Al Weaver

Playing an Anglican curate in Grantchester isn’t exactly a typical acting role. How did you prepare — did you spend weeks stalking your local vicar?

I didn’t stalk anyone — the last time I did that, I got a restraining order! (Joke.) I did speak to the priest at the church in Grantchester before filming. These days, most of my research is done through Google searches. Daisy Coulam, the writer, and James Runcie, the author, were also enormously helpful. Thinking about it, research must have been far more interesting before the Internet. So much stalking to be had!

“So much stalking to be had!”

Theatre or screen — if you had to choose just one, where does your heart lie?

If I had to choose right now, I’d probably say screen, though that might change as I get older… and finally manage to buy a house! (Half kidding.) I grew up on films, and I’m still obsessed with them. Movies are really why I got into acting, while theatre was more of a surprise medium I got to explore, love and respect. I’ve never been more fulfilled than dying as Hamlet.

Is moving between theatre, television and film a natural transition for actors?

I didn’t really have intentions beyond trying not to end up in a bar job or a call centre. I actually started professionally doing film and television after lots of theatre in college and drama school. Hamlet was my first proper job about a year after I started working. Then I did a lot of theatre, and now it’s back to film and TV again. Actors will say doing a play every couple of years is essential, but it’s not really up to us — you just go where the work is, Carl. Like gypsies and free caravan space!

“Movies are really why I got into acting.”

What motivates you?

Fear.

Actors always have stories. Any you’d care to share?

Without sounding like a total name dropper and an idiot, most of them involve my friends and are probably unprintable. Actors are fun terrors, though — that’s what I learned very early on. “Hey diddley dee!” as they say.

“Fear.”

You’re from Bolton but live in London. Do you think more actors will stay outside the capital?

I hope so. With Manchester’s new arts complex opening, the city is becoming more attractive. The Bolton Octagon has had a renaissance under David Thacker, and it’s really back on the map as a high-quality theatre. With fewer jobs and more actors every year, it’s good to have options outside London. That wasn’t the case ten years ago.

Bolton has a reputation for being incredibly friendly. Do you ever miss that atmosphere now that you’re living in London, where everyone seems to walk around staring at the floor?

You should go out in Liverpool — the friendliest people in the world, and the greatest football team! I haven’t been out in Bolton since I moved to London at 19, but I do have fond memories of Revolution and Club Ikon. I know what you mean about London, though. People walk around with their heads down, always in a rush. The man who isn’t in a rush… has nowhere to go.

“Actors are fun terrors.”

There’s a lot of waiting around on film and TV sets. How do you pass the time?

Hopefully, the cast and crew are funny people, and you can have a laugh. I’ve developed eBay finger, though. Like Pringles… once you pop, you can’t stop. Damn the iPhone. And reading — that passes the trailer waiting time quickly.

What makes you angry?

Not being able to speak to an actual human being on the phone. It has caused many a phone to be catapulted against a wall. Just thinking about it winds me up.

“The man who isn’t in a rush… has nowhere to go.”

And what makes you happy?

My friends. Sunshine. And a good job.

Al Weaver is an English actor known for roles in Grantchester, Colette and The Old Guard.

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Interview by Carl Marsh