Interview with Alistair Petrie, from the TV series Sex Education

In Sex Education, you portrayed yourself as a strict father, an impeccable headmaster and a reserved husband, and in each of these roles you portrayed the doubts of an average man struggling with his own limitations. How did you manage to express these criticisms, if you can call them that, and what memories do you have of your participation in the casting of the series?

The script is where you start. All the clues are there then you start to build outwards. Playing a character over 4 seasons and 32 episodes means that character will grow and change and reveal themselves more and more. I feel lucky we had the time to explore that. Sex Education has been such an important part of my professional and personal life. The quality of the writing and all the people involved.

If I am not mistaken, you started out as a mainly theatrical actor. What was the role that gave you the most satisfaction in the theatre? O What, if any, was the performance that inspired you to pursue an acting career?

I started in theatre and value it immensely. There’s nothing more challenging than a long theatrical run doing 8 performances a week. I learnt so much doing that no it just emotionally but technically. The resilience you need, the storytelling skills as you repeat the work night after night but always to a new audience but most of all remembering the team work it takes. Ensemble work is always very satisfying. I’ve been lucky to work on some of the greatest of world stages, The National Theatre, The RSC, The West End. The National Theatre and the reduction of His Dark Materials was something special. I am always interested in doing theatre - but the right part, the right play and the right director.

Your first film role was in the 1997 film Mrs Dalloway, with Vanessa Redgrave, do you have an anecdote to tell about that casting?

In Mrs Dalloway we were playing younger versions - it feels a long time ago - of older characters so I never acted with Vanessa Redgrave in that film. But she is an icon of our industry not just in the United Kingdom but abroad too. A trailblazer.

You later joined the cast of Cloud Atlas and Rush, until he played the role of General Draven in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Which of these roles did you feel was your own, or which character from the books, film or theatre would you have liked to play if you had the chance?

I’m lucky to have done blockbuster movies and small independent ones too. The process for me is very similar just more people are involved as the budget increases. Actors tend to be shielded from a lot of the bigger production conversations thankfully as we have our own job to do. The stress of being a producer - any producer - is huge. A million things need to go right for a piece of work to be successful and reach its audience. A big budget is no guarantee of success. Do the best work you can but first get the script right. The script, the script, the script. The 3 most important words in filmmaking. There are many parts I’d like to play - new characters are everywhere. As you get older too, the characters you might play change too. That is a gift. Change is a gift.

You are expected to star in the films Magpie (with Daisy Ridley) and Now & Then (with Geraldine James and Stephen Fry), can you reveal anything about your role in these films?

Magpie is a Film written by Tom Bateman and directed by Sam Yates. His first feature and a wonderful director. His back ground is theatre so his detail and understanding of text and acting is terrific. That will premiere this year. Daisy is a great actor and is determined to make and tell stories that matter. I’m a big fan. And there is of course our Star Wars connection.. Now and Then is trying to get financed. Financing in the independent sector is very delicate. It’s building a house of cards and hoping one doesn’t fall. Hopefully the financing will come together soon. 

What can fans expect?

But I’m lucky, I have several other projects that will appear this year with international casts and young amazing writer/directors. I love having the opportunity to work with newer artists. Miriam Furniss-Yacoubi is one, Rosie Day another. They’ll take on the film world and fly. I’m lucky to be working with them.

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