Rupert Penry-Jones on being a baddie in the return of James Nesbitt’s fantasy drama Lucky Man
Rupert Penry-Jones is unleashing his villainous side as he joins the third series of Sky One’s fantasy crime drama Lucky Man. The drama sees the actor play Samuel Blake, the arch-nemesis of troubled DI Harry Clayton (James Nesbitt), who is eager to get his hands on Harry’s lucky bracelet for his own sinister purposes.
Here, Rupert Penry-Jones reveals all to TV & Satellite Week about joining Lucky Man…
TV & Satellite Week: Were you a fan of Lucky Man before?
Rupert Penry-Jones: “Yes, I watched it with my kids [Florence and Peter with wife Dervla Kirwan]. It’s edgy and embedded more in reality than magic and superheroes. They’re pleased I’m in it.”
TVSW: How would you describe Samuel Blake?
R P-J: “His parents have been lost in an explosion because of one of these bracelets. So he’s out to rid the world of them because he thinks they are evil. But he doesn’t care who gets hurt along the way. He has manipulated things to get Harry and the bracelets in a place where they can be damaged. Both men are forged in fire as Harry’s family died in a fire too. They are equally powerful but the bracelets tip the balance.”
TVSW: What was it like working with James Nesbitt?
R P-J: “We have the same agent and I kept saying to her, ‘I really want to work with Jimmy’. She said, ‘He’s been saying that as well’. Every day we were on set together was a good day. I’ve already got plans to find something else together.”
TVSW: Do you enjoy playing the villain?
R P-J: “Yes, I much prefer it to being a good guy. It’s more fun. I’ve been doing an FX drama in Toronto called The Strain where I’ve been playing a 2000-year-old vampire. He is even more of a crazy villain than Blake, so I’ve brought it down a few notches for this!”
TVSW: Have you had any stunts to do?
R P-J: “I’ve been in speedboats shooting guns and doing martial arts. It’s the same action as when I did Spooks. I do as many stunts as I can, but not as many as I used to. It hurts more now because I’m getting on a bit!”
Lucky Man returns on Friday 20th July on Sky One at 9pm
