Their Finest saunters into theaters this week and we got to catch up with one of its stars, Sam Claflin, for an exclusive chat at The London Hotel recently in West Hollywood. The world may have discovered the actor in The Hunger Games, but as Their Finest finds its way out into the world, audiences will discover a talent that goes much deeper than his brain and brawn from that Suzanne Collins-penned blockbuster world.
Claflin stars as Tom Buckley, a producer-writer working with the British government to create propaganda films that fire up the British people. See, it’s World War II and the blitzkrieg of London and Britain is in full force and each evening brings a new assault on the heart and soul of a country. These dramas, comedies and romances crafted by a team of government officials and the English film industry hope to further solidify the strong British resolve to stay strong, calm and to carry on as only they can.
His character works closely with a fellow writer named Catrin (Gemma Arterton), who has been brought on to add a “female” feel to the film’s dialogue. The two immediately strike gold with their work and as their film swings into production (starring Bill Nighy’s Ambrose Hilliard), it becomes clear that they have stumbled onto something truly special that will not only resonate with audiences, but aid in the war effort that is integral to turning back the tide of fascism that is spreading across the European continent and the world at large.
The actor spoke to us about the importance of Their Finest as well as what makes his co-star Arterton so fine, as well as what sparked his interesting in the field of acting all those years ago.
The Movie Mensch: Growing up in the UK, are the bombings of London taught in school and is it something that’s reinforced? You know, let’s never forget.
Sam Claflin: It’s definitely taught. I think the spectrum of what is taught in the schoolroom now is so vast and so massive, that it, it was definitely taught. We’re all familiar with the blitz. We’re all familiar with Dunkirk. It’s one of those things that it was never like the main focus or the focal point. Now, if I lived in London growing up that might have been a different story, but I grew up in a small, sheltered, city that was basically the city where all the kids were sent, the evacuees.
The Movie Mensch: So Gemma, I’ve always thought she was something truly special and I think this movie allows her to show the depths of what she has. You got to dance the dance with her through this film. What was your big take away about her?
Sam Claflin: I have to confess I was slightly intimidated by her and her talent.
The Movie Mensch: Really?!
Sam Claflin: Before I met her. I think I’ve known here since she played Strawberry Fields in Casino Royale and every movie that she’s made since. I’ve seen her on the stage so many times, so every move that she’s made has been such a decisive and intelligent decision. Coming into this with an actress who is very talented, you’re made to feel less talented [laughs]. Yeah. I was slightly intimidated, but she is the most grounded and normal and kind, generous actress to work with. What she brings to a scene elevates your performance and I think you can’t ask for more in a leading actress, a leading lady. I’d work with her again if I had the opportunity.
The Movie Mensch: I sure hope so cause you guys had a lot of chemistry. Did that arise organically or was it something that had to be worked on?
Sam Claflin: It’s one of those things that we realized that the two of us have had very similar upbringing and we’re from a very similar worlds. There are parallels in our lives that just kind of kept kind of bringing us even closer. She’s a very good friend. What’s amazing is that I’ve left this job with a really good friend and she’s an incredible person.
The Movie Mensch: You certainly have been no stranger to the stage. What do you think that background has brought or enhanced your film work?
Sam Claflin: Going to drama school learning your craft, learning theater, you learn your lines before you turn up, right? You can’t go on the stage and humiliate yourself in front of thousands of people or hundreds of people, even tens of people. It’s much more of a collaborative thing. I feel like the minute I left drama school everyone kept saying, “You are your own business. You get your own jobs. You go for your own auditions. You learn your own lines.”
The Movie Mensch: Is the movie and TV world much different?
Sam Claflin: If you’re fortunate enough to go into film and TV — it is a completely different art form where I feel like I’ve had to learn a completely new craft. You have to learn lines even quicker.
The Movie Mensch: Is it safe to say acting was calling?
Sam Claflin: Yeah. I think so, without knowing that growing up. My mum always claims that even when I used to play soccer, I played it to quite a really high standard. She used to watch me go through a range of emotions that no one else was going through. I used to get really frustrated or really angry or really happy or elated and then really upset and depressed and she used to sort of say that I used to over dramatize a football game. I always enjoyed acting. I’m quite insecure as a person and I think having an opportunity to hide behind other people is something that I always enjoy doing.
The Movie Mensch: You’re character is a writer. Was it fun to play a writer — a behind the scenes person?
Sam Claflin: What I find most interesting about it was the fact that I tried being a writer before. I thought I came up with a really interesting idea for a TV show and someone, a teacher from my drama school said, “You should write it!” I started writing and I realized all the characters sound exactly the Sam Claflin [laughs]! There wasn’t really a structure. There wasn’t a beginning and middle and an end. I think actually approaching this script, reading the material; just working out exactly how to structure a story sort of became quite interesting. I’ve met so many writers over the years that it was really quite enjoyable to approach acting or film making from very different angles.