Music, Style & Culture

Interview: War Horse Star Jeremy Irvine

Plucked from obscurity to star in Steven Spielberg's latest, we speak to the rising British actor.

Still buzzing from introducing scenes from War Horse at Empire's Big Screen, Jeremy Irvine is unfailingly polite as we meet up in the press area to talk about his impressive film debut. The 21-year-old British actor takes the lead in Steven Spielberg's sumptuous adaptation of the beloved book and play, playing a young soldier, Albert, who travels through France looking for his beloved horse Joey, sold to the British cavalry during World War I.

Released on 13th January, the lush, old-fashioned period piece features an impressive ensemble cast that includes Emily Watson and Peter Mullan as Albert's parents. Irvine stands out with a sense of innocence and wonder, characteristics Spielberg is gifted at capturing in his fresh faces.

It took two months of auditioning for a secret project before Irvine twigged. "It was a long process, doing lots of cold readings," he reveals. "I had kind of guessed this was War Horse for Steven Spielberg, but we hadn't really talked about it."

How did he learn his fate? "I get a phone call at 9 o'clock at night, saying 'Can you come and meet Steven Spielberg for tea tomorrow morning?' It's just ridiculous! I grew up watching E.T. and Jurassic Park, as most people did, and to suddenly be meeting the man himself, one of the best directors ever, is just mindblowing. When I was in the chorus with the Royal Shakespeare Company, I thought 'This is it, it doesn't get any better!'"

After the huge success of Nick Stafford's long-running stage adaptation, Irvine is confident the film will bring something new to the story. "What I think the film can do is really focus on characters," he ponders. "One of Steven's instructions was that the camera shows emotion and feeling. It doesn't show the thinking - you need to be feeling it."

With months of intensive horse riding training, it wasn't his four-legged co-star that worried him on set. "You constantly expect someone to tap you on the shoulder and say, 'We've worked you out - you're not actually a very good actor.' Every scene I was terrified."

Spielberg's warm way with actors calmed his nerves, with Irvine dropping an adorable piece of information. "You get on set, and Steven's greatest asset is that it feels so normal and relaxed. He's so lovely and approachable. I mean, on the back of his chair, instead of 'director' he's got 'Dad' written on it!"

Irvine has since been cast as Pip in Mike Newell's Great Expectations, alongside Helena Bonham Carter and Ralph Fiennes, and will play WWII prisoner of war Eric Lomax in amazing true story The Railway Man, with Colin Firth playing the older Lomax.

War Horse trailer: