Photo by Liz Rosa
We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Giles Panton on Amazon prime’s hit series “The Man in the High Castle.” Check it out below.
Hi, Giles! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role as Billy Turner in Amazon Prime Video’s Emmy award-winning television series, “The Man in The High Castle”. What should the audience expect to see this season?
A lot. This season is huge! In the world of “High Castle,” there are three major spheres of influence, and they are all fully at play in this season. The GNR is in the middle of a shake-up, John Smith has become the new Obergruppenführer and other politicians are going to be gunning for him. New heroes are rising in the neutral zone, and in the Japanese Pacific States, old loyalties are tested.
Tell us about Billy. Who is he? What is his personality like?
Billy is the smile in front of the war machine. He is the closest thing to a 1960’s ad-man that you can get—charming, smooth-talking, intelligent. Only instead of selling dishwashers, he’s pitching death and destruction.
What role does Billy play in the series?
He is the newly appointed Minister of Propaganda for the American Reich. You could say he is very career-minded.
Is it a challenge to play Billy? Did you have to pull from experience?
Billy was a great character to play. The greatest challenge was digging into the specifics of his work and motivations. When I play a character, I always try to find something about them that I can relate to, or that I like. This was especially difficult knowing my character is a high-ranking Nazi.
How did you get the role?
I had a single audition with a casting director. Amazon booked me based on the tape from that audition.
The subject matter of the movie is intense. How does the series’ production bring something new to similar thrillers?
I think the size and scope of this show really help it stand out. There are so many characters, constantly living in a wide variety of places and circumstances, and each has a unique and gripping story. There is nothing quite like this out there. It’s thrilling and touching, terrifying and beautiful, and most importantly—it’s 100% binge-worthy.
What is going to surprise people about Billy?
He is different from the average official in the American Reich. His personality is very brash, and he is not afraid to crack a joke.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue and why?
I have a line where I mentioned …”this rock-pile”… in the context of the scene, it was a blast to say. But you’ll have to wait to see what I mean!
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
Again, it is the depth and power of the storytelling. This show just has so much emotion, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.
In your opinion, what scene in the series is going to blow people away and why?
There are too many to count. Plus, I can’t give away too much, or else it will be a massive spoiler! But I can say that there is at least one ‘mind-blowing’ scene in every single episode this series.
What do you enjoy most about your character and role?
His easy-going attitude and bulletproof confidence.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the series?
I know that there is a lot of television out there, but this show is too important and too well-done to miss. The whole team puts their all into this project and I think the end result speaks for itself. So thanks for watching!
Editor’s Note: You can watch “The Man in the High Castle” on Amazon Prime. Start with season one.
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