PLAYING THE BAD GUY DOESN’T COME NATURALLY TO SAMUEL BOTTOMLEY. BUT YOU’D NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL BY WATCHING HOW TO HAVE SEX. HIS LATEST MOVIE MAKES HIM THE CATALYST FOR A DARK TWIST IN A SEEMINGLY LIGHTHEARTED FILM. THE BAFTA NOMINEE CONFESSES IT WASN’T AN EASY TASK TO BE THE VILLAIN, HAVING TO DIVE INTO THE MIND OF A PERSON WHOSE ACTIONS HE DESPISED. THE SCARIEST PART, HOWEVER, WAS THAT HE WAS PLAYING SOMEONE WE’VE ALL MET, THE TYPE OF MAN THAT CAN BE AT EVERY PARTY, IN EVERY BAR. BOTTOMLEY’S FIRST TIME PLAYING A DARK CHARACTER MIGHT BE ONE OF THE LAST “FIRSTS” HE HAS LEFT. THROUGHOUT HIS FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD CAREER, THE YOUNG ACTOR HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN MOST CAN DREAM OF. BUT HIS HORIZONS ARE STILL DISTANT. DESPITE HIS EARLY START, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

Left Full look **Versace**
Right Coat **Loewe**

You’ve mentioned that How to Have Sex feels like a movie that speaks to your generation. Why do you think that is?
I think a lot of it was in the language they used. Reading the script was just like hearing someone who went to school with you. It just felt so free-flowing. There were also so many moments that were improvised that made it all so much more authentic.

Do you enjoy having that freedom to improvise or do you prefer a more rigid script?
I think it depends. If I’m playing something closer to me - I mean, if I’m playing a Northern young man who comes from the working class, things will come a lot easier to me. In that instance, it’s good because my experience can offer something to the role I’m playing, especially with my dialect and slang. But if I’m playing a 1914 servant, there’s a limited number of contributions I can make. But creatively, I’m always looking for ways to pitch in my own thing.

Left Full look **Miu Miu**
Right Coat **Loewe**, pants **Miu Miu**, shoes **J.M.Weston**, watch **Omega**

How to Have Sex brings up a lot of heavy issues. What kind of conversations do you hope it catalyzes?
I think it’s a reflective film that will make young men look into themselves and ask themselves very scary questions. I think a lot of those happened on set.

What was the set like? Because it is a party movie in its essence, but it has a deeper meaning…
I think everyone felt a strong sense of responsibility to bring “it” every single day. We all had a sense that this was a movie that could be almost educational. I think this could be played in schools. This is something I would like to show my kids when I have them. We all felt a responsibility to keep it authentic. When you’re working on a movie, a lot of things can disappear from the script, and we really didn’t want that. This was our baby.

Your character is the catalyst for the dramatic turn in the movie. Do you find it hard to empathize when you’re playing the “bad guy”?
Definitely. Even though I think his actions come from a place of the lack of education, he is very selfish. I have never felt sorry for him in any way. To be honest, I hated him. He was one of the toughest characters I’ve ever played. At moments I thought, “Why couldn’t I have Shaun’s [Thomas] character?” But then I got myself back to Earth. There was a reason why I was playing him. So, once I got over the initial stage, I was very proud I pulled it off.

I think that’s what was interesting, he is a very specific character…
That’s the thing, he doesn’t think he’s a bad guy, which is something everyone experiences. Everyone thinks they’re the hero in their own right. That stuck with me throughout my entire creative process. The thing is… We all know someone like him. That’s the scariest part, there’s a guy like that at every party.

Even though the movie has such a dark undertone, you filmed in an amazing place, Crete. Did you manage to enjoy it while you were there?
100%. Shaun and I had already worked together, so we were running around having fun. My dad had just passed his sailing license, so I had him come out with my mom. We rented a boat. We dropped anchor on the beach of Malia and… the anchor is still there. We dropped it on some rocks. So, there’s a piece of us forever in that sea forever. We made it out in one piece, but I had to swim 18 meters to the bottom of the ocean to try and pull it off. We had a blast.

The conversation around child actors has resurfaced recently. Since you started in the business so young, what was your experience like?
I think when people hear “child actor”, they instantly think of Home Alone. But, to me, I remember understanding that I was living in a special situation. That’s all it’s ever been for me, knowing how lucky I am. My mom and dad reminded me of my privilege. It does bring its challenges. I think growing up, while you’re still discovering things about yourself, it might not be the best thing. But for me, I have always just wanted to act. I would have been very upset if I had never had that opportunity.

Since you started so young, did you ever think about doing something else?
When I did my first movie, Tyrannosaur, I remember my mom asking me, “Do you want to be an actor now?” And I told her, “No, I want to be a cameraman.” That lasted all but that day. Ever since then, all I’ve wanted was to act. I think at some point, later in my career, I’d love to create my own stories. I want to create my own environment on a set. To write and direct.

Left Full look **Miu Miu**
Right Full look **Prada**

Do you have an idea of what that story might be?
I always try to sit down and figure it out. So far nothing special has come out. But the number of lives I’ve had throughout my career, I have to at least have one good idea. I know that it’s going to come at some point, I just don’t know when.

You’ve worked with some amazing actors at a very young age. As you reach your adulthood, how do you think they’ve contributed to the person you are now?
I think the generation of actors that was just above mine has had a real influence on me. Jack O’Connell, George MacKay, and Alex Roach all had a massive impact on me. They were young too but still much older than me at the time. I remember Jack telling me to walk into every audition and, in his words, “fucking smash it”. No matter if I liked the script or not, go into an audition and make an impression on every person you meet. That’s something I carry with me. Even now, in this interview, I want to make a great impression.

Since you’ve already achieved so much in your career, what goals do you have?
Lots of things. There are still loads of people I would love to work with. I’m nowhere near the middle of my career. I still have so many good films and series to come along. For now, I just love to work. I still want to make films with my favourite directors. People like Guy Ritchie, Shane Meadows, or Quentin Tarantino. I know there’s such a massive dream to fill out. But I’ve achieved others, I’ve worked with Tim Roth. It can happen, I’m in the right place to have it happen. In this industry, I never feel too silly dreaming about anything.

Interview by Pedro Vasconcelos

Photography by David Sessions

Fashion by Steven Huang

Grooming by Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management using Daimon Barber

Casting by Imagemachine CS

Stylist assistant Elisa Carcano