STACK Nov #133

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with GETHIN ANTHONY
2 13 4
in many ways as a monster, for
example, and as a lunatic. How did
you decide to play him?
My approach was not to decide on
an end result. As an actor, it doesn’t
matter what kind of role you are playing,
you investigate the part in the way that
you do and you interpret material how
you do and what comes out is really a
product of that process. Having done
my research, I had a portrayal that I
could stand by. I didn’t really decide on
anything, I just tried to honour the story
as truthfully as I could.
Can you describe the series?
The important thing to emphasise
is that it is a story about LA in the late
sixties. It is really a period piece about
the atmosphere in the city and, at the
centre of that, you have David Duchovny
playing Sam Hodiak, an inspector in
the LAPD. It has a classic crime story
element. You are discovering the city
through the perspective of police
officers and how they become involved
with what was going on at the time,
including the hippy movement, the
human rights movement and other
cultural elements. Because of the
time that it is set in, a younger police
officer, Brian Shafe, who is played by
Grey Damon, has to go undercover
but, instead of going undercover in a
drugs ring or anything like that, he has
to go undercover as a hippy in order to
get involved with where the crime is
happening. This is new to him and is
very much again a product of the show
being about 1960s LA.
What’s it been like working with
David Duchovny?
I have been really lucky throughout
my career to work with some incredible
actors and David is a really good
example of someone I have looked up
to since I was a kid and who I watched
while I was growing up, so it was very
exciting for me just to meet him. I found
out he was this incredibly generous
spirit on set, very professional but also
laid back and he made it a real joy.
I won’t give too much away but
the scenes I got to do with him
were fantastic and really fun.
You played Renly Baratheon in Game
of Thrones.To what extent did the
role change your career?
That show was an incredible privilege
to be part of. I watch it avidly now and
am still a huge fan of the series. As
an actor, any job that you do that gets
seen by literally millions of people is
wonderful as it’s great to share your
work with that many. And it does help
you to get in a few more rooms and talk
about doing more work. It’s just been an
absolutely amazing gift and I am hugely
grateful for it.
Finally, why should people tune
in to Aquarius?
There’s some provocative,
gritty and really dark stuff in
there, but it’s delivered in an
entertaining way. Come join us
in the sun in LA. It’ll be a hell of a
ride and you’ll be following a dark crime
story. The music, and to be taken back
to the sixties, is reason alone to watch
the series. Plus, you can’t beat a new
iconic performance by David Duchovny.
Duchovny fans out there, you have got
to check it out!
Gethin Anthony as Renly Baratheon in Game of Thrones