Revenge star Barry Sloane revealed he is proud to fly the flag for Scousers in the States as he chats about his latest US show.
The Liverpool actor has built up a solid fan base working alongside Emily VanCamp in the hit American programme and treading the boards on Broadway with the award-winning play Jerusalem.
And as US audiences eagerly await his latest project, the ECHO caught up with the 33-year-old to talk about his role in ABC’s supernatural drama The Whispers, which airs this summer.
We also spoke to Barry, from Garston, about finding success across the Atlanic after leaving Hollyoaks as the village’s resident evil, Niall Rafferty, and find out why he never planned to make the move to Hollywood.
How would you sum up your post-Hollyoaks career?
“You’ve got to pinch yourself at times. It all happened so quickly, with getting Jerusalam at the Royal Court [in London] and that being the success that it was. And then it taking off in the West End, then getting transferred to Broadway, it was all amazing.”
Did the play kick start your career in the States?
“It enabled me to get the movie Penthouse North with Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan, which was incredible to work with those wonderful actors.
And very quickly after that Noah came about. Auditioning for Darren Aronofsky was a high point, and the fact he’d seen me in something beforehand was a great moment, then doing the movie and working with Russell Crowe was a wonderful experience, if fleeting!”
Did you ever expect to land work in America so quickly?
“I never expected to work in the United States at all. It wasn’t something that I was beating myself up about or putting pressure on myself to do. What made it come about was taking that play from London to Broadway, which got me noticed and some representation in New York.
"I never once came out for a pilot season, it was very important to me I’d only ever go over to LA if I was going with a job. I’m very lucky but I’ve also worked very hard.”
Why do you think British actors are doing so well across the Atlantic?
“People often say it’s the work ethic. I just think we’ve got many, many great actors. We come over and chance our hand and if you’re brave enough to make that jump then you deserve the spoils of that.”
How was working on The Whispers?
“It was a wonderful experience. I’m excited for people to see it. Niall was a very exposing role, it was probably the first time in my career that I exposed myself like that emotionally, and certainly with The Whispers it’s something I felt happened again.
“I left a lot of myself on the pitch as they say over here, and I had to go to places that weren’t particularly pleasant during filming of the show, but hopefully what we created people are going to enjoy watching.”
Who will it appeal to?
“It’s a supernatural Homeland, so if you’re a fan of Homeland, and it had a supernatural edge would you be interested in that? I guess that’s the kind of question we’re asking. It’s very Spielbergian. It reminded me of watching that E.T look, that 70s or 80s stuff that makes you feel safe, comfortable, but on the edge of your seat and curious. We’re going to terrify people as well but I think people are going to enjoy the human element of the show as much as anything.”
How do you think people will respond to your character?
“We air in the US in June this year. When we meet my character Wes in the first episode he’s cheated on his wife. With any of my characters I’m not asking the viewers to like them, I’m asking them to be in their shoes for a little while.”
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Did you expect such a huge reaction to your character Aiden in Revenge?
“No. I knew it was going to be a love interest of Emily Van Camp, which was exciting at the time. I never set out to be liked, I played him cold and callous at times, it was great that people warmed to the character so much and liked him. He offered something that wasn’t on the show at the time.
“Revenge was a great phenomenon, to be part of popular culture in such a way was exciting. It was a memorable character that people are still very fond of. And through that I got to do The Whispers, which is the next phase and I’m looking forward to people getting to see that.”
How well have you settled in across the Atlantic?
“The United States has been wonderful to us as a family. Gracie my daughter has spent more time on this continent than she has back home. [My wife] Katy [O’Grady], I and Gracie have a wonderful life, and we have a beautiful home in Santa Monica. We’re very fortunate, I feel very blessed.”
Do you miss Liverpool?
“We miss Liverpool all the time as we always will because it’s my home. It’s what made me the man I am. It’s where my family and friends are. I’m always a very proud, boasting Scouser so I’m happy to be flying the flag here in California.”
