030 Audi Magazine _ Vorsprung 031

AUDI _ AUDITION tools, really, as in the majority of films you’re being asked to act fairly The actor, recently seen in a TV version of His Dark naturalistically, and in lots of plays Materials, speaks about books, driving and more you’re acting fairly naturalistically as well. The only difference is that it’s james mcavoy about energy conservation – a play is like doing a marathon, and a film is like 5000 100m sprints.

Drive or be driven? Drive! I don’t really know what I like about driving… it’s more what I don’t like about being driven. I don’t enjoy having to get into a car with someone you don’t know and having to trust that nline or offline? which is a real treat if you haven’t read they’re not a maniac. I’d rather be in O I do dabble with Instagram it and want to listen to it being read by control and driving myself, definitely. but I also dabble with living the man who created it all. He’s got a I’ve got an A3, which is great – it’s big my life offline. Social media is a useful really nice speaking style. It’s different enough for me and my small family tool but it’s not regulated very well, to hearing an actor tell a story, it’s like… but also easy to get around in, which is and there don’t seem to be too many listening to your grandad tell you a story something I prioritise living in London. consequences when people go out of really, and it’s beautiful because of their way to be horrible to each other. that! So when the casting director called Glasgow, London, or stateside? And that makes it quite frightening… me to say, ‘We’ve been let down by lots London! Glasgow is where my history is, of people who were meant to play where my heart is, but London is where Home or abroad? Lord Asriel, would you be up for I became a grown-up and forged my I like going abroad to relax. I love playing him?’ I said yes straight away. career. London is where I feel most Madrid, and I lived in Prague for about I was really delighted. autonomous. And it’s London where a year – I really love that place. It’s I’m in charge of my own destiny! probably coming up on 17 years since Snow leopard or… I spent all that time there, so I would [James’ character in His Dark Materials, Saturday nights – in or out? love to go back. Lord Asriel, has an animal companion I’d like to be out! But I can’t always called Stelmaria, a snow leopard] Ah! manage it, that’s just the domestic Technophile or technophobe? My favourite animal is an otter, but reality of life. But yeah, I love going out. Neither really. I’m probably somewhere unfortunately I don’t really think that’s in the middle. who I am. Maybe a snake. Something Glass half empty of glass half full? that’s good with being on its own – I think I’m glass half full… High culture or pop culture? I like being on my own. Well, I listen to Radio 4 most days, and Rulekeeper or rebel? a lot of audio books. Hero or villain? I think I keep to the rules… I’ve I like both to be honest with you… always been a pretty good guy. 

Book or film?…or the TV version? heroes can be kind of boring but villains EMMA BARLOW It can be interesting playing a role from can also be really two-dimensional. a book. It’s about the source material, I guess it’s whichever is written the really. If the role is good, if it’s been best. I’ve had brilliantly written heroic written well and it’s based on good people and poorly written heroic people. source material then it doesn’t really Whichever has the good writing… that ‘I’d rather be in control matter if it’s a book or not! I enjoy being would be my honest answer and driving myself, able to do both. definitely. I’ve got an A3, Stage or screen? In the dark about His Dark Materials? Stage, because when it’s good I really which is great – it’s big BOO GEORGE I’d read those books about three times think it’s better than film. It just beats enough for me and my and listened to the audio book twice. everything. I don’t think it requires a small family, but also

It’s read by Philip Pullman himself, different style of acting or different easy to get around in’ Photographer