The name Tom Sturridge might raise nonplussed looks in some, but, trust Itchy, this guy's gonna be big. Bollocks to those lads from Skins (apart from Dev Patel and his Slumdog millionairedom) – this is the new, well moisturised face of British acting.
Richard Curtis's new comedy The Boat That Rocked throws 23-year-old Sturridge right in at the deep end as a lead in a film which also shows off names like Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy and Rhys Ifans.
Itchy met up with Tom at a hotel in Glasgow, an hour later than scheduled, rock star aloofness having swiftly taken hold. Or maybe it was just the traffic. He strolls over, all plaid shirt and stubble.
How've you enjoyed promoting the film?
I'm proud of the film so I don't mind talking to people about it. But I've never done anything like this [a nationwide promotional tour] – it's strange marauding around the country answering questions.
In the film you play a guy that's never really been kissed. Does that ring true in real life?
I'm very familiar with that idea. Nah, I've been kissed, but I definitely relate more to the not being kissed end of the cool spectrum. I wouldn't mind a nice girlfriend. (there are few nice girls that contribute to TwiHigh Tom...just sayin)
I'm proud of the film so I don't mind talking to people about it. But I've never done anything like this [a nationwide promotional tour] – it's strange marauding around the country answering questions.
In the film you play a guy that's never really been kissed. Does that ring true in real life?
I'm very familiar with that idea. Nah, I've been kissed, but I definitely relate more to the not being kissed end of the cool spectrum. I wouldn't mind a nice girlfriend. (there are few nice girls that contribute to TwiHigh Tom...just sayin)
Itchy guffaws – what nonsense. But to give him a bit of an ego boost, we tell him that our girlfriend has a bit of a soft spot for him.
Really? What are you saying?!
We offer him her number. He laughs it off, revealing a giggly side. Maybe it's the cosy sofa.
We read that you were supposed to be the lead role in 'Jumper' but were dropped after they wanted a bigger name. How did that come about?
People always ask about this! Originally it was going to be a much smaller film. Me and this Australian girl were the two leads and we went to New York to start rehearsing. But they kept rewriting the script when we got there, and there was talk that it might become a bigger budget film, and in that case we were made aware that they might have to do it with famous people instead. It wasn't a big deal, because there were weeks and weeks of conversation about it, so it wasn't unexpected.
And do you have anything planned for after The Boat That Rocked?
I've just filmed Waiting For Forever, with Rachel Bilson – weirdly, cause she's in Jumper. There's also this guy in it called Richard Jenkins, who got nominated for the best actor Oscar this year. He's amazing. We shot it in four weeks, whereas The Boat That Rocked took three months. It was such hard work – we had to do 16 hour days to get everything done. I always had this instinct just to run away – fortunately I didn't.
Back to The Boat. How was it working on a film with so few girls in it?
There were more girls though, behind the camera! But one of the main themes of the film is friendship, and we did, without being corny, become firm friends – I hope the film captures that.
Was there anyone in particular that you got on well with?
Everyone was cool. Especially Nick [Frost] and Chris [O' Dowd] – on this whole promotional tour it's been the three of us together. We've been doing all these interviews, and I've been sitting around weeping with laughter - cause they're the funniest pair in the entire universe.
At this point, as if sent from above to intervene at the perfect moment, Irishman Chris O' Dowd, who plays Simple Simon in the film, saunters by. 'HERE HE IS, IT'S TOM STURRIDGE OFF THE TV!' he bellows. 'Love the latest album' he quips to Sturridge, before Tom explains a running in-joke in which his co-star introduces him to journalists as 'Tom from the Klaxons'.
'How's the interview going? Is it good?' O' Dowd asks Itchy. ”He's very charming, isn't he?“
O'Dowd stands for a minute or two in front of a tiny lift entrance, a hamburger in his hand, joking with us intermittently, before Sturridge tells him that it's probably a service lift, not a public one. 'Ask me one question!' O' Dowd yelps, and Itchy racks the ol' brain. How does it feel to be alive?
'So fucking good'.
He disappears from sight.
Time's up. Tom shakes Itchy's hand, and is off, probably to do another interview, or to grab some sushi. But most likely he's walking off into impending stardom, bright lights an' all. And Itchy reckons it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. We just hope he doesn't get too big for his boots and steal our girlfriend.
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Really? What are you saying?!
We offer him her number. He laughs it off, revealing a giggly side. Maybe it's the cosy sofa.
We read that you were supposed to be the lead role in 'Jumper' but were dropped after they wanted a bigger name. How did that come about?
People always ask about this! Originally it was going to be a much smaller film. Me and this Australian girl were the two leads and we went to New York to start rehearsing. But they kept rewriting the script when we got there, and there was talk that it might become a bigger budget film, and in that case we were made aware that they might have to do it with famous people instead. It wasn't a big deal, because there were weeks and weeks of conversation about it, so it wasn't unexpected.
And do you have anything planned for after The Boat That Rocked?
I've just filmed Waiting For Forever, with Rachel Bilson – weirdly, cause she's in Jumper. There's also this guy in it called Richard Jenkins, who got nominated for the best actor Oscar this year. He's amazing. We shot it in four weeks, whereas The Boat That Rocked took three months. It was such hard work – we had to do 16 hour days to get everything done. I always had this instinct just to run away – fortunately I didn't.
Back to The Boat. How was it working on a film with so few girls in it?
There were more girls though, behind the camera! But one of the main themes of the film is friendship, and we did, without being corny, become firm friends – I hope the film captures that.
Was there anyone in particular that you got on well with?
Everyone was cool. Especially Nick [Frost] and Chris [O' Dowd] – on this whole promotional tour it's been the three of us together. We've been doing all these interviews, and I've been sitting around weeping with laughter - cause they're the funniest pair in the entire universe.
At this point, as if sent from above to intervene at the perfect moment, Irishman Chris O' Dowd, who plays Simple Simon in the film, saunters by. 'HERE HE IS, IT'S TOM STURRIDGE OFF THE TV!' he bellows. 'Love the latest album' he quips to Sturridge, before Tom explains a running in-joke in which his co-star introduces him to journalists as 'Tom from the Klaxons'.
'How's the interview going? Is it good?' O' Dowd asks Itchy. ”He's very charming, isn't he?“
O'Dowd stands for a minute or two in front of a tiny lift entrance, a hamburger in his hand, joking with us intermittently, before Sturridge tells him that it's probably a service lift, not a public one. 'Ask me one question!' O' Dowd yelps, and Itchy racks the ol' brain. How does it feel to be alive?
'So fucking good'.
He disappears from sight.
Time's up. Tom shakes Itchy's hand, and is off, probably to do another interview, or to grab some sushi. But most likely he's walking off into impending stardom, bright lights an' all. And Itchy reckons it couldn't happen to a nicer guy. We just hope he doesn't get too big for his boots and steal our girlfriend.
Source
2 comments:
Love how he keeps getting called the next big thing to come....
*crickets chirping*
*waiting for the big thing come jokes*
Bahahaha I love how Chris and Nick joke around and call him the guy from the Klaxons.
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