Ryan is currently starring in OUTLANDER season 3. We had a chance to catch up with him to discuss it and his other projects.
Thanks for chatting with us, Ryan! You started out as an extra on Outlander’s season one. Now, you have been cast in a larger role for season three. Congratulations! We know you can’t give away juicy details, but can you discuss your character?
Being an extra on OUTLANDER way back on season one, was probably the highlight of my time as a ‘Background Artist’ – my experience there really opened my eyes and injected a craving for success into me which has never left. The show itself has been part of my life for a long time; my mother is a huge fan of the novels and so I knew all about OUTLANDER before my time there began.
After my job finished on Season One, I had a year and a bit off where I focused on getting my Diploma in Acting – however, the show never left my thoughts and I became obsessed with watching the show. I would constantly remind my agent to look out for roles (as I knew there were characters coming up that I would be suitable for) and one day, during a meal with friends in London, I heard word back that I had been cast. The laid back meal with friends turned into a night of celebration.
Transitioning from extra to cast member was simply fantastic. When arriving at Unit Base, I seen so many familiar faces from the most dedicated crew I’ve ever worked with; from AD’s to Costume and of course the Cast. I had the pleasure of working with Sam Heughan and the hilariously funny Grant O’Rourke – both men who are genuinely humble, approachable completely grounded. Like I mentioned in one of my tweets, OUTLANDER is like a family and I was accepted back instantly.
Obviously I cannot give anything away; however, my time there was very emotional – It will take the viewer on a journey right from the beginning and in my personal opinion, will be the best season yet.
As a child, you traveled frequently abroad with your family. Do you feel your experiences has shaped your acting career?
I think being abroad frequently as I was growing up did, in some way, influence the characters I play. I would mostly be engrossed by the hotel entertainment or the traveling troupes of performers that would bar-crawl their shows throughout the strip. The characters in the shows I’d seen growing up were very flamboyant, grotesque and filled with comedic elements – impersonating celebrities and filled with slapstick.
It’s not something I’ve ever thought about in great detail before, but i suppose I’m more inclined to be the comedy actor – I’m heavily influenced by the likes of Robin Williams and Catherine Tate – who dispensed nothing but wisdom upon meeting her. I find happiness in making other people feel something and that’s essentially integral to being a performer – you want to evoke a response in someone and hearing a group of people laugh with you is the best happy-pill available.
Your parents have been huge supporters of your career. They raised funds to send you to ‘The Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre and Arts.’ Tell us more.
My parents have always been very supportive of my aspirations – of course there was the worry that with Acting comes a life of rejection and no work, but my ability to take well to being told ‘NO’ is what keeps you going. When I was very young, an advert for the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre and Arts was shown to my parents who told me about the school and asked if I wanted to audition. Of course, I said yes and turned up, not really knowing what ‘Musical Theatre’ entailed the age of 9. The audition was a process of acting, singing and dancing; it was fairly intense and unlike anything i’d ever done.
It was over in a blur and I was told I got in. What a boost of confidence that gave me – as someone who got frequently bullied in school, this gave me something to look forward to and excel in outside of the negative educational environment. The intense, rigorous training involved at GAMTA really changed me in many ways: it set me up for being a high achiever, it taught me skills such as puctuality and professionalism – as-well-as giving me a springboard into the world of music and dance. Overall, my three year run at GAMTA gave me the drive to continue in the business and let me find what it was I wanted to do: acting for Stage and Screen.
You are quickly climbing the ladder in your career. Tell us what keeps you motivated.
Like any other actor in the business will know, you need to stay motivated and find things that inspire you to continue. I am at the very start of my career, still finding lots of classical plays that are so well known, but not yet to me. Reading and learning more about your profession is key to being inspired. I’m going through a phase just now where Shakespeare is the best thing since sliced bread and I just want to perform it everyday. The language, the imagery and the deeply detailed characters just engross me the more I read. For me, It’s really about constantly learning and knowing your craft so that you can develop your skillet further – I am no where near finished. I spend my days looking for auditions and networking with people who I can collaborate with. There’s only one word that I find defines my profession: crazy. I have absolutely no idea where I’m going on this journey to success – traveling into the unknown is completely petrifying but incredibly exciting.
In addition to Outlander, you have two films in pre-production. They are ‘Catalyst’ and ‘The Second Life Club.’ We know you can’t discuss the films, so let’s talk auditioning for the roles.
In 2015, I attended a short two week course in London called the National Youth Film Academy – the agenda was to be put into a team, write, shoot and edit a short film in 10 days, which would then be shown at a renowned cinema in London to family, friends and industry professionals.
The film I was involved in was called Remembering Amy, which received a thunderous applause at the end of the screening. Many audience members and online fans demanded more from the team, and so a select few of us decided to turn the short into a feature. Elizabeth J. Cassidy, who produced the short has now become the writer/director of CATALYST – Produced by Lady Colin Campbell’s son, Dima Ziadie.
Luckily, we have some of the original cast returning to the feature, Jade-Marie Joseph (Life Through Our Lens, BBC Three), Lily Mae McGregor (Tu Si Que Vales), Emma Harvey (Doctors, BBC) as well as a fantastic line up including: Antonia Tootill, Zak-Russell Jones, and of course myself, returning as the role of Tom.
We are now in the stages of crowdfunding the project, which is set to film this summer in London, due for release in 2018. Anyone who wishes to be part of the film and contribute to get some amazing perks can find all of the information here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/catalyst-a-new-romantic-drama-feature-film/x/16333803#/
I have also just wrapped on a short film by Matthew Howie for MuckyPup Productions – it was so fantastic to work with him and an incredibly talented DoP again, who just happens to be his sister, Laura Howie. The film was called ROXY SMILES and I played the role of ‘Hunter,’ a mentally damaged stalker who seeks revenge.
In the coming months, I’m also set to shoot a short film for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, with one of the best cinematographers I’ve seen in a long time called Martin MacLoed and also another feature called The Second Life Club by Simon Jake at Haggis Western Films. Unfortunately, I cannot disclose any information about either of the projects at the moment as they are both in the early stages of development.
Is there a role you would like to play one day?
I would absolutely love to be involved in a Period Drama piece – whether that be a reimagining of Shakespeare or a revival of Downtown Abbey in the future. The history behind these types of shows interests me incredibly, and I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like to live in the past. I think, luckily, I have a look where I can play both Classical and Contemporary and so being typecast isn’t really something that worries me. Of course, It’s great to expand your rage and play things outwit your comfort zone, but being put in a pigeon hole is something that comes with this career – it’s not really in my control. There’s no point in fighting against your casting type – you’d never get any work.
Another big aspiration for me is to be part of a Drama – I find that genre to really be growing on me at the moment. A few of my favorite shows include: Broadchurch, Happy Valley, Doctor Foster and The Replacement. I want to be part of a show that keeps the audience gripped week after week – of course the ideal role would to be the person who committed the crime in a who-done-it? Gritty British Drama has the top place in my list of priorities for sure.
Everyone asks what’s next, so we like to ask where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years time, I hope to be doing exactly what I’m doing now – constantly auditioning for projects, learning more about my craft, and testing my limitations in performance. I do see myself moving into either producing or directing at one point in my career path. But for me, acting will be a constant until my last breath.
Connect with Ryan:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyanRGerrard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanrgerrard/
Head shot Credit: Tom Duncan
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