L I A M C U N N I N G H A M
Interview} John Russo
Photographs by} John Russo
Grooming} Beauty by Sole
Styling} Jennifer Austin
JR: You have appeared in many iconic films and played intense roles in your career; which role stands out to you as your best work?
LC: I’ve been really lucky. What I’m most proud of, in a lot of ways, though, is The Wind that Shakes the Barley. It’s a film from Ken Loach, a man whom I adore. He brought me in, and we won the Palme d’Or. It’s so historic for Ireland, and I am so proud of that. Game of Thrones is also one of the proudest things I’ve ever done. And A Little Princess, I’m very proud of that one. It’s a beautiful kids movie. But that question is a bit like asking which of your children is your favorite…I love them all for different reasons.
JR: You are part of one of the most iconic shows of all time, “Game of Thrones.” When choosing new roles, do you try to steer clear of roles that are similar to the ones you played in Game of Thrones?
LC: I do, and mostly, that’s for the benefit of the audiences. If they see me doing the exact same thing and are paying good money for it, then I feel I’ve robbed them. Also, for me, it would just be a payday, and I would get bored in the process of filming. I need something to keep me on the edge and push me. Feeling close to failure is exciting, especially if you pull it off!
JR: Although Game of Thrones is over, your fan base will continue to stay strong, especially as younger generations start to discover the series. Do you embrace the attention of the fans who will continually associate you with the show?
LC: Oh yes, absolutely. We all shared this beautiful ensemble with that show. And we, as actors, only got to see the bits that we actually filmed, so when everyone in the cast sat down, we could enjoy it as much as the fans. It’s so lovely when people come up and are drawn to a project for different reasons. The fact that there are constantly new fans and that it continues to resonate with audiences only speaks to how great the material was and the entire team, both in front and behind the camera.
JR: You went from Fantasy in “Game of Thrones” to Sci-fi in 3 Body Problem”. What other Genre would you like to work in? Romantic comedy? Love story? Drama?
LC: It would be fun to do a family drama. I love seeing epic problems in a family’s life. I’ve always liked the interpersonal aspect. The big epic shows are wonderful but I always find the really interesting bits are what’s happening in the lives of the characters. I would love to do one of those amazing French family dramas….except that I don’t speak French!
JR: In your latest show, “3 Body Problem,” you are basically saving the world. What do you most like about your character?
LC: I love how single-minded he is. I wish I were as sure of myself as Thomas Wade is. How glorious to not have to doubt oneself! Although, he’s dangerously close to a psychopath, so I don’t want to be THAT sure of myself!
JR: How is it working with your former “Game of Thrones” co-stars John Bradley & Jonathan Price?
LC: It’s glorious to be in their company. It’s lovely and gives you a sense of well-being when you have people who have already proved themselves to be such extraordinary talents. As an actor, being surrounded by talented, decent, funny, and wonderful people is wonderful. I was delighted to work with them again.
JR: Looking back on your career, is there one role you passed on that you wish you had said yes to?
LC: No, never. I’ve never wondered if I made a mistake turning down something. I have a couple of regrets about projects I didn’t get, but I try to forget them as much as possible.
JR: Hollywood (and its politics) have changed since you began your career. What changes do you think have had a positive impact on the industry, and what changes have not served the industry well?
LC: Me Too has definitely made enormous strides. It’s far from perfect, but I’m glad it’s going in the right direction. And I think we are making such important strides in terms of diversity across the board. Again, there is still a long way to go, but all positive steps. All these steps have further improved accessibility in the industry. On the flip side, social media can be both good and bad. With social media, you will get exactly what you are looking for, so you have to be careful. If you want to feed your paranoia, there will be plenty of stuff there. But if you believe the good reviews, you have to believe the bad ones too, so you have to take it with a pinch of salt.