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“The Film Business Is Like a Lottery” – Interview with Sam Riley
Sam Riley made his cinema debut with “Control”, the film about the band Joy Division by Anton Corbijn, for which Riley received several awards as Best Newcomer. He starred alongside Helen Mirren in the gangster thriller “Brighton Rock”, then hit the road as a cool dropout in “On the Road” with Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart.
Alongside his wife Alexandra Maria Lara, Riley appeared in Detlev Buck’s comedy “Rubbeldiekatz”. After his role in the Austrian Alpine Western “The Dark Valley”, the Brit is now coming to cinemas in “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”. [030] staff member Dieter Osswald spoke with the actor.
Mr Riley, your director Burr Steers has called you the ‘British Belmondo’…
Riley: Really? Brilliant! After all, I paid him for that wonderful compliment! (Laughs)
You yourself have said you played the role of Mr Darcy as if he were a James Bond…
Riley: Not just as Mr Darcy – I am like that in real life too! But more Roger Moore or George Lazenby than Connery!
Mr Darcy hits women – not quite the done thing in polite English society…
Riley: True, but I’m not aggressive – I’m only defending myself. And because the women in this film are stronger, I end up losing the fight as well.
What does your wife Alexandra Maria Lara make of that?
Riley: She laughed – because how could I ever think I might win a fight!
How do you divide up the work as an acting couple with a young child?
Riley: If one of us is filming, the other joins if possible, and vice versa. Since our son Ben was born, that’s what we’ve almost always done.
In “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” you deal with zombies – do you believe in extraterrestrial beings?
Riley: In Haiti people believe in the existence of zombies – I see that very differently. Though sometimes I do think I must have a guardian angel.
You’ve acted alongside Angelina Jolie, Kristen Stewart, Helen Mirren, Eva Green and Michelle Williams. Are attractive women the common thread in your filmography?
Riley: Just don’t forget Alexandra Maria Lara in that list! (Laughs) My brother would probably say that’s exactly the common thread in my career. Actually, it’s all just chance. Contrary to popular belief, as an actor you usually don’t have the freedom to pick and choose roles exactly as you like – at least not in my position. The film business is more like a lottery. The only control you have is in saying no to a part.
How do you organise things in detail? Will you take a year out for childcare after this film so your wife can work again?
Riley: It would be very complicated if we were both working at the same time. Last year I filmed quite a lot, which was good for my career but not so great for the family. That’s why, over the coming months, I shall happily be taking on the role of househusband.
Is there any rivalry between you and your wife?
Riley: No, after all, we rarely go for the same roles! I’ll happily leave playing a woman to Matthias Schweighöfer. I’m delighted for Alexandra whenever she wins a film award, and she feels the same for me. My father, though, always puts his money on Alexandra when betting on film awards – so from that perspective, he’s my rival.
Jane Austen’s novels are seen as the prototypes of romantic fiction. How romantic would you say you are?
Riley: I hope I have my romantic moments – but I’m British, not Italian. We English have a rather good sense of humour, and that matters a lot to me.
How has living in Berlin changed you as a Brit?
Riley: The longer I live in Germany, the more clearly I realise that I’m British. I wasn’t really aware of that while living in England. You only really notice these things when you live somewhere else.
How normal can your life be in Berlin?
Riley: In Berlin Mitte, it sometimes happens that people come up and ask for a selfie. But overall, life in Berlin is much more low-key than it is in London. And anyway, I wouldn’t count myself among the Champions League of well-known stars.
How comfortable do you feel in Berlin?
Riley: I love Berlin, this city is so completely different to London. I could never have imagined myself living in another country, let alone becoming a father there. In my experience, Germans and Brits are much more similar than people like to claim. For me, it’s like being cousins.
What do you like best about Germany?
Riley: It’s wonderful to live in a country that wins football matches. It might be a cliché, but I really like how well things work here. Germans like to complain about their trains, but to me the German railways are fantastic.
What do you like least about Germany?
Riley: I’m grateful for the wonderful hospitality – I’d be silly to complain. It’s just that my family’s now so far away. I miss my mum’s cooking, my favourite pub, and my friends – but all of that is only a flight away.
Is there a role you’d still love to play?
Riley: I’ve already played a psychopath, a cowboy, a vampire, a zombie killer – so perhaps I should try for a role as a transvestite.