THE GREAT PRETENDER

David Shields creeped us all out as the fascist, right-wing politician Michael Smart in the season 6 finale of cult dystopian sci-fi drama Black Mirror, which shows the vast spectrum of his acting chops, as before that he went full pomp playing aristocrat Colin Tennant in the first season of The Crown. Having earned his acting wings with roles in Bad Education and Doctor Who, Shields - who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama - is now flying high taking to the skies in Apple TV+’s series Masters of the Air playing Major Everett Blakely. Officially now in the list of Brit actors we love hall of fame, we caught with him to talk about playing real-life on screen, sliding doors, and not believing in fate.

Left Full look **N°21**
Right Full look **Louis Vuitton**

Hello David! How are you doing?

I’m well, great to be talking to you.

So, Masters of the Air has been such a success, how does it feel to be part of the show?

Incredible. It was an honour to get the call up given the reputation of Band of Brothers, and The Pacific, and it’s gone down so well since its release. So, the whole experience has been amazing.

You play ‘Major Everett Blakely’, how did you bring the lived experience of your character to the screen?

Fortunately, there was a lot to draw on from interviews with his son, Jim, conducted with him in the 1980’s, as well as Harry Crosby’s book A Wing and A Prayer, in which Everett features heavily. But we also had a bootcamp led by veteran military advisory Captain Dale Dye, who whipped us all into shape, and made us understand the full nature of what it was to be a US army airman in that period.

Left Full look **Paul Smith**
Right Full look **Dior Men**

You got to meet his son Jim too. What about the responsibility you feel when playing a real-life character? There’s no way to get the actual life, beat-by-beat, of a person, but you aim for an essence, correct?

There’s obviously that added pressure of wanting to do his family proud and do justice to their memory of him. But you’re right, you’re not there to do an impression, and you can’t let anything get in the way of just trying to be truthful in that moment when the camera’s rolling. I suppose you do all the work you can beforehand, to get to the heart of their characteristics, and, more importantly, as you say, their essence, and hope enough of that clings on to you as you work your way through the scene.

There are some heavyweight producers behind this series including Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg – were they trusting in the sense of letting you have some freedom to play Everett how you wanted, and bring your own thoughts and suggestions to the role?

I found there to be a lot of freedom on set. I, and others, were constantly throwing in lines and suggestions on the day. So yeah, I think there was a lot of trust in us as a company.

Left Full look **Louis Vuitton**
Right Full look **Alexander McQueen**

I’ve spoken to many of your castmates in the series. Did you know any of the other actors before you started filming? I heard that you all told each other riddles on set.

I knew Barney White, and Anthony Boyle, and Matt Gavan. But those last two not nearly so well as I do now. As you can imagine it’s the kind of production that helps forge some pretty tight bonds. And yes, we did tell riddles, as it happens, that riddle in Episode 3 is an example of an ad-lib worked out on the day.

So, reliving and portraying the lives of these brave navigators of the skies, is so far removed in terms of mindset from playing parts like your character in Black Mirror. What drives you to jump into a role?

The writing. I find everything else is secondary to that. A great director, a great cast and crew, can all help lift your character, but the writing is what’s key. And then apart from that it’s just doing something that’s different from what I’ve done before. I don’t want to get stuck in a rut playing the same old roles, and so I actively look to shake things up when possible.

Left Full look **Paul Smith**
Right Blazer, pants and shoes **N°21**, brooch **Dior Men**

Do you prefer more gritty, heavier, and sensitive subject matter that gives you a chance to challenge and transform your approach? Or would you like to go in a completely different direction and do something like comedy?

Currently I want to do some comedy, as I love it, and haven’t done it for a while. I’d say there’s a real pleasure in wrestling with weightier, tougher material, but I don’t necessarily see them as different in that way. A comedic role can often deal with sensitive subjects, and sometimes be as much as of a challenge, and require as much of a transformation as a dramatic role.

What about going back and doing some more theatre? Would you ever do a musical?

I’m about to go back and do some theatre. I’ve only really done screen work since I graduated, so it’s my first major stage production, and very exciting. And I’d never say never about musicals, but I don’t know if I’ve got the pipes sadly! The high notes get a little scratchy, to put it lightly. I could probably do a bit of baritone stuff in a chorus, if you know of any of those gigs going…

Left Full look **Fendi**
Right Knitwear **Zegna**, blazer and pants **Giorgio Armani**, shoes **N°21**, rings **Sweetlimejuice**

I’ll keep you posted! What about when you were younger, you were doing plays then right? I read that you got the starring role of Joseph in a school nativity, is that where the acting bug began?

Yep, that’s where it all began. And I did theatre all through school. Every play that I could. It was being part of an ensemble, a team, that really got me, and kept me coming back.

Is there a dream role perhaps, and any dream directors to collaborate with?

I just saw Dune 2 last night. So maybe one of those Harkonnen fellas. I’d like to stick a bald cap on and give that a go. And I’d settle for Denis, but I’d love to work with the likes of Shane Meadows, Jonathan Glazer, Joanna Hogg. Directors with an improvisational style.

Do you see yourself leaning into one strength more than another in your roles to date? And have your experiences on set inspired you to maybe try out being a writer or director? Or is your heart happiest as an actor?

Recently I’ve leaned into playing villains. I enjoy and feel very comfortable playing those, so I suppose that’s a strength. I don’t know what that says about me…but let’s not go into that. And in terms of broadening into other careers, I’m sure that time will come, but for now, I just want to focus on being the best actor that I can be.

Jacket and pants **Bluemarble**, coat **Kenzo**, brooch **Dior Men**, shoes **N°21**

In a sliding doors life, what do you wish you were better at?

You’ve already brought it up - singing. To have a really strong voice and be able to sing in front of a crowd, that’s something I’m really jealous of.

Do you believe in fate? And I don’t mean in destiny or greatness. I just mean that things are fated. Like, you’re going to win an Oscar one day, obviously.

No, I don’t believe in fate. I get the arguments that we’re all simply the result of our own biology and background etc and so fated in that way, but I have to believe that where I end up in life is the result of my own choices. Otherwise, what’s the point? The alternative is so depressing to me. But yes, it’s highly likely I’m going to win an Oscar one day, obviously.