I very much enjoy Westerns and Spaghetti Westerns and Spaghetti Western influence across cinema.
I love to ride [horses].
Growing up, I started riding when I was five years old.
Anything that had horses, I was obsessed with, so naturally, I gravitated toward Westerns.
When this came through the letter box …
Things don’t come through letter boxes anymore.
Things come through email.
When this script came on my email, I loved it.
I loved the story.
I loved the character.
I found it interesting.
That was more their job, the referencing with shots and stuff like that.
I was staying in my world because I can’t play Spaghetti Western really?
I play the character.
Were you the most experienced rider on set besides the trainer?
He’s very experienced with riding, but …
I definitely had ridden the longest.
Dom was pretty good on a horse, too.
The way I started was quite a simple way.
He’s gone through some trauma.
He lost his mother, and I’m very close with my mother.
I’m a bit of a mother’s boy.
This is a young boy.
The young actor, who plays young me in the show, was so cute.
It was exploring that and then running with it in the show.
You see the softer side of him.
I love in Episode 6 when he goes into the Red Lantern and plays the piano.
That tells you a lot about his character … A complex character for sure.
I personally think it’s beautifully shot and a beautiful homage to Spaghetti Westerns.
TheWall Street Journalthat said it has a “mother lode of insanity” in it.
If I read that, I’d watch it.
Ultimately for his sake, I’d like to see him find some peace.
He’s probably going to get very angry first.
He’s got some scores to settle.
It’s quite satisfying when that happens, so I’d really like … That does sound very exciting.
Speaking of people you square up against, what was it like working with Dominic Cooper?
Dominic and I have been friends for a long time.
His mother was my nursery school teacher yes, I know, very random.
That was part of what drew me towards making this job.
He was on it.
We have great chemistry together.
We know how to wind each other up.
We have a lot of fun together.
I thought these characters were perfect for us to play opposite each other.
Well, it definitely shows.
There’s a lot of onscreen chemistry between you guys, for sure.
I’m very excited about that.
It’s set in Palestine in the 1930s.
I’m playing a British Palestinian police officer.
It’s a really interesting story, and Michael has a really interesting and specific way of working.
He’s definitely one of the great British auteur directors, so I’m very excited about doing that.
[I’m also working with] Harry Melling, who is one of my oldest friends.
It’s quite funny, the full circle.
We’re both going to be playing the leads opposite each other in this Michael Winterbottom film.
That’s quite special.
Are you going to take any lessons from playing Red Bill into this future character?
All episodes of “That Dirty Black Bag” Season 1 are currently streaming on AMC+.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
