Cutler Magazine sits down for an exclusive interview with British actor and writer Jamie Andrew Cutler. we meet him fresh from the set of Marvel's "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" .
The Marvel Cinematic Universe, that sounds exciting? It's a blast and it's certainly a universe. The scale of those productions is huge.
Can you share anything? I had a wonderful time with beautiful people. I can say no more about it... I don't want to get taken out by the Marvel police.
Understood. Tell me, what character’s do you like to play? I like to play parts that terrify me, that I don’t think I’ll be able to do. That's exciting.
Dream roles? Many. Most of them can be found in Miller, Ibsen and Shakespeare. Also, when I was seven I knew I’d be a James Bond villain.
What’s different now from when you started acting? In the beginning I was acting to escape myself. It was a hard couple of years, when I realised that was impossible. Now I’m accepting what I’ve been through. There’s lots there.
And in the world? It’s a world where more choices are available. We can all be, whatever we like. But, does that mean we are making the right choices?
What do you mean by right? By right I mean one’s born from a soft heart, that lead us to the truth of who we really are. Ironically that journey seems harder to do the more freedom we appear to have. The world is a very attractive place. It's difficult to face what you don't want to.
How’s your journey going? Found any demons? Many. We all have darkness inside us we don’t want others to see. The artist can’t keep those parts of themself hidden. If they do, the work will be limited. It’s this crazy paradox in art. Your talent’s not developed outside of yourself... It is formed by your courage to dive within, and share the truth of what your find. So, I'm going into the woods. In many ways I feel like it's the start of my life.
That sounds challenging and rather scary? It is, but it's also a rewarding relationship, humbling, but rewarding. Besides, these days I no longer think I've got a choice.
Why'd you say that? In my experience, the truth always gets me in the end.
What inspires you? I’ve always had a burning desire in me... And this will sound strange... A burning desire to present art to the world, that repays the gift of life I’ve been given. One day I hope to be the instrument and something comes through me from the beyond that makes people smile. Until then, I just keep digging.
Any Director’s you want to work with? Mel Gibson, I think he’s as fanatical and crazy as I am. Paul Thomas Anderson, I love him. I'm always looking at short films too, hunting for emerging talent.
What can we see you in next? I’ve got a short film that will be out in January called “What Tyler Did”. There’s some very talented people on that project.
Can you tell us about it? Tyler lives on the streets. He can get things, knows people. He’s Jake Gittes in Chinatown, but the homeless version. One day he gets an opportunity to better his life, but to achieve it he must destroy the little morality he has left. It's a choice between personal profit, or the right thing. It's redemption, or hell.
Wow. What was it like filming? It was a study in shame, and a difficult space to inhabit. We improvised some scenes on the streets of London, shot on long lens with the public. That’s a buzz when you’re interacting with the real thing. You can’t drop the ball for a second. I met a tough ex-con and we drank together for an hour. If he found out I wasn’t a homeless guy called Tyler, it wouldn't have ended well for me.
That sounds terrifying? It’s exhausting. Your nervous system's on full alert, all the time. One mistake and that's it. But, honestly that's the rush I like. Acting should be like that, not small, or safe. You got to walk the tight-rope. Life isn't small, or safe. There's an epidemic in acting, especially on screen, of artist's ashamed of the size of their instrument. That isn't cool to me... I want to see your soul. I want to see you struggle. That's drama.
Jamie, thank you for your time. Thank you for having me. I must address the elephant in the room... It's a great name for a magazine.
Photography Scarlett Warrick