IN CONVERSATION WITH MATTHEW BROOME
interview by JANA LETONJA
Matthew Broome will co-lead Prime Video’s ‘My Fault: London’, premiering on 13th February. He is known for his role in the Apple TV+ period drama ‘The Buccaneers’, which marked his TV debut in 2023, and will soon return for its second season.
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You will star in ‘My Fault: London’, and the teaser trailer already has fans excited. What drew you to the project, and how did the character of Nick resonate with you?
At first, the simple fact that I would get to star in a movie was enough to draw me to the project. It’s been my dream since I was 14 and when the audition for ‘My Fault: London’ came up, it was the perfect opportunity to turn that dream into a reality. What drew me to the project specifically was meeting our amazing directors, Danni Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler, in the third round of auditions. Their vision for the film was exciting, they wanted to keep the story grounded and true, despite the wild journey it goes on. Therefore, I knew this project was in the right hands.
Nick’s character intrigued me because of his complexity. He’s not just a typical “bad boy”. As an actor, I wanted to dive into what makes him tick, beyond the surface. There’s a real journey for him, and the film offered so much room for me to explore different sides of Nick and in turn explore and challenge my abilities as an actor, from racing cars to street fighting to falling in love and showing emotional depth. It’s a character that evolves, which was a challenge I was eager to take on. The story already does a great job of showing how complicated Nick is. He’s successful, yet lost, cool but vulnerable, and I wanted to bring that to life in a way that made him feel real, not just a stereotype.
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The film explores themes of forbidden love, complicated relationships, and self-discovery. How do you approach playing a character in a story where emotions and connections are so raw and intense?
For me, it’s about getting to the core of who they are, what they fear, what they want, and why they make the choices they do. I try not to overthink the intensity, but instead focus on making the moments feel real and grounded. These characters are often grappling with a lot of inner turmoil, and as an actor, my job is to reflect that truth, even if it’s messy.
A big part of this process is trusting the story and the other actors. It’s also about keeping things in the present, letting each moment evolve naturally without trying to force the emotion. If you’re true to the character’s journey, the rawness will hopefully follow.
Your character, Nick, has a complicated dynamic with Noah, played by Asha Banks. Can you share what attracted you to that relationship and how you approached bringing their tension and chemistry to life?
The "enemies to lovers" trope is fascinating to so many people. What makes two people shift their perspectives and start seeing each other differently? Nick and Noah both carry their own trauma, and in the process of getting to know each other, they bring out both the best and the worst in one another. Ultimately, that’s what love often is, messy, complicated, but transformative.
Asha and I made sure to meet up before filming to discuss the scenes, their dynamic, and our shared vision for the characters. We also spent time just hanging out and getting to know each other as people and as actors, which really helped bring an authenticity to the chemistry. By the time we were on set, we had already built a friendship and a language we could bring into the scenes. From there, it was about trusting the moment and our directors to guide us.
The film is set in London, with a rich and diverse social backdrop. How does the setting influence the tone of the show, and how does it make it different from the Spanish original version?
The setting plays a huge role in shaping the tone. A British Nick and an American Noah, set against the backdrop of London, creates a completely different dynamic than the Spanish version. Environment shapes people, it influences everything, from relationships to how we express ourselves, it impacts the chemistry between the characters, the way we speak, even our physicality. We weren’t just re-creating the original, but making it our own by grounding it in London. London adds a unique layer to the film. It’s almost a character in itself, with its distinct energy and atmosphere. The culture, the energy, it’s all reflected in the story and the characters, and I think that makes our film unique.
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Probably the most notable project of your career so far is ‘The Buccaneers’, which is set in a period of social change. How did playing a character in that world shape your understanding of the time period and your performance?
What surprised me most was realizing that, despite the historical setting, the core of the human experience hasn’t changed all that much. Obviously a lot has changed since then, but the basic human condition remains the same. We still yearn for the same things and fear the same things.
Acting in a period drama can be tricky because you want to stay true to the time, but you can’t let that bog you down while performing. ‘The Buccaneers’ feels much more contemporary than many period dramas, which was always the vision and was therefore very liberating.
What is it like working on ‘The Buccaneers’ with such a talented ensemble cast, and what are some of the key takeaways from that experience that you brought with you to your role in ‘My Fault: London’?
Working on ‘The Buccaneers’ was an incredible experience. Being surrounded by such a talented cast and crew taught me a lot about collaboration on set, and how every role, big or small, contributes to the final product. It definitely prepared me for stepping into a lead role on ‘My Fault: London’. I learned a lot about myself, how I work best, and how to adapt to different environments on different projects.
Filming in Edinburgh for seven months was one of the best experiences of my life. Living in such a beautiful city, traveling through the Scottish Highlands every other day, it felt like the ultimate school trip with my friends. And getting to return for season 2 was a gift. The friendships I made on that job are ones I’ll have for life.
You’ve worked on various genres, from period dramas to modern stories. How do you approach character development when shifting between such different roles, and what challenges does that present?
I always start with the script, the words on the page and the given circumstances. Everything an actor needs to start from is in there. Each script and character is like a new environment. Just like growing up in different places shapes you, a script shapes the way you approach a role. You become a detective. Each crime scene is different and it’s about searching for the clues, and each clue unlocks a world of imagination and connection. This is always unique to the actor. What I bring to a role is different from what someone else might.
The challenge is figuring out which parts of myself I bring to the character and which parts I leave behind. Some qualities are useful for certain roles, others are not. It’s like having a cupboard full of ingredients. You must experiment to find which ones fit the right dish for the right occasion and that tastes good to you, and often times you’ll have to go out and buy new ones that you don’t have, like for example train to fight or learn an accent. It’s a constant process of discovery and adaptation. Many times, you’ll add too much salt and gag. t’s about the armour that you wear, and the you that wears the armour.
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What do you look for in a role when choosing your next project? Are there specific qualities that a character or story needs to have in order to capture your interest?
I think it will depend on where I’m at in my life and how I connect with the work at the time. So since I’m still at the beginning of my career and I have so much to disocver and learn, I’m not necessarily looking for specifics. Right now, it’s more about a feeling when I read something, something I connect with, even if I can’t fully explain why. As long as the role is challenging and looks like fun and something I haven’t done before, then I am interested. I definitely want to push myself, embrace my weaknesses, and grow, but ultimately, I just want to make projects, whether films, TV, or theatre, that I’d love to watch. Stories that entertain, move, teach or inspire people and I want to have fun doing it.
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As an actor, what has been one of the most rewarding or difficult moment in your career so far, and how did it shape your perspective as a performer?
Before ‘My Fault: London’, I was performing Shakespeare’s ‘Comedy of Errors’ at the Globe. It was one of the most rewarding and challenging moments of my career. Walking out into that theatre felt like stepping into the Roman Colosseum, terrifying and surreal. After our first preview, I remember thinking “There’s no way I can go back out there. What am I doing with my life?” But I had no choice. This was the path I’d chosen. So, every night, sometimes twice a day, I’d step into that colosseum. At the Globe, there’s no hiding. The audience is right there, in full view. You can feel when they’re bored, when they’re enjoying it, and when something doesn’t land. It hits like a slap in the face. But when it does land, it’s like you’re on top of the world. The challenge was staying grounded while juggling all of that.
One of the most rewarding moments was when I was invited back to perform ‘Twelfth Night’ for a one-night-only show. None of the actors had rehearsed together, we only had our lines and cues to learn. On the day of the performance, we met for the first time, put on our costumes, and then performed to a sold-out Globe Theatre. I was barely out of drama school, standing on stage with Stephen Mangan, Paul Chahidi, Paul Ready, Michelle Terry and many other incredible actors. I hadn’t seen the full script and didn’t know the play beyond my lines and cues. This is how Shakespeare’s original actors performed back in the day. I had no idea how it would work, but it was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. The play felt fully alive, and we were all experiencing it for the first time, together, in front of a live audience. The standing ovation we received felt unreal. I remember looking out at the packed Globe, thinking, “Holy s**t, what did I just do?” It was a moment in time, gone in an instant, but it will stay with me forever.
Both Globe experiences taught me resilience and perseverance. They showed me that I can handle more than I think. Even when a joke didn’t land, I kept going. When the crowd screamed and shouted, I didn’t let it get to my head. Despite being terrified every night, I showed up. And despite having no clue what would happen, we put on an incredible night of theatre, and we had fun doing it. When you fall flat on your face, literally or figuratively, you have to get up and keep going, no matter what.
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Outside of your professional life, what’s one thing about you that fans might be surprised to learn?
I used to be a gymnast when I was younger. And then became a gymnastics coach for children.
Looking ahead, what types of characters or stories are you most excited to explore in the future? Are there any specific genres or themes you would love to dive into?
There is so much I would love to do. Right now, I feel like the answer is endless, but here’s a few. I would love to do a character driven war epic, with practical effects and huge set pieces, like 1917, ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ or ‘Fury’. I would also love to perform on the West End and Broadway, and work with great writing, like a great American classic play. I’d love to do an animation. I’d also love to play the villain of a story.
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TEAM CREDITS:
talent MATTHEW BROOME
photography CONNOR HARRIS
styling HOLLY WHITE AT THE WALL GROUP
hair BRADY LEA AT A-FRAME AGENCY
photography assistance ALICE WHEELER
styling assistance MADELINE WILLIAMS
retouch EDD KASPAR
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA
