That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - Sam Phillips talks all things Bridgerton and The Crown

Episode Date: September 23, 2024

Bridgerton star, Sam Philiips, joins Gaby for a chat about all things joy. They discuss his roles in two of the BIGGEST TV shows in recent years (The Crown and Bridgerton), his love of theatre and what he wants to do next. Sam talks about the joy that acting brings him event though it can be hard sometimes, and also discusses his writing and why it's such a creative outlet for him. See Sam and Gaby being a bit silly over on her Instagram And you can follow Sam @samosphilliposWe hope you enjoy the episode! If you do, please like, subscribe and comment to help us spread the word - and remember the podcast is also now available on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Phillips. Hello, Gabrie Ross. So here's the thing. When I tell people that I'm chatting to you, people sort of start fanning themselves in a sort of Bridgetan-like way. The Bridgeton effect. They sort of go, ooh, and they fan. Does that happen to you everywhere you go since you've been Bridgeton?

Does everyone fan themselves? I was at a premiere for something last night, and certainly there was a woman who did get very flustered and start sort of speaking in tongues. I was like, okay, I mean, I'm just sort of standing here politely nodding and smiling. So it's quite interesting to see that effect on people. It doesn't happen usually when I'm in my rubbish clothes walking down the road going to the gym. Do you know what? I'd love that.

I'd love that you're walking down the road and then every woman got their fan out. Exactly. They're sort of 17th century fans and just, where the hell did you get those fans from? It's amazing. Can you get them? Can you still buy? I should think probably somewhere like Angels costume, they still have some 17th century fans. century fans that you could

purchase. Do you have any? No, but I sound like I'm selling them as a side job for acting at the moment. I think you should get some. I really do. Offer them out to people. Yes. So when they start fanny, you say,

oh, look what I have in my back pocket. Don't worry. I've got you covered. You're absolutely fine. You're fine. Do you know, is it true that you put this on a mood board or you visualised it and you manifested this job? Yeah, I did.

After the other big gig you got on Netflix. Yeah. I did. I was... Hello, the crown. Lovely, darling, yes, the crown. I did. It was lockdown, 2021 was an interesting year, wasn't it? It would lockdown 2.0 and not a lot of actors were working at the time.

Yeah. Our industry was scary. It was scary, wasn't it? And I, at that time, I was just in a place where I was like, okay, I'm getting a lot of inspiration from nature, from the sea, from going down and doing meditation. And I started to think about like manifesting and had a friend that did a lot of that. And I started putting into practice and writing gratitude lists and started doing like a manifestation board. Love it. And one of the things was I'd love to play a big part in a Netflix show, another Netflix show, because I'd done The Crown, you know, it was a great experience, but granted it was.

I'm laughing because that's such a line. I'd done The Crown. I'd done the Crown. Yeah. Exactly. So, yeah, yeah, that was done. One of the world's biggest shows. Yeah.

But the part was, you know, it was small but cut even more. The cutting room floor was not kind to me. So I think I was, I was really wanting to do something which was, you know, had a nice character arc. And then I, yeah, did a board. So what, can you, can you, are you okay to describe what was on the board? Yeah, I had like, well, there was, it was the kind of manifestation board, which you probably used to where you kind of, you might draw the kind of, you might draw the kind of, kind of house that you want or the, I don't know, car seems a bit arbitrary. I think I was doing more like jobs, but there was definitely something around doing a period

piece. No. Because I did have like a guy dressed in sort of a, I guess like the 17th century costume that I put, because I cut out bits from magazines and stuff, and I found one of those. And I also found something which was sort of, I think, set in an office because I had an idea of doing something like, I don't know, something more in the kind of modern realm. Comedy. Comedy, yeah, because I love it.

And then I put that board away, and then I just didn't look at it for a while. Oh, that's interesting. And then every sort of, I don't know, two months, I would look under, have a look at it and go, okay, so where am I at now? Am I closer to that thing? Am I closer to that thing? And then what was great was it started just, I started just to get work. And after, you know, the COVID sort of quietness, work started to come in. And then it kind of, you know, snowball from there, really.

Bridgeton wasn't the first thing that you got after that, was it? I think I got like two really lovely short films. And then I got an offer to do, I think, a Father Brown or something like that. And an offer to do an indie film. And then the audition of Bridgeton came along. And I, you know, love the show, didn't think too much with the audition. Did the tape? What do you mean?

You didn't think you did vote well? I think, no, what I think I, did I, did I, did well. I didn't care that much about it in terms of, I cared about the project, but you know, us neurotic actors sometimes, we put so much pressure on ourselves. And with Bridgeton, I was so like, you know, just give this a go. I think I did one take. Yeah. And I just was like, self-take. Self-tape, yeah, with a friend who was down visiting me. We'd had a couple of drinks like before and you had to put this thing on tape the next day. I think I just had that sense of whatever. Let's see how it goes. And then just sent it off. And then two months later,

they were like, you got that gig, and that was it. And then a few weeks later, I was in fittings, costume fittings and wig fittings. And then it was all go. Was your costume anything like your manifestation board? A little bit. It definitely had the kind of, I don't know what you call the frilly bits around the neck. I don't know, the rough. We'll just call them.

We'll just call them the frilly bits. It had the frilly bits. And it had, yeah, it definitely had that sort of 17th century feel. So that was pretty amazing. It's like, okay, this stuff does work. I love that. Because so you think it is, that thing, isn't it, of energy? If you just, it's about that energy and you're putting your focus towards that.

And it does. You can feel it coming back a bit. And, well, obviously, this is reasons to be joyful. And I believe very passionately in that putting positive out there. And that's obviously what you did. And it's a really, I mean, it's a hard gig being an actor and you work extremely hard. And I think a lot of people who don't know, they watch. the TV, they go to the films, they go to the theatre, whatever it, whatever it is.

They watch it and they think, oh, that's a fun job. Oh, they get paid so much money. Oh, and they say they work hard. It's long hours and no pay. Long hours and pay is like, you know, the scale of pay is so, I don't know, there's so much disparity isn't there from like one job to that to the next. But you love it. But I just love it.

It's the addiction of it. I think most actors would say, God, this is a, it's a big addiction. But that's interesting. So I've had this conversation with people before about it being an addiction. And because I'm very lucky. I, like you, knew what I wanted to do when I was very young. And I've talked about it a lot on this. But I've always said, oh, I'm addicted to being a TV presenter and a broadcaster and I love live.

And then I realized it's not an addiction. It's an absolute love. I'm really lucky to do something I love. Yeah. So if they took it away from you, you wouldn't go into cold sweat. But you'd be very sad because you love it. That's true. That's a really good way to reframe it, isn't it?

It's like, I could live without it. Of course I could. But I just enjoy it. I'd be sad. I'd feel like it was missing because I wanted to do this since I was so young. And I've always been a jobby actor. And I sort of, you know, I like that. It's good.

I like going from... You were in EastEnders! I was. I was in East East... Do you remember E-20? Yes. I'm in Easter. I've never missed an episode in my life.

You love EastEnders. I know that about you. Yeah, yeah. Have you really never missed an episode? Never missed an episode. My goodness. I mean, I couldn't even tell you what's happening. It's been a long time since I've seen EastEnders.

And I did a job with Jesse Wallace like a few years ago. And she was sort of filling me in on all the Stenders goss. Yes, because it's building up to the 40th birthday. Oh, my, so 40. 40th anniversary in February next year. I actually even sadly know the date. Go on, what's the date? No, no, I'm actually really embarrassed.

No, I'm really embarrassed now. Okay. I'm that much of a super fan. But yeah, you've done so many things, so many different things. I like the word jobbing actor. Yeah. People sort of just go, oh, I'm a jobbing actor. It's not about for you, I get the feeling that it's not about the fame after what you've just said as well.

But you've enjoyed the Bridgeton bubble, because it's a crazy bubble. But I think I've had enough times where I've been, you know, not working or the resting period, as us actors like to call it. Well, I think I've learned, you know, just to be perhaps more grateful when the big gigs come because I've known the tough times and I've known the, you know, the nicer times. So I've had the whole gambit of, you know, being a joby actor. And yeah, I just was so grateful. Every time a nice gig comes along, I'm just very happy to be there. That's a wonderful way to be. So you were brought up in a family who were involved in the industry, your dad.

My dad, yeah, TV director did a lot of sitcoms in the 80s and 90s. Go on, show off because it's quite wonderful. What he did? Desmond's, Birds of a Feather, Goodnight, sweetheart, my family. And it was just growing up and watching him do it and seeing sort of the magic of being on those sets. So did you go to the set? I would go all the time. I would be like, can I come again?

You know, it would be like bringing your kid to work day all the time. I think my dad was like, it's getting a bit annoying now. I don't believe that But it was I think it was Birds of a Feather Watching watching those women Be brilliant on set

And just spark off each other And I was like, I'd love to do that I sort of fell in love And the idea of being on those sets And then seeing behind the scenes And how exciting that was So did you do drama at school? I did, yeah

That was the thing that I knew I wanted to do from the age of eight I think my first job was playing Uncle George in Charlie The Chocolate Factory And I was eight years old And I excelled as Uncle George in that bed scene

and then just joined a youth theatre group in Guildford about three or four years later and then just from there it was the only thing not the only thing it was the biggest thing in my life I just wanted to do it so much and then that was the my mum said to me

the other day it's like I used to pick you up from that drama youth group and your face was always lighting out but it was just that was what you were that was what you kind of lived for I guess. I hear you. I found we were clearing some stuff of my dad's house. And I found a project I did at school.

So when I was three, I knew I wanted to be a TV presenter. I found a project from when I was 12. And it was about the BBC. And it was a big, I'd written every TV show that was on the cover and on the back. And I'd torn out bits of Radio Times. And I'd written the presenters.

And I'd written it all. And then it was facts and figures. the viewing figures, I just cut them all out. It wasn't really a project. But this was yours. This was your manifestation board, wasn't it? I never thought of it like that at 12. But it's, I get it. So when you say that you were young and your face,

when you said, I thought I was going to cry then. I could see that feeling. Yeah. It doesn't go. I wonder if it goes away. I, you know, I'm maybe too young, hopefully, to sort of know that yet. But like, I feel like for me it won't go away. that will always be there.

And I think that that will probably keep me going doing this job till the day I die, which is absolutely fine by me. What is it like when you're on a big show, like The Crown or Bridgeton or any of the other? You've done so many different jobs, as you say. What is it like? You say going on to the set.

Do you turn up and then everybody runs around and they bring you teas and coffee and then you sit back and they massage your face and they do a makeup and they go, darling, darling, darling, darling. It's all that, yeah. It's just a lot of face massages and people bowing to you and all that. Of course it is.

So what's it really like? No, what it's like is, I think turning up to set and seeing, especially for your on, I'll use the crown in this example, like you go to these very extravagant, very old sets, you know, around these huge estates around the country. And you turn up and you see, you see hundreds of crew and cast, you know, it's such a big operation. And everyone is just a master at what they do. and you see that, you know, you see the guys doing the lighting or the sound and everyone is just tweaking and so detailed. It's the minutiae of that. And then seeing, you know, some of the most incredible actors and being in their presence and kind of just the inspiration from that is just, yeah, it's joyous. It's like so fun to watch and observe.

And I'm, you know, you have to be a sponge as an actor, really. And I think feeling that camaraderie and the fact that everyone wants to make something really good. Oh, that's lovely. Isn't that nice? It's just such a, that's where you feel like we're doing something here. We're really making something. And you know it's having an impact on a lot of people. That's why I love, you know, as cheesy as it sounds, but that's why I love storytelling.

Because it's like, you know that that's making a difference to people. We are not saving lives, but we certainly helping people feel better. Yeah. And taking it people away from sometimes their very, very difficult lives. We're helping their lives. And actually, yeah, I think it's become a bit of cliche to go, we're not saving lives. And we're not. Of course, we're not doctors.

Of course we're not doing that. But, you know, you think about like COVID as an example. Oh, look. Look, we needed it. We needed you guys. And yet we were the last people to be thought of in many ways. It took so long for them to, you know, go, okay, we recognize that this is a really important trade. I'm not going to get into that.

That's a whole other topic. But, yeah, that's what I find inspiring about it. That's what keeps me going. I went to a drama school where it was a lot about... Where did you go? Where did you go? A guild hall. Right.

It was a lot about ensemble and a lot about creating something bigger than yourself together. And that's what kind of inspired me. So, yeah. So you just said that you've been on set with some inspiring people. And of course, the people that do the lighting and the sound and the makeup and the directors and everybody, the runners. It's so important.

Oh, my God. So important. But you say it's quite inspiring to watch some actors. So you made me suddenly, I thought, oh, who, when you were a sponge, who did you? Not sponge off. That's completely not what I mean. Well, no, it kind of is half true because you're looking, you know, you're looking at that actor and finding out what they're trying to, you know, you know they're being authentic if they're doing their job. They're really connecting with the other actor or actors and that's, that's the work.

But you can see, I guess we all know that people have their, I don't want to say tricks, but you can see that they're. That's okay. Yeah. And I think just knowing that like, I guess Olivia Coleman is a good example. For someone who has that unwavering concentration, doesn't do lots of prep. By own admission, doesn't do lots of prep before, but turns up and goes, all right, what's going to happen? And just kind of embodies it.

And, you know, I think people like that. At drama school, it's so much about doing all the prep and like getting yourself and doing the timelines and the given circumstances of your character. And it's really inspiring to find someone that just goes, okay, I'm going to try something completely different and just throw caution to the wind and just go for it. I love that. Yeah. I mean, she was a good example of someone who did that.

That's fantastic. I remember the same as you going to drama school. And I remember one, we all had to do characterisation. And there was one of my classmates who stood up and the teacher went, but where's this and where's that? And she just went, you know what? I'm not digging into my past because that's never happened to me. they, I'm just going with this because this is how I feel.

And the teacher is sort of storming out there. Don't you know? How dare you? But actually, sometimes it is just that, isn't it? I think I've learned more on the jobs that I've done than I have at drama school. That's not to diss drama school. I'm so grateful for it. But you kind of take what you need and discard what you don't need.

But it's also going, oh, I found my way to do it. And sometimes for that job, this is helpful. And sometimes this is helpful. And sometimes that's not helpful. You know, it kind of goes like that. But that's the same. every job you do, isn't it? That, you know, whether you're a lawyer, whether you're working in Sainsbury's, whether

your teacher, working on the job is actually really good way to learn. I was going to say, it's sort of, it's funny because you feel like sometimes at your drama school, you feel like, well, I need to do it all in three years and be this sort of complete actor by the time you come up. Of course, that's not how life works. It's like you make mistakes and you mess up and, you know, get things wrong. And that's how I've learned as well by all the mistakes I've made. So what did your dad say when you said,

Hello, this is what I want to do this. I want to be an actor. He went, right, okay. And you do know what that entails. And I think even at eight years old, I was like, yeah, sure. You know, thinking, well, you're not going to tell me, you know, either way I'm going to do it. And as time went on, I think he went, oh, actually, the kids got a talent for this. He saw me in a production of something at this youth theatre group playing John Proctor in the Crucible.

And I think he was like, Oh no, I think this is a scary. The crucible as a child? Yeah, 17. I was playing John Proctor. And yeah, he bought an agent, a friend of ours, who's a casting director, and she went, okay, I think he's going to be an actor, he's good enough to do this. Oh, that's lovely.

So then it was like, okay, now completely supportive, but, you know, you are preparing yourself for a life of uncertainty. And yeah. But, you know, they were so supportive of me. And I think even my dad being in the industry, it's. nice to have a short hand with him about it sometimes that we talk a lot about, you know, both sides and the industry in general. He must be so proud of you.

Yeah. You're very proud of him as well, those shows. I'm very proud of him. Very proud. So for you now, so Bridgeton is there. It's the crazy bubble of Bridgeton. Yeah. But also, if I may point out, on Instagram, Samos Philippos.

Yeah, Samos Pilippos. Why is Samos Philippe? Samos Philipos was, I think it was a nickname that I was given. at school Samos became a sort of nickname I like it yeah and then it's sort of searching for a username

on Instagram was like I could just put us on Phillips as well and it I think that was just Samos is a good name but I see a lot of Commodore yes so is that what you that's you just said earlier on as well

you love it I love it yeah I've I've I did quite a lot of comedy early on in my career and then got cast more as sort of high-statement people and lords and things. And I just love silliness and being funny and making people laugh and being in stitches because someone's just made me laugh.

Perfect. I love it. Me and a guy called Joe Barnes, my friend Joe, met on Bridgeton actually. And we started to talk about the idea of doing some comedy stuff together, some comedy sketches. And then he had the idea of, he's like, why don't we put ourselves in movies? I've always sort of watch movies and thought, isn't it funny if you just twisted it a bit and like, you know, put yourself in a really high-stakes scenario,

but you're kind of playing the every man that's slightly awkward. And it went from there. And it's not the most original idea, but we were like, I think we could do it really well. They're very funny. And thank you. And so we just started doing that. We put them out there and they've just been really well received.

So we're just carrying on and just doing it more for us because it's like we don't, we don't really have an end goal, but it's going quite well. And people are starting to take interest. But we just wanted to do something for us. And it's good to keep. the thoughts going and the ideas going and all of those things. Do you write other dramas and comedies as well? Certainly have done.

Yeah, I've done it. I've directed a bit. You directed, yeah. Yeah, I've written some stuff. I'm not the most confident writer, if I'm honest Gabby, but like I enjoy it and I feel like that's something that I want to do more of. But in terms of comedy sketches, yeah, I like it and I think I'm pretty good at it. It's very interesting.

If you look at television now, I wonder, I'd love to ask, obviously, we can't ask your dad. That'd be really weird. because he's not here. But what he thinks of the situation of comedy now on television, because sitcoms don't really exist anymore. Well, we talk, I feel like we might have been talked about this recently. Yeah, it's true. Sitcoms just aren't around that.

It's really sad. And sketch shows. We don't see sketch shows anymore. I mean, even less so with sketch shows. And we did speak about that, actually. And I think it's obviously sometimes the cost is so great with the sketch show, isn't it? Because you have to do all those locations and all the different characters.

But I really miss the kind of the far show. and big trains and all those fantastic sketches and sitcoms like what were your favorites oh I've but I love a sitcom I love King Gary we had we talked about this a lot on the show but that from new ones obviously Gavin and Stacey oh yeah absolutely to the office and then back in time to you know goodnight sweetheart was really clever it was good wasn't it it was really well horses you know the ones that people all talk about that have lasted time. I mean, they've even got a live version of

faulty towers in town now. But you mention all those names and they're some of the most popular shows that have ever been made, aren't they? To the Man of Born, I just interviewed Penelope Keith. And to the Man of Born was the most watched thing, her wedding, was the most, it was something like 25 or 26 million people. And I know it was

different then. It was different. The way we viewed television was very different. And it's important that we move with the Times. But Yeah, bring back. It was huge. Yeah, and also why not bring back the kind of, we need a lot of that right now, right? Oh, we need it. We need it.

And bring back those, because something like The Office as well, just beautifully balanced, like, you know, the tragedy drama or tragic comedy. Motherland. That's a brilliant new one. Yes, Motherland is great. Yeah, yeah, they're still out there, aren't they? But I think there needs to be more. And certainly with sketches, we were having a meeting with someone recently. And they were saying the same thing.

They were like, yeah, we should be bringing these back. So we're like, yeah, let's get involved. So do it? Yeah. What about your dad? Does he still do it? My dad, I think he feels a bit too old now because when COVID happened, I think he was like, I think I'm enjoying the quietness a bit of retirement.

And, but I think he would love to do it secretly. I think he wants to get back. Because he's got the same passion as I do. It's like, you can see him light up when he talks about it. And I'm like, so I think, who knows, never say never, right? Oh, I hope not. Well, good luck with the drama. Thank you.

Good luck with all the other stuff. And enjoy the Bridgeton bubble. And please do me a favor and go and buy some fans to hand up. I would love that. So you and Joe have got to, you've just got to walk down the street. Get an outfit, a Bridgeton outfit from the set. Ask them if you can borrow it. Walk down the street and see if women do the fanning thing.

And then just hand them a fan and just film that. Do you know it would be really awkward if they just didn't? And they were like, who the hell are you? And you're like, no, no, I'm that guy. Take the fan. Take the fan. And then maybe you just get Nicola to do it with you. That's true.

Yeah, if you get Nicola Cochlin. Yeah, give her a call. Surefire. Ask her. I met her years ago when she was doing dairy girls. The very beginning of dairy girls. What a lovely girl. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, and also so switched on. Like she's so, she's just cultivated this incredible career for herself. And she's just, I'm just in awe of how she's just, just a powerhouse. Like, you know, it's impressive. Well, send to my love. I will do. It was a long time.

Whenever, when did Derry Girl start? Oh, that was like... See, there's another comedy. Yeah, there we go. They are out there, aren't there? There are a few. There are a few. But we need one with Samos Philipos.

Yes, we do. And Joe. And Joe Barnes. It's coming. Okay. Oh. Yeah. Oh.

That sounded threatening, didn't it? Oh. Oh. Oh. It's coming. No, it didn't it. Sounds quite good. Thank you very much, Sam.

All right. Thanks, Gabby.