BALANCE_FEBRUARY_2020 - 55

C E PO D CA

TO R U

N TH E B A

CULTURE
INTERVIEW
RUFUS

SEWELL

trick you into not being grateful for the
stuff you are doing.
Do you feel when you're desperate
for something it doesn't happen, but
then the moment you let go is when
the magic comes?
Yes, but there is a danger that you're
treating the universe like some girl you
fancy. "You know, I'm just going to walk

I'VE PLAYED TWO
DIFFERENT VILLAINS
WHO'VE DIED BY
THEIR CRAVAT BEING
TIED TO A TRAIN

"YOU CAN'T FAKE IT WITH
WORK OR LOVE"
The great Rufus Sewell - star of new Agatha Christie adaptation
The Pale Horse - proves joyously self-deprecating company
Tell us about your new series, The Pale Horse...
It's quite remarkable and quite surprising - that's what attracted
me to it. My character's name, Mark Easterbrook, is found on a
list in the shoe of the body of a dead woman. He seems to be a
suspect and when other people on that list start to drop, he is
afraid for his own life and is trying to clear his name.

WORDS James Gill

Was it great to do an Agatha Christie story?
I've always wanted to be in an Agatha Christie or a Charles
Dickens - I've not done a Dickens yet. And it's a different type
of Christie: it was written in the 60s, and so is set in a milieu
that we don't always associate with her; pre-swinging London.
My character is an antiques dealer and moves among the
chattering classes of the day. And then it goes into a Wicker Manish rural setting, so that was exciting.

The Man In The High Castle, which posited what would
happen had Germany won the Second World War, was
such a hit. I heard someone did a 'Hitler salute' at you...?
It happened quite often. People thought they were doing it

ironically, but still... Three guys 'siegheiled' me at the airport. I think they
thought it was funny. There was one
weird moment in a gym changing room
in LA; a guy had been looking at me. As
he left he said, "See you around, you Nazi
b*stard." It was how everyone looked at
me afterwards: "Did he know him from
a rally?" I had to explain.

past - I don't even care!" The universe,
like her, can smell that. You've got to
be on the lookout for hidden desired
outcomes. Do you secretly think the
universe will hear that and think, "Now
you've earned that"? I've caught myself
doing that: "I don't need any more than
I have right now!" While secretly hoping
that some celestial casting director will
go, "OK! He's ready!" You can't fake it
with work or love.
You're never the same guy twice.
It is so gratifying to hear that... Usually,
if I get offered a US role, it's been upperclass, olden days, at least rakish, possibly
evil. I've played two different villains
who've died by their cravat being tied to
a train. Two! That still happens now, but
I can laugh.

The Pale Horse is airing now on
BBC One

Given how long your
career has been, are you
able to smell the roses?
Actually, yes. And the fact
is, I'm 52, and right now
I really like the way it is.
I was worried that I was
more useful than people
realised as an actor. That's
dangerous because it can

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