state as a man. He couldn’t open up, he felt inadequate, he felt he was letting his wife down and this happened to him. So I felt like I just didn’t really need to do much research because the characters that we all play are fictional. So, the story’s true, but the characters are fictional. But I’m not lazy, I obviously Googled the trial!

Suede Jacket Levi’s / Vest Ron Dorff / Jeans Guess Original / Boots Grenson

Haha! Fair enough. So besides this film, you have had a busy year. I also noticed that you shared some pictures of you in a recording studio. Are you working on new music again?

It’s just a bunch of songs I’ve written over the years. I released an album in 2015, so it’s about time I pulled my finger out and made another one. But yes, because otherwise, I don’t write these songs. I always play music by myself or take a guitar with me into hotel rooms when I’m working. And I write songs. I just really enjoy writing songs. So if you don’t make an album, then they all just exist in my head. I kind of need to get them out now. Yeah, so they’ll be making an album that will be out next year at some point, which is really exciting.

Suit Vintage Dolce and Gabbana / Jumper John Smedley

Oh cool, but how do you combine that with your acting?

Generally, I think the acting side of things takes precedence really, because it’s my career. Music is this creative thing that I own and get to do whatever I want with. There’s no pressure. I’m in control of it. There’s nobody there. I think with acting, you’re part of a much greater thing. You have a script, you need to say the words in the script. You work with the other actors and you adapt. And then you work with a different director to create this project which then gets edited and you have nothing to do with that part of it. Making music for me is very sacred and it’s all me, and I’m in control of it and it’s very satisfying creatively. I’m not thinking I want to break into the music industry, it’s just something that I do and then I’ll release some music and if people want to listen to it, alright, and if not, that’s fine too.

It’s amazing to have such a creative outlet with zero pressure attached. In terms of acting, are there any other projects you are currently working on that you are allowed to talk about yet?

I just finished doing a pretty massive long project called Those About to Die. It’s by Roland Emmerich, sort of gladiator, chariot racing, gambling, you know, all of that stuff. Set in Rome in 79 AD, when the Colosseum’s almost finished. Of course they didn’t call it that at the time, but what we now call the Colosseum. It’s kind of about the underworld and the circus maximus and all the gambling and I was involved in the chariot racing politics and yeah, it’s pretty epic. It was about eight months of filming in Rome. It was quite a long, long old stint. So essentially I finished Men Up and well, I was still doing Men Up when I was starting that. So I was flying back and forth a bit, it was weird. Men Up will come out after I finished filming in Rome. It’s been a bit of a wild year, to be honest. It’s been a great one. I am looking forward to having a bit of a break at Christmas.

Overcoat Boss / Jumper Boss / Suit Vintage Dolce and Gabbana / Shoes Grenson / Watch Orient

Gosh, I can imagine. Although, eight months in Italy doesn’t seem too shabby.

It’s not bad. I’m not gonna lie to you, it was wonderful being in Rome. I love Rome. If you’re gonna work in a European city, it might as well be Rome. It’s so great, I love it. To be in Rome is kind of perfect really because you’re surrounded by all this history. You can go and see things that are still there. So in the story, the Colosseum is built and is finished towards the end. You can go and see it is still there and Vesuvius erupts, you can go to Pompeii. It is so cool to be right in the middle of it all. I did do my research for this one, ha!

Sounds amazing, I’ll look out for this series. Also, I just have to ask, because I can’t not ask. On Instagram I still see people commenting about how terrified they are of your Ramsay Bolton performance in Game of Thrones. Do people still come up to you on the streets as well?

Yeah, they still do. It’s kind of calmed down quite a lot. But I think with a show of that popularity and magnitude and the impact it had, I don’t think it’ll ever stop. It’s not as bad as when it was airing, but it’s still very much people are like, “Ooh, it’s that bastard.” With Misfits a lot as well, maybe not quite as much, but almost as much as this, which is really cool and it says a lot about that show and how it’s aged really well.

Shirt and Blazer Emporio Armani / Trousers All Saints / Shoes Grenson

Oh absolutely, I mean growing up in Germany I didn’t really know about Misfits so I only watched it a couple of years ago for the first time because people were shocked when I told them I hadn’t seen it yet. But you’ve been in so many noteworthy roles, roles that couldn’t be further different from one another. Is there a role that you know still haven’t explored that you would love to do at some point?

Yeah, I’d quite like to play a proper superhero. That’d be quite fun. Or a Jedi or something. I mean, every boy wants to play a Jedi, don’t they? You know, growing up with one of the lightsabers and all that. Or maybe a big old role like Iago from Shakespeare from Othello. Or Hamlet, maybe. Or MacBeth? I’m kind of very open at the moment. I’ve had a good variety, and want to keep that variety going. And so something like Meurig was just so great to have, just to play a normal guy from a humble background – he’s just trying to get on in life.

Just a normal guy for once, true!

Yeah, just a normal guy for once. Nobody that has any kind of psychological issues and doesn’t need serious therapy, haha. It’s great. I’d also maybe like to play a King. An ancient King from an old time, or something. Wear a crown and a sword. That’d be fun.

Let’s speak it into existence! It was great speaking to you, and Merry Christmas!

Overcoat All Saints / T-Shirt Vintage Armani / Trousers All Saints / Shoes Grenson

Men Up will air on BBC One at 9pm on 29th December.

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