SPOTLIGHT: Mr Harry Lawtey

Photography - William Thompson

Interview - Taj Hayer 

Harry Lawtey is one to watch. The emerging talent is soon to be seen on screens, in a highlight of the BBC’s winter schedule Industry, a drama about young bankers and traders making their way in the financial world in the aftermath of the 2008 collapse. Prior to Industry, Harry has appeared in Netflix’s The Letter for the King, ITV’s Marcella and in the film City of Tiny Lights opposite Billie Piper and Riz Ahmed. As well as these dramas, he was also the star of a Burberry campaign and of a Sam Smith music video, Too Good at Goodbyes. 

Before Industry hits screens and Harry is propelled to super stardom, we found the time to find out more about him. 

Tell us about the role that you play in Industry. 

I play a character called Robert who is a young university graduate, that has just taken up an internship at Pierpoint, which is the investment bank in the show. Robert is very charismatic and quite charming. He has a lot of bravado and probably thinks that those qualities are really well suited to a life in banking and maybe he has a slightly outdated idea in his head about what is needed to be successful. On a personal level he uses those qualities to mask the insecurity of being a lost boy and ultimately, he seeks personal validation but he might be searching for that from the wrong people. 

What was it that drew you to this project?

Well its a massive project and there was so much buzz and excitement around it with it being the debut show for the writers. You really get a sense of that in the script which feels really fresh, vibrant and sharp and they really offer a new perspective on some big ideas. 

How have the writers and producers approached turning the world of investment banking into a drama that people will want to watch?

I think through first hand experience. Konrad Kay & Mickey Down, the writers are former bankers turned writers which is not a particularly well trodden path. They seem to have done an excellent job and I think in many ways the show isn’t about banking. The bank just provides an interesting cocoon, a microcosm to push the young, interesting and diverse characters together and see what happens. Really its about these young people working out who they are, who they want to be and how they want to be seen in a world that is slightly hostile but also very exciting. 

What did you have to do to prep for the role? 

Like any of these shows, and stuff like police dramas or hospital dramas there is a lot of jargon and technical terms to manage but from an acting perspective, I think what is important is that you understand the stakes and if you understand the importance of what you are saying and the relevance that it has to the character, as well as the implications that it has to their individual narrative then that is something that you can play. You don't necessarily have to know every inner detail because at the end of the day we aren’t bankers and there is only so much of a crash course that you can take. For certain things we had lots of resources put on for us. First and foremost the writers were our first port of call because they definitely know what they are talking about and we could go to them but the production also laid out a few people that do the job from. Bloomberg and other such institutions. If we were really struggling we could go and do our own research, on Google the night before.  

Were you ever tempted to work in that environment for real?

No! It’s funny really as I used to joke on set that I became an actor so that I didn’t have to sit at a desk all day and then I found myself in my first major acting job, mostly siting at a desk. I never really felt like I was particularly tailor-made for that kind of thing. There was certainly other things that I was interested in, and I actually had a slight interest in becoming a journalist. I was tempted to go to university instead of drama school but I ended up going down an opposite path. 

Initially, what drew you to a career as an actor? 

I suppose like most people it was just taking part in productions at school and in pantomimes. For so many actors, their first introduction to acting is through panto I remember doing that as a kid and feeling that it was really good. It felt great and I really enjoyed doing it. Then it snowballed from there and before I knew it, I was taking it pretty seriously. 

Growing up, which actors did you look up to? 

I go through phases of loving certain actors. At the moment I really like Sam Rockwell who I think is incredibly varied and exciting and has done some great work. I saw him in a TV series last year called Fosse/ Vernon which won quite a few Emmys and he and Michelle Williams in that were both fantastic. The detail and the nuance in the work that they did was on a different level. They span the lives of characters over the course of about forty years and you really age with them and it was amazing. 

As an actor that has experience of working in theatre, do you have any insight or suggestions about what can be done to resurrect the industry?

It is so difficult. I’m a huge football fan and there is a similar problem in that world. First and foremost, the challenge is finding a way to get people back in. We can’t do that until we are certain that it is safe. I suppose at the moment we are treading water and it’s really heartbreaking to see. I have so many friends and colleagues that work in the theatre world and that depend on it now only for their livelihood, but also for their wellbeing. All we can do is hope that the global situation turns around as soon as possible and we can get on with telling stories. 

You’ve appeared in fashion campaigns and music videos. Do you find it easy to move between these worlds and is it necessary for an emerging actor today?

That’s a really interesting question. With all of the different aspects of my job, I find that they are all different and also the same in that they are all performance in some way. There are certainly areas that I feel more comfortable. I am definitely more comfortable acting than I do in a photoshoot for example and I think that is because I feel like I can hide behind a character whereas on a photoshoot you are in essence, being yourself. As long as the project is creative and there is some kind of collaboration, then I am always there for it. It needs to feel fun and like something that I want to do. 

Do you ever watch yourself on TV? If you happen to be flicking through Netflix for example. 

No! Although I don’t hate watching myself, I certainly don’t particularly like it either. I think it is a shame if you can’t enjoy something that you have worked really hard on so I feel like you have to at least be OK with it but I certainly don’t spend too much time because there is always a tendency to look back and think of other, better ways to have done the scene. I might just leave it at one watch. 

What are you working on next and at the moment?

So, I recently just did a very small part in a small British film called Benediction, which is about the life of Seigfried Sassoon who was a War poet. I was really pleased to be involved in it because its a really beautiful script with a great cast. Other than that, I am just auditioning and trying to get back into the swing of things. The industry has been on such a pause button for so long that I genuinely feel fortunate to be involved in some great projects. Things for me are gradually starting to pick up but there isn’t anything concrete in the pipeline yet. 

And finally, what makes a rakish gent?

The first thing that springs to mind is something from drama school. There is always a term that involves restoration comedy and there is a character type called the rake. It’s a part that I played and for me, in the context of those plays, it means a Cavalier, charming, carefree young gentleman. 

Quick fire questions 

Ideal travel destination - New York

Best store in the world - My football team, Hull City’s store 

Gadget of choice - My phone

Go to pair of shoes - Dr Martens

Brand /designer choice - Fred Perry

Favourite fragrance - Hugo Boss

Essential grooming product - Aftershave

Recommended app - Depop

Icon - John Lennon

Industry is scheduled to premiere on the BBC this November. 

Follow Harry Lawtey on Instagram.