What are your first thoughts on awakening in the morning?

My mother used to open the back door of our childhood home every morning and scream “Good Morning World”. I kid you not that Is the first thing I think about when I wake up. I love it. It’s saying to the world I’m here and I’m ready for the day.

Shower of Bath?

Shower.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee.

What project are you working on at the moment? 

The Great Artist Feature Film is a big project for me. It’s a very exciting time for us and has already been four years in the making. I’m shooting a film in March 2024 that I’m very excited for too. (Pending SAG-AFTRA Strike).

What made you become an actor?

I’ve always wanted to be an actor. I started acting professionally when I was three years old and haven’t stopped. I find it so amazing that as an adult I get to have fun in imaginary worlds. I will always act for the rest of my life.

What are your tips for success?

Focus. Creatives tend to try and do multiple things at once and end up with little to show. I’m still trying to focus. Surround yourself with great people, who want to achieve similar goals as you.

How much are you like the character of Sam in you play in your latest film The Mattachine Family?

I hope I’m similar. He’s kind, lovable and happy.

What attracted you to the character of Sam when you first read the script?

The Director Andrew Vallentine actually called me, I had done another film with him “The Letter Men” which was shown at Cannes Film Festival. He pitched the film and scenes like a work of art, he was very excited and it made it impossible for me to say no, before ending the call I pretty much said I was in. I know Andrew’s work and how talented he is.  Once I read it, It was an easy role to accept; the character is fun, light hearted and I get to work with Andrew again.

What was your inspiration for your character in The Great Artist? 

The Great Artist is an exaggeration of my life. The inspiration came when I started to look back at my art over the last few years and could clearly see stories in them, of the time and place I was in my life. Unlike me, The Great Artist has Dissociative Identity Disorder and under different personalities he paints differently. It really was one of the greatest joys of my life to create this film. 

Would you say that is one of your most complex characters?

It 100% is. I remember in one day I had to play four very different characters with different backgrounds, accents and characteristics. It was very emotionally draining for me.

What is it like to get into a head like that?

It’s incredibly fun, scary, exciting. Everything that life should be. Daunting too: I remember calling the head producer, Sunny Vachher a week before we were scheduled to shoot explaining that I didn’t know these character well enough. We look back at that now and laugh; I created and wrote all the characters, they came from me, so no one could possibly know them as-well as I did. Once I went into that it was freeing.

How do divide your time between producing, acting, screen writing and song writing?

I have no idea, I’m not the person to give advice on balance. In fact the way I’m productive is that I become very obsessed with Art in any genre. Sometimes my friends won’t see me for days or weeks at a time. That may be why I’m single. 

Professionally, what are you better at now than before?

Acting. I was a very extreme actor. I thought that emotion was from the face, it’s not. Well not entirely true, It’s from within, from the eyes. When you feel it the audience will. I’m also better at saying no. Not in an entitled way. But as I’m older I realize that I only have so long on this earth and If I say yes to something that I’m not passionate about. It’s time in my life that I lose. 

Do you have any secret desire to work with a certain director? and why? 

Craig Gillespie & Christopher Nolan—They are geniuses.

Many actors are fascinated by characters with a dark side. Does it happen to you too?

I am. I’m that actor. But only because it’s very different from how I live my life. With characters that are “Dark” there is so much complexity. To make a truly dark character you need to find the vulnerability, the part that makes them human. When the audiences are able to glimpse even for a moment part of themselves in a dark character, that is when you have cracked the code. My dream role would be to play the Joker. 

If not an actor, what would you like to be?

An Entrepreneur, I have a BA (Hons) in Enterprise Development.

Do you like risk?

Interesting. I guess I do, but I really don’t. Anything that I do in my career you could say has been pretty risky.

Are you of method or guts?

Instinct. Fall back on Method. If the character is very complex, which most of mine recently have been, then I break each line and word down.  I’m particularly finding a lot of freedom using Ivana Chubbuck’s methods. If ever I’m confused by the objectives of the script, scene or personal characteristic choices I run to her book “The Power of the Actor”. My book looks likes its been ran over it’s been used so much.

I have explored will full method once. Though a lot of people don’t like it, talk about it or think it should be promoted. I love living as a character, however it is very challenge and weird for everyone around you. It’s also a lot of emotional work to get yourself out of it after filming. After the one particular film I did it for I remember feeling traumatized and I slept for three days straight. I do think it was my best work though.

Do you read books? If so what was the last one?

I do. I read a lot. It’s calming for me. Funny enough it was one of the smallest books that I have, currently on my night stand right now; “Who Moved My Cheese” by Dr. Spencer Johnson. I have read it over 50 times. And each time it means something different to me. If you’re going through any type of change or uncertainty, read it. Or just read it in general. You’ll find something in there. 

What scares you?

Heights. 

And what makes you angry?

People who are rude.

As a former rugby player, what do you do to stay fit?

I did play rugby since I was a child, for almost 15 years in England. I stay fit by working out everyday at a gym. I’m not saying that’s the best thing to do, you should have rest days. I just don’t and don’t feel good if I miss a work out. I even go to the gym on Christmas Day.

What’s something you could eat for a week straight?

If I could? Pizza.

Do you wear glasses?

I don’t. 

How would you describe your personal style?

Classic, simple and tailored. I’m very influenced by old school Hollywood and classic British wear. Every time I’m in London I always make it a point to stop at Savile Row, In-particularly Cad & The Dandy.

Boxers or Briefs?

Briefs, if you asked me a year ago I would have hands down said boxers.

What cologne do you wear if any?

House of Bo, Infinitoud. Every time I wear it I get asked what I’m wearing. It’s worth the cost. There’s nothing else quite like it on the market. And I was always a sucker for classic Tom Ford Oud Wood, but this beat it x10.

What do you think are the most exciting people in the world today?

Creatives.

Do you think it’s important for a man to be sexy? 

I think it’s important to look after yourself, It shows the quality of life you demand and you attract what you put out into the world.

In this Story:

1-2. Matthew Postlethwaite wears black pinstripe boxer trunks DOLCE & GABBANA 3-4. Matthew wears denim jacket and customized jeans CALVIN KLEIN 5-6. Matthew wears black t-shirt and pinstripe knit vest SANDRO PARIS, pants FRAME DENIM, Knit shirt and cargo pants THEORY, plaid coat THE KOOPLES 7-8. Matthew wears DOLCE & GABBANA 9-10. Matthew wears black pinstripe boxer trunks DOLCE & GABBANA 11-12. Matthew wears THE KOOPLES, Matthew wears ALEXANDER MCQUEEN 13-14. Matthew wears THE KOOPLES

Photographer HAROL BAEZ, Talent MATTHEW POSTLETHWAITE, Style ALEX SHERA

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