Photography Joseph Sinclair
SD – Hello Ben, please tell us a little about your background. When did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
BR – I’ve been performing since I was very young. One of my first roles was when I was seven, playing a little boy who loved snails for a show on CITV. I’ve grown up with it. I suppose I realised I properly enjoyed it was after being in the West End production of Oliver. I had so much fun, met some great people and it encouraged me to move to London from Leeds to try and pursue a career.
SD – You’ve had parts in Cuban Fury, Pandora and Evermoor, to name a few. From all the roles you have played so far, what is your favourite and why?
BR – Looking back, they’ve all been totally different and have all taught me new skills. Cuban Fury was one of my first jobs, where I learnt how to salsa dance. Pandora was a really enjoyable experience because I got to do lots of fighting and stunts, but my favourite has to be Anatomy of a Scandal. It was a privilege to be involved with a show that not only had such a clear and interesting creative style, but a show that actually informs and challenges, and asks important questions that are relevant to people’s lives.
Photography Joseph Sinclair
SD – You will soon be starring on the Netflix’s much-anticipated, Anatomy of a Scandal, created by David E. Kelley (Big Little Lies), opposite Rupert Friend, Sienna Miller and Michael Dockery. Tell us a bit about the show?
BR – The show is about a big scandal in Parliament when a high-level politician is accused of rape. Ultimately this show is about privilege and power which is, of course, very topical right now. It’s an important show with so many relevant themes to our society today.
SD – What attracted you to the young James Whitehouse, character?
BR – What I found interesting about James is his supreme level of confidence. This leads him to believe that he can do no wrong and it’s exciting to play a character with levels like that. The show does a fantastic job of showing that his inherited arrogance and expectation are a huge issue and things need to change, especially when people in positions of authority abuse their power.
SD – What can the audience expect from young James Whitehouse?
BR – Charm, charisma and confidence. I won’t say too much more than that. You can probably tell something bad is coming!
SD – Which of the fictional characters you played, would you be excited to meet in real life?
BR– I’m kind of cheating on this question because recently I played a role that was actually based on a real person. I play Captain John D Brady in Apple’s Masters of the Air and he was a real war hero – as were almost all of the characters in the show. It would be an honour to meet the men who risked their lives during WW2 in the 100th bomb squadron.
Photography Joseph Sinclair
SD – You’re soon to be seen in Masters of the Air for Apple – tell us about that?
BR – Masters of the Air is an upcoming American war drama miniseries based on the actions of the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It is being exec produced by Stephen Spielberg, Tom Hanks and the team who made its precursor shows Band of Brothers and The Pacific. It was a dream come true to be a part of this incredible show.
SD – Anything in works that you can talk about. Any exciting new projects?
BR – I am currently working on a project that I can’t say too much about, but I will say I am starring alongside an icon of cinema so stay tuned!
Photography Joseph Sinclair
