IN CONVERSATION WITH TAZ SKYLAR

interview by JANA LETONJA

Olivier Award nominated writer, actor and producer Taz Skylar just starred in action thriller ‘Cleaner’, which premiered in February. Next up, we’ll be seeing him return for the second season of Netflix’s popular series ‘One Piece’.

top and pants and belt DOLCE&GABBANA
ring and earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

You just starred in the highly anticipated film ‘Cleaner’, alongside Daisy Ridley. What attracted you to this project?

Martin Campbell’s directed some of my all time favorite movies. I mean, ‘Mask of Zorro’, ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Goldfinger’. He’s worked with everyone I idolised growing up and I wanted to see if I could cut it. Callum, the producer is a really good friend of mine. And he called me one day to ask if I could come meet Campbell, like right now, for a film. And I was on set for another movie, near London Bridge, so I wrap and get in the blacked out car that’s waiting outside of set. And I read the script on the way to the studios in Reading. I was hooked. I couldn’t believe I was getting a shot at something like this. Martin and I read the script together for a like 4 hours, before he finally stood up and said “Well done my boy”, and patted me on the back. I responded to him “You didn’t think you were going to like me, isn’t it Martin? But low key you like me now. I can tell”. He laughed and walked away, but I got the job.

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top CARLOTA BARRERA TOP
rings and earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

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full look VERSACE
rings and earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

In ‘Cleaner’, your character is involved in a high-stakes, life-or-death situation. What was it like preparing for such intense scenes, especially being suspended 50 stories above the ground in such a perilous scenario?

For me, the perilous environment was more contained inside Noah’s volatile mind. Heights have never been much of an issue for me. I’m a skydiver, I’ve logged like 300 jumps at this point, so that bit was nothing in comparison to just trying to figure out how to ground such a mercurial and explosive character. I did a lot of reading, wrote manifestos in his voice, built mood boards with historical references.

You’ll also be reprising your role as Sanji in ‘One Piece’ season 2. What can fans expect from your character’s journey in this next season?

I obviously can’t say much, but what I can say is that this season is wild. The whole production is really attempting to do something that I don’t think has ever been done on TV before. The scale is immense. The sets are enormous, the action exponentialized, and all of us in the cast are somehow even closer than I think we’ve ever been.

jacket, pants, top and belt DSQUARED2
boots GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI
ring and earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

How has playing Sanji impacted you both professionally and personally?

Professionally, it’s definitely given me opportunities I would have never gotten before. I don’t think it’s just a coincidence that I got a call to meet Martin Campbell, the week after ‘One Piece’ came out. It’s validated me as a creative in some ways and I’m thankful for the projects I get to look at and consider now.

Personally, it’s been a rollercoaster. It’s so cool to have people like something I did. It’s awesome to see people smile when they see me. Everyone wants to give you their best self and it’s humbling. But on the other hand, it’s like a buffet of attention and it’s easy to overeat. Boundaries are a concept I always loathed because it sounds so clinical to have boundaries, but I’ve realised that they’re necessary to keep myself healthy. Time is something I guard in a military-esque way. And my privacy is something I never knew I’d value so much til it eroded. I’m enjoying the ride, but stopping to check in with myself a lot more than I used to.

You’ve worked on a variety of projects. How do you choose roles that align with your values and career goals?

Every time I take something new on, it’s completely different and opposite from the thing I did before it. So as long as it’s different, at least I’m not repeating myself. Now that I’ve done theatre on the West-End and off, a big hundred and fifty million dollar show for Netflix, some grounded Indies and a straight up action movie like ‘Cleaner’, I’m thinking my next project might be a complete 360. Something no one would expect. I’d love to work with someone like Florian Zeller or Aaron Sorkin. Something really dialogue and character driven. I want to do something in Spanish too, my native language, as I’ve only ever acted in English so far.

jacket and pants MUGLER
boots GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI
rings and earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

As an Olivier Award-nominated writer, you’ve shown talent beyond acting. Could you share more about your writing journey, and how your experiences as an actor influence your approach to writing and producing?

Writing is my number 1. Honestly, if I could chose to just act in the things I write myself, I would. But acting gives me the opportunity to learn from great writers who are more experienced than me, great directors, great producers, so it feeds back in to everything I write.

I started writing plays not even really knowing what I was doing. I’d just watch all the plays that were on in London and draw parallels between the things I liked and the things I didn’t. And I’d write from the heart. There’s something really beautiful about naivety in writing. The first few things that young writers write are unfiltered and uninfected by expectations. I’m on a journey to keep that as much as I can in my writing. Releasing myself of expectations or trends, and just penning things that I would feel excited to watch, to make, to leave as my literary legacy in the world. 

As a writer, what type of stories do you feel most compelled to tell? How does your personal background and experiences influence the kinds of narratives you want to share with the world?

I’m obsessed with biographies. I’m obsessed with peoples’ lives and how much we can learn from witnessing other peoples’ journey. I’ve been trying to get the rights to Steve O’s book ‘Professional Idiot’ for a long time. With little success, if I’m honest, but I’m stubborn. There’s something so human about the way he talks about his relationship with attention. I want to write a biopic on him. 

The other day, I met El Mago Pop, a young magician, from a small town in Barcelona, who’s breaking box office records around the world, and also really inspired me as a story. He’s a classic underdog of the new age. I’d love to write about him too. There’s a bunch of things I have in development right now. One of them is with my favourite production company ever, SeeSaw, who made Florian Zeller’s film adaptations and ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘Slow Horses’, etc. I’m really excited about the project I’ve been working on with them.

jacket PALOMO SPAIN
pants SEAN SUEN
earcuff SKULL CIGARRETTE

As someone who works across multiple genres, from sci-fi to drama to thrillers, what future roles or genres would you like to explore more? Are there any specific projects you’re aiming to be a part of in the near future?

‘Bond’. It’s my dad’s favourite franchise. I grew up watching it. I’d love to be a part of that.

Zeller and Sorkin, like I said before. I’d kill to work with them. And anything that Martin Campbell ever directs. I love that man so much, and his whole family. I’d work with Martin again every year if I could.

With so much excitement around your projects, what do you hope people take away from your work? What impact do you hope to have on the industry and audiences moving forward?

I come from a small island, in the Canaries. There was no theatre on the island. And the closest cinema was almost 2 hours away. I got kicked out of school when I was 15 and I can barely spell a few sentences without an inevitable collection of typos, but somehow I’ve written a play that was recognised by the Oliviers, a movie that went to London Film Festival and acted in successful shows without the slightest idea of how that’s actually supposed to be done. So, I guess I’d just love my legacy to one day be that trying matters. Just be the hardest tryer that’s ever tried something, it’ll get you further than you could ever imagine. That and that youthful naiveté is a superpower to be harnessed. Enthusiastic naivete can also get you a lot further than knowledge or education sometimes.

What is coming up next for you, besides the second season of ‘One Piece’?

I’m about to go shoot a movie which we haven’t announced yet. I’m super excited about it. The script is fire. The characters are awesome and subversive, and I can’t wait to hopefully put out another piece as a writer in the near future.

sunglasses MARC JACOBS
earcuff SKULL WITH CIGARRETTE

TEAM CREDITS:

talent TAZ SKYLAR
photography ANDRÉS GARCÍA LUJÁN
styling FREDDY ALONSO
hair NATALIA BELDA
photography assistance ISABEL ANDUEZA
styling assistance ANDREA ORTIZ
studio LA MADAME
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial direction and interview JANA LETONJA