Explore the multifaceted world of English actor Alex Sharp as we uncover the elements shaping his path and the passions driving his success
Alex Sharp’s story unfolds like a captivating mixtape of tradition and modern flair. He started his acting journey in the hallowed halls of a drama school, where the stage becomes his playground. While life had him dabbling in various other gigs for some time, acting remains his true passion. Now, the English actor has become a household name in Hollywood with projects spanning both the small and big screens.
DAMAN: Your upbringing was quite unique, being raised traveling throughout Europe and the Southwest of the United States in a caravan. How did this nomadic lifestyle influence your perspective on life and shape your identity?
Alex Sharp: There were of course pros and cons to this lifestyle in my most formative years. The main con being that I was quite lonely as a child, because we were never long enough somewhere to develop lasting relationships with kids my age until I was a little older. But I think that has made me value my friendships now even more. My friends are my greatest joy in life; without them this would all be pointless to me. The pros were a wild level of exposure to different cultures, different attitudes, different art, topography, wildlife, history and so on. It exploded my mind in a really rich way that has never left me. I was always a guest in another person’s culture or homeland, which I think has made me appreciate certain elements of the world more deeply. I find being out of my comfort zone quite easy, perhaps because of this.
DA: You won the Tony Award for Lead Actor in a Play on Broadway for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” What did that win mean to you? And what was it like working on your first Broadway role?
AS: It was my first job ever, though I grew up doing a lot of youth and communal theater and physical theater. It was quite a ride. I got the job when I was still a student at Juilliard and was of course over the moon. But I also felt sick with fear that I would in some way mess it up—or that one day someone would realize I was an imposter and tell me: “We have made a terrible mistake, we meant the other Alex” or something. And there was a lot of noise around it: articles, interviews, excitement, fans and such. Which was thrilling but also freaked me out a bit. So, I just obsessively focused on the work of the character and the play and tried to ignore the surrounding world which felt like it was changing rapidly and in ways I didn’t at the time understand. It was quite isolating at times, but the cast was sincerely the most special, kind, brilliant people I have ever worked with. I felt safe with them; they became family.
DA: You play Trevor Chadwick in the film “One Life” alongside Sir Anthony Hopkins. What drew you to the project and that role?
AS: Similar to working on “Living” with Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou-Wood, I was drawn to the world and era of it. I wanted to work with Romola Garai and Jonny Flynn too—actors I so admire. And Trevor was a real and interesting man. I wanted to know him, as much as one can, through the process of playing him. To get more of a sense of why he did the incredibly heroic things he did. And I mean, who is going to turn down being in a film with Helena Bonham-Carter and Anthony Hopkins?
DA: Moving on to your upcoming role as Will Downing in “3 Body Problem,” what can you tell us about him and how did your involvement in this project come about?
AS: Will Downing is a quiet hero. I was so moved by his character arc; he has a type of humility and dignity that’s rare. This will sound clichéd but when I read the script after I got the job, I thought: “I’m not sure I know how to capture this mindset or energy.” And that is what made me want to do it. It came about through my agent Tor sending me the request for a selftape. She said: “Darling, we don’t know much about this, just give it a shot.” Netflix was being very secretive. So, I did. But the sides, though only a few pages, already had me extremely intrigued. I remember literally thinking: “This guy is quietly heroic.”
DA: How closely will the “3 Body Problem” series stick to Liu Cixin’s “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” novels, and what changes might be made to adapt the story for a television series?
AS: The thing about the books is, not only do they take place out of sequence—from the ’60s until the end of the universe millions of years later—but many of the characters do not interact with each other and are sometimes entirely unaware of each other’s existence. I think David Benioff, Alex Woo and Dan Weiss wanted to create an emotional and human through line for the audience to fully honor the books. So, changes have been made for that.
“I BLOCKED OUT AND IGNORED THE FACT THE SHOW WAS ‘HUGE’; IT WASN’T A HELPFUL THING TO BE AWARE OF WHEN MAKING IT”
DA: “3 Body Problem” is being hailed as a cosmic horror sci-fi hit for Netflix. How does your character, Will Downing, contribute to the overall atmosphere and themes of the series?
AS: I sometimes forget that I am in a massive, cosmic horror sci-fi, visual effects-packed epic. Will is totally separate to that. The experience was similar to making an independent character-driven movie, which is what I usually do. I was cold, on a beach, in a quiet scene, with a character who loves a woman immeasurably, who is facing his imminent mortality. And he’s also facing the ethical question of how does one respond to the end of their own being and how does that define you. I blocked out and ignored the fact the show was ‘huge’; it wasn’t a helpful thing to be aware of when making it. I guess I sort of isolated myself from it or from conversations about it. I was usually on location instead of a green screen studio, but sometimes I would go in for a fitting or something and catch a glimpse of an epic set. But only a glimpse. I sort of didn’t want to know. Now I watch the trailer and I’m like: “Woah, this is huge!” And I get goosebumps. But I enjoy seeing all the amazing things my pals were doing. Now I can enjoy that side of it fully and it’s thrilling to be a part of it.
DA: Can you talk about your physical transformation in “3 Body Problem” and what that experience was like? Why was this characterization so important to your role?
AS: The character has pancreatic cancer and the very consistent through line of that in patients is weight loss. In fact, many only find out they first have it because they have been losing so much weight. I wanted—out of respect—to honor the truth of that. And this piece of the character was very personal to me. But it was more than just an aesthetic choice. Will is a character who loses everything. Absolutely everything. He is reduced to zero, but still his dignity is intact. And this type of adjustment to your own body changes the way you talk, move, think. It forced me to meditate a lot. Hopefully, all these pieces add up to getting close to that clarity of mind someone in his position so often has. I was glad I chose to do it, but I was happy to stop doing it, too. I missed pizza—on a cosmic level.
DA: In the series, Will Downing is a member of a friend group known as the “Oxford 5” and the friendship between them really felt convincing. What did it take to form a bond like that with such a global cast?
AS: I was nervous because it was during COVID times, so we were initially separated. But I think one of the genius elements of Dan, Alex and David—especially when working with the sensational Nina Gold—is that they cast not only for the characters but for the collaboration element too. No one showed up with too much ego and we easily became friends.
DA: Can you tell us about any other projects you’re currently working on or have in the pipeline?
AS: I’m looking forward to sleeping in, several days in a row, after this press tour. It’s in the pipeline.
DA: Are there any particular lessons or insights you’ve gained throughout your career that you wish you had known when you started out?
AS: I don’t know, really. I still kind of feel like I don’t really know all that much about the entertainment industry. I don’t live in Los Angeles and most of my friends are not actors and the actors I am friends with, we don’t talk about the “industry” much. So, it remains a mystery and I remain blissfully ignorant. I guess it would have been helpful to know what “breaking my turnaround” meant, but I quickly learned.
DA: Lastly, what do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not working on projects? Do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about outside of acting?
AS: I don’t know if I would call it a hobby, but rather a significant interest. I love designing and making luxury women’s leather handbags. I studied for it for a few months last year in Florence, Italy, and fell in love with it. It sounds random but it was something I have wanted to do for a long time. Where it will lead me, I’m not sure … but it is for sure something I will continue doing and developing.
PHOTOGRAPHY @lensbymi_
STYLING KIMBERLY YVETTE GOODNIGHT
Grooming Genevieve Garner for Tracey Mattingly using Oribe and Jaxon Lane
Production Media Playground PR
Casting Pure Consulting