Sam Claflin was one of 20 cover stars of Hunger Magazine's Mighty Blighty issue, out today. In the feature Sam talks about his life and career and, of course, The Hunger Games films.
Hunger: We last spoke to you two years ago. Talk us through what’s been happening in your life since then.
Sam Claflin: I think I was engaged then, and I can now safely say that I’m a married man. That’s probably one of the biggest steps I’ll ever take in my life. Other than that I’ve been involved in a few projects in the industry , one being The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is the second installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. I also managed to squeeze in a romantic comedy, and a drama based on a play, called Posh. I think that’s pretty much my life in the last two years. Squeezing in a wedding in the middle of all that was near impossible.
How’s married life treating you?
I don’t think there’s a huge amount that has changed about our life, other than the added responsibility of looking after a puppy. We bought a Cockapoo, which is a mix between a cocker Spaniel and a Poodle. I think the fact that I could say cock and poo in one word is what sold the idea to me.
Is it difficult being away from your wife Laura [Haddock] and your puppy when you’re filming abroad, or do you get used to it?
It’s always been difficult. I don’t think you can ever get used to the distance. It’s not only my wife and the puppy, it’s England in general. I really struggle, and I miss the lifestyle that I have here. I miss my local pub and waking up in my own bed.
You’ve said before that you’re not interested in fame. Being part of The Hunger Games trilogy, do you think it’s something you’re going to have to get used to?
Maybe, but it’s hard to predict. I didn’t do the movie to be famous. I chose to do it partly as a way to get my face and name out there and to hopefully open a few more doors, but also because it’s a project that I’m hugely interested in. I watched the first movie and I was a huge fan, so it has been a real creative curve in my career to be able to work with this incredible cast of actors, directors and producers on [something] that I’m proud to watch back.
The Hunger Games is a huge Hollywood blockbuster. Do you think that to make it as an actor these days you have to have Hollywood in your sights?
To be one hundred percent honest, I did not at all have Hollywood in my sights when I left drama school. I just never assumed that it was a possible dream. Part of me was expecting to lose from day one, and I definitely had no higher hopes than to be on the stage in some sort of touring production.
In your last interview with us you said that you tend to look at the negative side of life rather than the positive. Is that still the case ?
I think so. It's only because I don't want to guess at what might not happen. I don't want to live in disappointment. My expectations are very low, so in that sense I look at life in a negative way. I do dream big, but I don't ever think those dreams will come true. Luckily so far those dreams have gone quite well, but I know full well that it could all end tomorrow, and people might work out that I can't act ! [Laughs]
That's very British.
I save half of everything. I earn purely because I think, "I don't want to be overtaxed." I don't want to get caught short. I'm basically preparing for an apocalypse.
You used to be caretaker at drama school. Have you splurged in anything so far ?
Nothing except the house that I'm currently living in, and the dog, and perhaps the wedding. There's no yacht moored in the Mediterranean! My house was very run-down, an absolute shithole to be honest, before we did it up. I remember Laura's face, walking in for the first time. She quite literally gagged because it stank so much. I was like, "Cover your nostrils and look at the potential!"
We're next going to see you in Posh, an adaptation of Laura Wade's play. What initially drew you to that script ?
I think the fact that I'd heard so much positive feedback about the stage version of it. When I read the script for the first time, I was blown away. It's a world that I'm not familiar with whatsoever, so I knew it was going to be challenging. I thought that it was my opportunity to prove the world that I can do more than just be the guy who falls in love. Thankfully I made my feelings clear to the director and she was happy to oblige!
You've said before that you're not too hot on the political jargon. Are you up on it now ?
No, not at all ! Even though I didn't have to learn about what I was saying as long as I could say it, it was important for me to read essays from university students that were very similar to the ones my character wrote, so I had an idea of the surrounding elements of what he was talking about.
How was the set of Posh ? Was it easier having a cast of people your own age around you?
Yeah, it really added to the chemistry. What was great is that out of the ten of us there were seven or eight boys who I knew very well already. We all hung out off set despite being in London. Normally, when you film in London, people have a tendency to go home and go back to their lives, it's like an office job, but we made it very clear that we all wanted to socialise off set too. Recently we all met up for a night out. It makes sense to champion the talent at home, there's an abundance of it right now. I think the cast of Posh is the epitome of young, amazing British talent.
How it the third instalment of The Hunger Games coming along ?
We're actually filming it now, and as much as I'm enjoying being back in London and having a lovely month off, it's going to be full steam ahead. I've only filmed one day so far!
Read Much More After the jump!
Thanks to SamClaflinFans for the photos and transcript - see more photos and all the scans on their website!
How invested are you in your character, Finnick ? He comes to quite a grisly end.
It's definitely going to be difficult to admit defeat, but it's all to look forward to, and I don't know exactly how it's going to play out. Sometimes unknown is more exciting.
Initially you got a few negative comments when you were cast for the role. How does negative press affect you?
If anyone were to say that it didn't affect them, I think they'd be lying. I genuinely think that it affected me in a good way, though. It drove me to work harder and made me want to prove to the world and to those doubters that I could do it. I found Finnick a very difficult character to play because he's sexy and tanned and blond, and I'm none of those things, so a transformation was in order. Physically I spent months and months in the gym. Whether or not I did the character justice isn't for me to decide.
Your little brother is also an actor. Have you given him any acting advice?
The only advice that I could really give is to be patient and not to stress out when something doesn't happen immediately. What happened to me is so rare. It hardly ever happens that you walk right out of drama school and into a job and then just keep going. The same thing could happen to him, but it didn't initially, and I think part of me was worried that he'd get down on himself.
Do you have a grand plan?
In five year's time I definitely want to be able to say that every project I do, I do it because I want to. Part of me still feels that sometimes I have to compromise on roles. I want to be able to buy the rights to a book and turn it into a film, and do it my way because I love the story. But, like I said before, I never like to dream too big because I don't want to be disappointed. So, fingers crossed.
Thanks to SamClaflinFans for the photos and transcript - see more photos and all the scans on their website!