View from my sofa: Daniel Mays

As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for cozy mysteries and a soft spot for British TV, I must say that the prospect of adding Moonflower Murders to my watchlist is as exciting as finding a rare first edition of Agatha Christie in a dusty old bookshop.

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What’s the view from your sofa?

Currently, we’re expanding our house, which means our living room serves multiple purposes. It’s become a bit crowded for everyone since it’s also functioning as a temporary kitchen. At the moment, the sight that greets me is mostly dust on the TV screen.

What have you enjoyed watching on TV?

Who controls the remote?

There seems to be a lack of organization as we’re dealing with three remote controls. One of them is quite small and it’s used for our sound bar. Unfortunately, if we misplace this one, we won’t have a clue about adjusting the volume.

In your latest series, Moonflower Murders, as well as its predecessor Magpie Murders, Line of Duty, Des, Ashes to Ashes, and the upcoming Thursday Murder Club and Inspector Lynley reboot, you’ve portrayed numerous police characters. Given this extensive experience, one might wonder if you would excel in a real-life law enforcement role?

In a more conversational way: I’ve become quite skilled at interviews! It seems like I run into cops everywhere, even at the airport once. I thought something strange was happening at Heathrow because an undercover officer and three others stopped me. Turned out they were just big fans of “Line of Duty”!

In the mystery novel “Magpie/Moonflower Murders”, many actors portray multiple roles. To avoid confusion when playing both Chubb and Locke, what methods did you employ to distinguish between these two characters?

In the 1950s plotline, the humor is amplified more. Chubb, a character who embodies the stereotypical rural police officer, is somewhat dimwitted but well-meaning. He’s not particularly effective without Atticus Pünd [played by Tim McMullan]. In the contemporary Locke storyline, I prefer portraying him in a more serious manner, and I enjoy using a Suffolk accent for the role.

Are we obsessed with TV murder?

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but be drawn in by a good mystery. Take “Moonflower,” for instance – a wedding turns into a crime scene, with blood staining the bridal gown! What a captivating setup! We love to curl up on our couches and play armchair detective. The more complex the plot, the more twists, the more deception, the more exciting it becomes.

What was it like working on the movie adaptation of “The Thursday Murder Club,” which is based on Richard Osman’s bestselling novel and helmed by director Chris Columbus, whose work in Hollywood is legendary? The cast is outstanding, after all.

In Moonflower Murders, your 100th acting role, it’s been 24 years since you graduated from Rada. Can you discuss the remarkable pace of your career?

I quickly grow restless when idle, which isn’t beneficial for me. However, I truly cherish the interactive process of developing characters and approaching them with new perspectives. This trait seems to have been passed down from my parents. My father, in particular, has had a significant impact on me – he’s an electrician who continues to work today.

Here’s my take on paraphrasing the given sentence in a first-person perspective as a cinephile: You know, as soon as I pass on my love for movies, the next person is bound to fill my shoes. There’s something about being working-class that keeps me from getting complacent; I never want to sit back and rest on my achievements.

2024-11-11 21:33

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