UP CLOSE & PERSONAL. Talented, dapper and blessed with a great sense of humor, Brenton Thwaites turns on the charm for the new “Pirates of the Caribbean”
Outfit by Prada
This year alone, Australian-born actor Brenton Thwaites is headlining three major motion picture titles. He’s also scheduled to appear in at least three more that don’t have official release dates yet, which means that not long from now he’ll have about 21 credited roles to his name. Pretty impressive for a seven-year career, right? Let’s not forget that Thwaites’ filmography includes big blockbusters like the spine-tingling “Oculus” that is definitely not for the faint of heart, “Maleficent” where he played opposite Elle Fanning and Angelina Jolie, as well as “Gods of Egypt” which was shot in the deserts of his home country and notably featured Gerard Butler’s muscles. And then there’s the one that might just become his most defining role for the years to come: As a new young hero in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.”
Outfit by Etro
DA MAN: Hi, Brenton; thank you for having us. How are you doing?
Brenton Thwaites: Purdy good.
DA MAN: Let’s start with your role in one of the most anticipated movies of 2017: “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Can you tell us a bit about your character and what his role is in the story?
Brenton Thwaites: I play a guy called Henry who is a soldier in the Royal Navy. At the beginning of the film, he is locked up by his own men for trying to warn them of an evil coming their way. No one believes him except for a girl called Carina Smyth, played by Kaya Scodelario, who helps him escape. Together they realize they are actually after the same treasure and can help each other get there.
DA MAN: From the reunited all-star cast to the CGI, the franchise’s signature swashbuckling action, swordplay, etc., what did you find to be the most challenging part of starring in “Dead Men Tell No Tales”?
Brenton Thwaites: In this one, there were a wide variety of different stunts I had to do—from climbing to swimming, jumping, swordplay and a few fight scenes. To be honest, the most challenging was keeping a steady foot on a wet, wooden boat in a pair of high heels. How the chicks do it, I do not know.
“Now I can chop up a whole carrot in 1.3 seconds”
DA MAN: How about the most fun?
Brenton Thwaites: The most fun was the week of location shooting up in the Whitsundays (a collection of islands in Queensland, Australia). Location shots always feel like a holiday … until the sun goes down and we still haven’t got the shot!
DA MAN: Moving back a bit, did they put you through any kind of special training or conditioning exercises to prepare you for filming?
Brenton Thwaites: A few weeks before principal photography began, I worked with the stunt guys on my sword fighting skills. So, now I can chop up a whole carrot in just 1.3 seconds.
DA MAN: Now, the scuttlebutt is that you’re being eyed to lead the next installments in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. What do you think about this?
Brenton Thwaites: I’ll take the compliment, but, to be honest, I think “Pirates” is “Pirates” because people love watching Johnny Depp. I know I do. There are many other moving parts to the franchise that have all come together to make it what it is, but at the end of the day we all just love Captain Jack Sparrow. If I was stranded on an island, I don’t think I would have enough back hair to fix to the turtles!
Outfit by Etro
DA MAN: Regardless of how it goes with the franchise in the future, what do you think would a Henry-centric “Pirates of the Caribbean” look and feel like?
Brenton Thwaites: As long they keep the swashbuckling front and center, I think it could be purdy cool!
DA MAN: And then there’s “Office Uprising” which started filming in early December. We’ve seen this movie described using everything from “zombie comedy thriller” to “action fantasy” and more. How would you describe the movie?
Brenton Thwaites: Definitely a “Zombedy Fantaction!”
DA MAN: You could say that doing a zombie movie can be rather risky nowadays because the genre is basically oversaturated. Do you think that “Office Uprising” can bring something new to the scene?
Brenton Thwaites: Absolutely. The script was as fresh as a daisy—that’s what brought me in in the first place and got me excited about it. Although there were some similar scenes in there from other “Zombedy Fantactions,” it definitely has its own vibe going on.
DA MAN: Most people who have heard of Lin Oeding know him as a stunt coordinator/performer for a lot of high-profile titles. What was it like working with him in his debut as a director?
Brenton Thwaites: Good. He had a tough gig. To shoot a movie like this in 20 days was always going to be a challenge with the mix of drama, comedy and action involved. He was definitely in his element with the heavier action sequences. Stunt coordinator Walter—forgot his last name; sorry Walter—and he worked together like bacon and eggs. For the more dialogue-heavy scenes, he was open to collaborations and I felt that he had a pretty good comedic instinct for someone who hadn’t had much experience with the genre.
Outfit by Hugo Boss
DA MAN: Beyond the two titles we’ve covered so far, you’re also set to appear in, among others, the sequel to “Maleficent” which has just been announced, “The God Four” and “Entry Level.” Which are you most excited about and why?
Brenton Thwaites: I’m excited about each of them in their own way. “Maleficent” was one of my first bigger movies that got me off the ground in many ways, so I have a bit of soft spot for the movie. “The God Four” and “Entry Level” are both opportunities for me to play completely different characters. One (“The God Four,” which also stars Jai Courtney and Michael Douglas) is a darker, behind-the-scenes look at the world of college rowing and how the pressures of training to be the best can sometimes be too much to handle, and the other (“Entry Level” featuring Thwaites playing opposite Karl Urban) is a fast-paced action thriller about a guy who thinks he is going for a high-level job interview but then ends up in the middle of a possible terrorist attack. Both are full of energy and exciting on the page, hopefully on the screen too!
DA MAN: Your upcoming movies alone include everything from fantasy to thrillers and dark fairy tales. Do you have a favorite genre?
Brenton Thwaites: I enjoy watching comedies. I like to laugh.
“When I connect with a story that is a little bit out of the ordinary, or unusual in some way, I’m interested to see who else agrees with me”
DA MAN: You’re also known for your roles in movies from more serious subgenres such as social science fiction (“The Giver”) and faith-based stories (the forthcoming “An Interview with God”). Is there anything you particularly enjoy from working on not-exactly-mainstream film projects?
Brenton Thwaites: They interest me. When I connect with a story that is a little bit out of the ordinary, or unusual in some way, I’m interested to see who else agrees.
DA MAN: Throughout your career, which titles were the biggest highlights?
Brenton Thwaites: It wouldn’t be fair to say. Each film has been its own stepping stone in helping me move forward in my career. I liked “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but that’s mainly because I got to live at home while working.
Outfit by Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci
DA MAN: And the one that really solidified your place as an actor? Or perhaps your breakthrough role, if you will…
Brenton Thwaites: I don’t know if I’ve had it yet. Maybe “Maleficent” because it was my first studio movie, maybe [Australian crime drama series] “Sea Patrol” because it was my first job right out of college, maybe “The Giver” as it was my first leading role in a studio film. I’m not sure. I’ll have ask someone else for their opinion.
DA MAN: Ultimately, what do you see as the best part of doing what you are doing now?
Brenton Thwaites: I love the traveling, seeing new places and learning from different cultures all around the world.
DA MAN: It certainly looks like you’ve had a busy 2016 and that you’ll have a full plate in 2017. What do you usually do to unwind when time allows?
Brenton Thwaites: To unwind, I just go into the ocean. As long as there is an ocean nearby, I can unwind.
Outfit by Salvatore Ferragamo
DA MAN: Going forward, do you have any resolutions for 2017 that you definitely want to keep?
Brenton Thwaites: To get a job is at the top of the list.
DA MAN: Final question: If Brenton Thwaites from six years ago, right after his film debut, could see where you’ve gotten him today, what would he probably say?
Brenton Thwaites: Keep going!
To see more photos from this photo shoot, get your copy of DA MAN February/March 2017 here, and check out the outtakes below:
Photography Mitchell Nguyen McCormack
Styling Olga Yanul
Styling Assistant Courtney Leday
Grooming Sascha Breuer at Starworks Artists using Bumble and bumble.