Cassian Bilton says that he can’t remember ever not wanting to be an actor - ‘As soon as I did my first play while I was growing up, I caught the bug. I was hooked.’ The Brit has made his film debut in a short ‘The Devil’s Harmony’, which won the Sundance Jury Award in 2020. This year, Bilton has been catapulted into a whole new sphere of storytelling - he’s currently starring in a mega Apple TV+ production, ‘FOUNDATION’ - a show based on a classic sci-fi series of books by Isaac Asimov about a Galactic Empire civilization on the brink of apocalypse. We spoke to Bilton about the experience of working on a bigger-than-life set, his favourite sci-fi films and his love for the theatre stage.

Full Look **Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello**

How did this project come about for you and what attracted you to this role?

This part is unlike anything I’d read or seen on screen before. The opportunity to play a cloned version of a man alongside two other brilliant actors is something that really excited me.

Full Look **Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane**

What in your view is the biggest strength of ‘FOUNDATION’ from a storytelling perspective?

‘FOUNDATION’ wrestles with a lot of very big ideas. It tackles the interplay between science and faith, the decay of power and the importance of hope in a time of crisis. The show doesn’t shy away from tackling these questions head-on and asking its audience to consider them themselves. I think that’s really thrilling.

Pants **Hermès**, Knitwear **Loewe** & shoes **Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane**

What surprised or amazed you the most about the process of working on such a grand show?

I arrived expecting to be shooting against green screens but almost all of our sets were practical. We also travelled to half a dozen countries around the world to shoot on location. It adds such a rich, lived-in texture to the show and really helps us out as actors.

Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre yourself? If so, what are some of your favourite sci-fi films?

I’m a big fan of Alex Garland’s ‘Ex Machina’ and Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’. Both films ask really searching questions about what it means to be human and what our not-too-distant future might look like.

Left Full look **Berluti**
Right T-Shirt **Acne Studios**, pants **Ann Demeulemeester**, knitwear **Hermès** & shoes **Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane**

What made you first want to become an actor and when did you realize this is something you would like to pursue?

I can’t remember not wanting to be an actor. As soon as I did my first play while I was growing up, I caught the bug. I was hooked.

You have extensive experience as a theatre actor. What do you love the most about performing on stage and what’s your dream theatre role?

I don’t think there’s anything like it. It’s electric. It’s where I feel most alive. I’d love to do a Duncan Macmillan play. His ‘People, Places and Things’ at the National Theatre was one of the best shows I’ve seen on stage.