IN CONVERSATION WITH TOM BATEMAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

Actor Tom Bateman will return for the second season of the Peacock dark comedic thriller series ‘Based on a True Story’ on 21st November. Recently, Tom has made his screenwriting debut with the sexy contemporary noir thriller ‘Magpie,’ one of the breakout films of SXSW, which has been in US theatres since October 25th and is now available for VOD in the UK. Next year, he will be seen starring in Nia DeCosta’s ‘Hedda’ and recently wrapped production on Kenneth Branagh’s ‘The Last Disturbance of Madeline Hynde’. 

With the second season of ‘Based on a True Story’ coming out soon, how does your character evolve in this new season, and what can fans expect from the upcoming episodes?

Season two finds Matt in a totally unexpected place with an entirely new look. Whatever fans think they’ll find him doing, I can almost guarantee it won’t be that. But as the season progresses, they’ll realize that nothing is quite what it seems with Matt and that he is always planning some way to maintain the upper hand and to damage Ava and Nathan. 

The first season received strong reviews. How does this season build on the tension and dark humor established in the first, and what excites you most about returning to this character?

The tone for this new season is very much in line with that of the first, but it goes deeper, funnier and darker. We were figuring out who these people are and what this world is in the first season. In the second, we hit the ground running and built upon everything from the first minute. 

You’ll be next also seen in Nia DeCosta’s ’Hedda’. How does this adaptation differ from other period pieces you’ve worked on, and how did you approach bringing depth to your role in such an iconic play?

‘Hedda Gabler’ is such an incredible play and one that not only have I loved, but I've seen it performed and performed it myself. Nia’s adaptation brings a totally fresh perspective. She has brilliantly chosen to show a lot of the drama that happens off stage in the play, so audiences are going to get to see the debauched and scandalous party that they never do in the play. The cast is incredible, and I get to play opposite the brilliant Tessa Thompson. I really feel that this is a reimagining that will give those that are familiar with the material as well as those new to it something true to Ibsen’s original, while giving them something totally new. 

I loved getting to play such a different character, too. There is a fascinating tension and contradiction within him as a character that I loved discovering. 

This November, you’ll be making your screenwriting debut with ‘Magpie’. What inspired you to take on this challenge, and how did the idea for the story come about?

‘Magpie’ is the first film that I have written that has been released, however I have been writing for several years. My wife Daisy, who plays the lead as well as produced the film with me, has always been the first person that I shared my writing with and she has supported and encouraged me to do more. She actually asked me to write ‘Magpie’ after experiencing an extraordinary and unique experience while on a film set and had a feeling that it would make a brilliant film. Writing for and with Daisy on it was an incredibly creatively rewarding experience.

What can the viewers expect from the film when it comes out?

Audiences can expect a character driven psychological thriller that will hopefully pull the rug out from beneath their feet. It’s a piece that deals with perception and perspective of people who we overlook, underestimate and judge unfairly. I wanted to push that theme even further and make them question the very narrative structure that they’re watching, thinking they’re watching one story when they’re actually watching a totally different one. All of the audiences so far have been totally blindsided and rapturous and it's been fantastic to see. 

Can you tell us about the process of transitioning from acting to writing? How did your experience as an actor influence your approach to screenwriting?

I suppose my work as an actor has given me a lot of experience to apply to my writing in terms of the number of scripts that I have read and been a part of bringing to life. I think that it has led to my work being primarily character driven as I begin all of my scripts with a character’s journey. But to me, it’s not as much of a transition as one might think. It feels like a long improvisation, on my own.

You’ve played a wide range of characters, from thrillers like ‘Behind Her Eyes’ to dark comedies and period pieces. How do you choose your roles, and do you have a specific type of character you’re most drawn to?

My process for choosing roles tends to be script driven. A good script is the bedrock of any film or play. That said, I will always look for opportunities to do something new and exciting, and that challenges me as an actor. Someone once told me the key to feeling alive is to do something that scares you every day. In keeping my work alive, I try to do the same. 

What’s been the most challenging role you’ve taken on so far, and what did you take away from it?

The most challenging process that I have been through was in Ron Howard’s ‘Thirteen Lives’. The film is the extraordinary story of the rescue operation of twelve boys and their soccer coach in the Tham Luang cave in Thailand when an unexpected rainstorm traps them. This was mainly to do with the stunt element of the film, depicting the cave diving in extreme situations. The fact that there were only a handful of people on the planet who could do what those amazing men did speaks to just how challenging what we were depicting was. We had to learn to be able to do what they did after a few weeks and the training was intense. However, there were moments underwater where I could truly feel them as people. Being put into those extreme conditions forced me to experience a slice of their bravery and unique view of the world. 

Looking back, how would you say your approach to acting has evolved over the years? Are there any specific experiences that have shaped you as an actor?

My approach to acting has, I think, only deepened over my career. Speaking honestly, I began my career with such a feeling of imposter syndrome, feeling so fortunate to be one of the people that actually get to do this as a career, that I think it prevented me from having the confidence to mine as deeply and as bravely as I have come to do in more recent projects. I think a big turning point for that was working with Viggo Mortensen. His attention to detail and his tireless drive to discover and explore gave me an insight into how an actor of his caliber continues to create brilliant work. It is a totally free and brave approach that I began to emulate. The next project I did was one of the more creative and rewarding of my career because of adopting that approach. It has, after ten years of working as an actor, become the only way I want to work. 

You have an exciting fall ahead with Based on a True Story and Magpie. How do you manage such a busy schedule, and what are you most looking forward to as these projects release?

​It has been an incredibly busy and creative couple of years. Looking back at it makes me feel so grateful. I can’t wait to share such a diverse and different bunch of projects with the world. I’m also excited to see them all myself, as they have all been incredibly interesting and ambitious. With films such as ‘Hedda’ and also the Kenneth Branagh film that I just wrapped alongside Jodie Comer, they were such great experiences and I am really excited to see how they come together and what audiences take from them. 

photographer LEE MALONE