Lloyd Owen was working with a stuntman named Jack Carpenter. Both an industry legend – he worked on Terminator 2 – and a "a sage old bird", Carpenter took the actor under his wing. (Or should that be bonnet?)
Owen once complemented Carpenter on the older man's wisdom and received the immortal reply: "Lloyd, you need to know that wisdom comes from a life of making some very poor choices."
May we all find similar wisdom over the course of our life.
Life
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
I’m about to start rehearsals for a new David Edgar play called The New Real at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.
David has applied his substantial talent and extraordinarily sharp and witty mind to the fascinating world (and cult) of American political strategists. Examining how they have exported their skills and influence to political campaigns across the globe the question becomes what have their personal ambitions, and lust to win at all costs, unleashed.
The themes of power and manipulation may be as old as Machiavelli, but this play couldn’t be more relevant. David’s timing and the RSC’s programming of this riveting play couldn’t be more on the money.
The other project that I’m really looking forward to is Season 2 of Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power which launches on Amazon Prime on August 29th. I’ve been lucky enough to be playing the powerful character of Elendil, and it has been deeply satisfying to continue growing and establishing this hero from the legendarium of Tolkien’s masterwork.
From what I’ve so far read and seen, this season promises to absolutely take off now that all the worlds we established in Season 1 are let loose and become gradually, but dramatically, undermined by the power of evil that Galadriel has been warning of. That power is, of course… Sauron.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Notwithstanding that pride often comes before the fall, I’ll risk venturing a couple.
Firstly, an early break in the theatre: Howard Davies casting me as ‘Nick’ in Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? with David Suchet and Diana Rigg. It had been my ‘A’ Level set text only a few years before, and I loved the play. I walked into rehearsals and was immediately introduced to the playwright himself Edward Albee.
If someone had told me during those English lessons what was coming down the pipe, I would have been very proud of my future self for being in that rehearsal room with the great man himself. The fact that the show was a big hit was just the cherry on top. I still have my copy of the published play that he signed for me: “To a definitive Nick, from a definitive Edward. Now onto George…”
Secondly, and more recently, learning Urdu for a Bollywood film with Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. I was the red-coated English baddie (obvs) called John Clive in the Thugs of Hindostan. The character of Mr Clive spoke fluent Urdu and loved to quote the great poets. In every one of his thirty odd scenes!
Line learning had never been such a huge challenge, not to mention Urdu lessons three days a week for eight months. My first day on set at the famous Film City, Mumbai, involved a two page speech of flowery oratory to a thousand extras all staring at me blankly and waiting. As I reached the end they spontaneously burst into applause. The sound was overwhelming, but not as much as the relief that came with it.
Mind you, I didn’t ask each of them individually why they were clapping. It may just have been their own relief that the long butchering of their language was finally over…
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
That I would stop thinking of it as a ‘career’ in the conventional sense, as the lack of any formal structure or certainty can drive you crazy.
The relief from the crazy comes in understanding ‘career’ as simply the compilation of a series of marvellously random events that hopefully lead to what Malcolm Gladwell has labelled “10,000 hours” – i.e. a level of expertise that results in the next person wanting to employ you on the basis that you probably know what you’re doing by now.
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
A career.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
A man called Jack Carpenter out in Sylmar, California. One of Hollywood’s great stunt drivers (he was part of the team that made that extraordinary chase sequence down the LA river and canal in Terminator 2). Jack was the guy who took me under his wing when I was living and working in Los Angeles.
A sage old bird, I once complimented him on being quite so wise, to which he replied: “Lloyd, you need to know that wisdom comes from a life of making some very poor choices”. Humility and humour. Possibly the greatest combination.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
If I’m not telling nobody, then I’m certainly not telling you.
Style
What’s your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?
My original Chris Brasher “Hillmaster” walking boots. They have taken me up hill and down dale all over the world.
Their greatest and most challenging trips have been all over the Highlands of bonnie Scotland. However, they were lucky enough to get a very special outing over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing when I was shooting Amazon’s Rings of Power out in New Zealand.
One of the most spectacular walks of all time.
Favourite accessory – watch / jewellery / etc – and why is it special to you?
My old Dad’s silver cuff links. They were his previously and he gave them to me as my Christening gift. I had to wait a while to use them, but it was a proud moment when I did.
They still come out on special occasions and it always moves me as I slot them in between the material and wonder if he cursed as much as I do when you get them through the first two holes but fail at the final one! RIP Pops.
What's your biggest style disaster?
Possibly my current orange mustard (could you say, tangerine?) Adidas trainers. But I’m styling it out, walking tall and hoping no-one looks down at my feet.
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Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss?
Age 11, I saved up all my Christmas and pocket money to buy a diving watch with loads of buttons and dials. It may even have had a luminous display for nightime viewing.
I lost it on my first day wearing it. It remains the greatest watch ever and I shall not see its like again. I’m still gutted.
What’s next on your shopping list?
A clear varnish for the original wooden floor I have reclaimed and relaid in my house. One that maintains all the character of those 120 year old timbers without giving them a 1970s orange sauna vibe.
Mind you, that may work with the trainers…
What would you buy if money was no object?
Peace on Earth, obviously.
Failing that, having just been on holiday to Italy I’d buy being able to walk back down the “EU National” aisle at passport control and all the associated sense of belonging and mutual purpose that goes with that particular right.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns to Prime Video on the 29th of August. The New Real is scheduled for a run at The Other Place in Stratford-upon-Avon from 3rd October to 2nd November.
