Dougary Scott reveals experience of acting opposite his real-life wife on Crookhaven: “Claire is very powerful, so there’s no nonsense on set!”

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Throughout film history, couples like Burton and Taylor, Bogart and Bacall, and Newman and Woodward have captivated audiences with their on-screen chemistry as married couples – a chemistry often enhanced by their real-life relationship. Now, Dougray Scott and Claire Forlani, who are married in real life, are joining this tradition, playing a compelling couple in the new film, Crookhaven.

This eight-part drama series, coming to BBC One, is based on the popular novels by JJ Arcanjo and adapted for television by Justin Young (known for shows like Death in Paradise and Sanditon). It stars Scott as Caspian Lockett, the charming but demanding headmaster of a school for young criminals. Forlani plays his mysterious wife, Carmen.

Scott is just as captivating in person as he is on screen. In a recent interview with TopMob, the 60-year-old Scottish actor, who previously worked with Claire Forlani in the 2011 film Love’s Kitchen, explained that being married for 19 years enhances their on-screen chemistry. He jokes that Claire is a strong personality and keeps things focused on set, but adds that working with her was a joy. He believes their real-life relationship adds a special spark and undeniable energy to their performances.

Forlani, age 54, said she had a great time filming the scene as well. “It was a really fun scene – I basically got to yell at him!”

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This series offers a fresh take on the typical high school story. It’s set at Crookhaven, a secret school for talented young thieves. Here, teens with natural skills in crime are trained to use those abilities for good, working to right wrongs and bring justice to the world. Their curriculum includes things like acrobatic theft, forgery, deception, hacking, lock picking, and stealth.

This place is unlike any school you’ve ever seen – it’s a bit like a training ground for superheroes, similar to Xavier’s School from X-Men, or a magical academy like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. It’s likely to become incredibly popular with teenagers nationwide.

I have to say, Ben Scott is incredible as Caspian! He really embodies the character – the tweed suit is perfect, and that accent! Everyone keeps saying he reminds them of David Cameron, but apparently, he didn’t intentionally base the character on him. He’s actually got a lot of friends who went to Eton, and they joke about pretending to have gone to a normal grammar school! He says Caspian is actually inspired by a few of those friends, especially how they speak and carry themselves. They always look so put-together and stylish, and he really captured that in the role.

Scott, a former student at Auchmuty High School in Glenrothes, Scotland, describes Caspian as a nimble and graceful character. He explains that Caspian consistently appears when needed and always carries himself with sophistication.

Scott fully immersed himself in his role during filming, staying in character the entire time – a technique reminiscent of Daniel Day-Lewis’s famous method acting. He explains it’s simpler to maintain consistency this way, as constantly switching between his own personality and the character’s would be confusing.

The actor, a father of three, chuckled and explained there was another benefit to staying in character: it kept people from bothering him or asking personal questions. He found it was a convenient way to maintain privacy, and the young cast members were especially well-behaved – they were all a little scared of his character, Caspian!

Acting seems to run in Scott’s family. His father, Allan, had a diverse career – he was a soldier in World War II, a blacksmith, a copy boy at the Daily Express, a footballer for Queen’s Park FC, and even a travelling fridge salesman. But before all that, he also performed with the Glasgow Unity Theatre in the 1950s.

The actor explained that he learned about performing by observing his father’s sales technique. His father once told him, “Son, people don’t want to buy a fridge from someone who looks unhappy.” The actor realized this was great advice for an actor too – you need to connect with an audience, and that’s hard to do when you appear downcast.

I remember watching him get ready for work and how he’d effortlessly switch on his warm, engaging, and humorous personality. Seeing that as a child was a valuable lesson in acting, and it’s something I’ve always remembered.

Growing up, becoming an actor honestly felt like an impossible goal. I was raised on a council estate in Fife, went to a really under-resourced school, and things were tough. Where I’m from, people just didn’t become actors – it wasn’t something anyone expected. We were always encouraged to learn a trade – become an apprentice, work in the shipyard, or join the forces. Pursuing my dream took a real fight, but I was determined to make it happen.

Scott feels his challenging past actually made him stronger. He believes it built his resilience and determination, qualities he now applies to everything he does. He doesn’t give up easily and credits his upbringing for his unwavering strength and ability to bounce back.

Scott first performed on stage in a school production of Tennessee Williams’s play, Suddenly, Last Summer, and he vividly remembers the experience. He realized immediately, “This is it – this is what I’m meant to do!” It was a thrilling, yet frightening experience that he couldn’t ignore.

The production wasn’t great, but it let me express feelings I usually kept hidden. Acting became a way to release emotions and step into other people’s shoes. I especially loved playing characters very different from myself – and that fascination continues to this day.

Scott trained at the Welsh College of Music and Drama before achieving success in film and television. He’s known for leading roles in projects like Mission: Impossible II, Irving Welsh’s Crime (winning him an International Emmy), Vigil, The Crow Girl, and recently, The Hack, where he received praise for his portrayal of Gordon Brown.

He’s still incredibly driven and has no plans to slow down. He admits he occasionally dreams of retiring to a remote cottage in Scotland to enjoy reading, walking, and quiet contemplation, but he genuinely loves his work and isn’t considering retirement anytime soon.

Scott has passed on his love of acting to his son, Gabriel, who is already making a name for himself in shows like House of the Dragon, His Dark Materials, and Lockerbie. He even played the role of Scott’s son in the Channel 4 thriller, Summerwater. Despite his father’s success, Gabriel mostly navigates his career independently. “He’s very talented and will figure things out on his own,” Scott says with pride, jokingly adding, “I might be the third best actor in the family now!”

Crookhaven is coming to BBC One and iPlayer at 3:05pm and 3:50pm on Sunday 22 March.

Authors

James Rampton

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2026-03-16 20:41