SPOTLIGHT: Mr Alistair Petrie

Photography - Nicholas Andrews

Interview - Taj Hayer 

Shot on location at The Coach and Horses, London

Alistair Petrie is one of the most recognisable faces on TV today, having appeared in a host of programmes over the last few years that have captured the imagination of thousands of viewers. Just a handful of the roles that have propelled him to prominence include the glorious Mr Groff in Netflix’s Sex Education, Sandy Langbourne in The Night Manager and alongside Joe Dempsie in Deep State, not to mention General Draven in Rogue One: a Star Wars Story. 

Not content with mastering the world of TV and film, Alistair is a patron for premature birth charity Borne. In 2007, as well as cycling from Paris to London and running the London Marathon, Alistair and his wife successfully swam the English Channel in 12 hours and 21 minutes as a fundraising effort to support the neonatal unit of The Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, becoming the first ever married couple to complete the crossing. 

In mid February Alistair appears alongside Emily Beecham. Mark Stanley and Rosalie Craig in movie Sulphur and White and of course Sex Education has returned to scenes for season 2. As the second season prepared to launch we met with Alistair to find out more about what the new season has to offer. 

So much of what you have worked on seems to be socially relevant and modern. Is this something that is important to you when considering scripts?

Yes I think I’m always looking for a script to say something. I’m actually directing something at the moment and it pulls very sharply Into focus what is the story and also what’s it about and what is it trying to say. Drama at its best is holding a mirror up to the world in which we live. A really good script that tells a really great story and that also examines something is gold really. Sometimes it is not easy to find, but nowadays in television, a lot of great writers are gathering to tell some great stories with extraordinary themes so it's a great time to be working in television. 

What was it like to work on a Star Wars film?

It was a bizarre experience as what it began as and what it turned out to be were two very different things. Originally my agent called and told me that Gareth Edwards (Director) would love you to be in the Star Wars film. It was one scene and as the father of teenage boys, I had two conditions which were that I had a cool name and a line. Then I would be able to go to the cinema and watch it with my boys and we could cheer that Dad was in a Star Wars film. When we started to rehearse Gareth realised that my character became quite useful in the story and so a two week gig turned into shooting over a year on and off. It’s possible that he may return which is really exciting. 

When did you first know that you wanted to take acting seriously and what steps did you take to make it happen?

I was very young when I knew I wanted to do it. There was no-one in my family that was connected to this industry. My mother had done some amateur dramatics and I saw her in a production in Germany where my father was stationed because he was in the military. She had one line and the whole auditorium started laughing when she said it. I have a really clear memory of being around 6 or 7 and hearing this laughter and not quite understanding why but knowing that there was some magic to it. Then I did as much as I could at school. I had a few teachers that were really supportive and I was constantly working at it. I was determined to go to drama school and as a young actor, I felt that needed to go. I was a bit all over the place and needed focusing. I loved it and really learnt from the training. 

On those days involving long and tiring shoots, what do you do to switch off?

I love those days. I get paid for doing something that I love and I never take that for granted. If the days are long and draining, that’s usually a good day at work. I think you have to look after yourself. You need to be up to scratch when on set, because everyone else is. I’m fastidious about timekeeping and all actors should be. I do feel like I’m able to remove from myself when I need to. I’m very lucky that I have a lovely home life which keeps me calm and detached from the madness of the industry. 

How did it make you feel to see that role expand?

It felt amazing, to see that my work and contribution was valued. We weren’t given a script, just a general outline so as an actor, you have to go in there and do the best job possible. My character was interventionist and military which again, is quite relevant. But just being in that whole world is quite extraordinary. I loved it and am deeply appreciative of being able to play a part in that. 

Was there any apprehension in working on Sex Education for Netflix?

No, I wasn’t apprehensive at all but excited. The first television show that I binged was the very first season of House of Cards and it was astonishing to be able to sit in a room and if you wished, watch ten hours of television. When the opportunity came to work on one of those shows, I found that the process is the same in terms of the shooting but the excitement of the show dropping is that it is all there. The first season of Sex Education dropped on a Friday and by the Monday morning it had been consumed in its entirety. It was startling to see how people were buzzing and fresh with what it was telling them. It was kind of thrilling. 

What are you working on at the moment?

I am about to direct my first short film, written by David Kajganich who worked on AMC’s The Terror so I’ve got a serious award winning writer to service. I’m also producing two shows, one in America and one in the UK. I’m hoping we get to do season 3 of Sex Education. 

What are the major differences in shooting for TV and for a movie? 

Big movie sets tend to move much slower. Big budget sets have more time and money and they are usually on a large scale. Television has less, and relies much more on preparation. When I worked with Mark Strong on the first season of Deep State he hadn’t done television for ten years and he was startled with the pace at which you have to work. The process is fundamentally the same but the time and budget can be different. 

And finally what makes a rakish gent?

He doesn’t rely on the most thing in his wardrobe. I was on set with Mark Strong and we were discussing our Sunday best, and after a big clear out I decided that I was going to wear mine more. A rakish gent dresses well, eats well, exercises well, looks after the people he loves, retains a little bit of time for himself and has a really good wine cellar. Life goals. 

Quick fire questions 

Ideal travel destination - Africa 

Best store in the world - Berry Brothers 

Gadget of choice - an automated Walton Goggins 

Go to pair of shoes - Oliver Sweeney 

Brand /designer choice - Belstaff 

Favourite fragrance - Anything sandalwood 

Essential grooming product - Kiehl’s moisturiser 

Recommended app - Shazam

Icon - Hugh Laurie 

Follow Alistair Petrie on Instagram.