TOM PAYNE

Sigmund Freud divided human consciousness into three levels of awareness: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. Each of these levels corresponds and overlaps with Freud’s ideas of the id, ego, and superego. In Prodigal Son, your character Malcom Bright keeps having recurring nightmares, unconsciously going back to childhood memories, have you experienced nightmares in real-life?

I think most people have. Malcolms nightmares make sense to me as manifestations of his fears and recollections of traumatic experiences in his life. I think this is what they are for most people. Your brain processing things that are lurking in your subconscious.

How did you prepare for the role as a criminal psychologist?

I watched many documentaries about serial killers and the detectives that are tasked with tracking them down. There is a huge amount of material out there to draw from, both fictional and real life.

Have you had any interest towards psychology before the show?

I think the job of an actor naturally leans in that direction. Growing up I always had a fascination with other people and how they work. Why people make the choices that they do and how each person is shaped by their individual circumstances. The nature vs nurture debate has always been an interesting subject for me.

The recent study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research (November 2020), examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, showed a rapid increase in anxiety in young adults between 2008 and 2018. Would you call yourself an anxious person?

I don’t think I’m a particularly anxious person. Growing up I always had such clarity of purpose and a strong intent that never broke. I was intensely driven and confident of my path and anxiety never really crept in. The older I have gotten, and the more the realities of the world have set in, I’ve had to work at being comfortable with the things I can’t control in the world. But in general I have a disdain for anxiety and can keep it under control by understanding it’s uselessness and the negative effect it has. I have been know to have anxiety but it’s normally when I’ve had a bad hangover!

Do you ever play safe or take risks?

My entire career is a calculated risk. I don’t believe you can become successful in this job unless you are willing to take what other people may consider to be reckless risks. You must be “all in” in your career in order to make it happen. Monetarily and emotionally. This is not a career for the weak willed. You have to believe in yourself more than anyone else believes in you.

As a lead on the show, have you had any creative input into your character with the writers?

I try not to get too involved in the genesis of ideas for my character. I don’t see that as my job. The only time I would is when I receive the script and in trying to play it feel that it isn’t right. I don’t like to intellectualize things before I put them into practice. This sometimes means that I miss things and then when we get to set time has to be spent figuring it out but I would always rather try something than immediately dismiss it based on my own predilections.

Michael Sheen and you have an outstanding “on-screen” chemistry, have two of you impromptu anything onset?

Every reaction I have with Michael is impromptu. I never really plan out my performance and when you’re in a scene with Michael Sheen you don’t have to. We both know our characters so well that all we need to do is learn the words and then see where we take each other. It’s an absolute joy to know that you are opposite an actor as exciting and prepared as Michael. Those scene crackle because often times I don’t know where they will lead until we start to play them.

Hailing from the UK, your American accent is impeccable, do you ever get surprised faces from fans when they hear you speak with your British accent?

All the time! I live in America and often use my American accent in my day to day life because I don’t want to spend all of my time explaining where I’m from or being misunderstood. I’d much rather fade into the background and be unnoticeable.

During this Pandemic have you had a chance to travel back home to UK at any point or you completely States-side?

Unfortunately not. This pandemic has really highlighted the distance between my immediate family and I. I always saw it as just a plane flight away. But that doesn’t work now. It’s been a good reality check of what’s important in life.

What are your family’s thoughts on the show after the UK premiere?

They love it! They just saw the finale this week and were very surprised at the ending. It was a lot of fun hearing their reactions. The show seems to be doing really well in the UK which is lovely. 

Can you give us any leads from Season Two?

Well, there’s a dead body to deal with! There is definitely a big elephant in the room and how the end of Season One plays into Season Two will be a big part of it. 

How are you handling during this difficult times?

Making sure I speak to my loved ones regularly. Cooking and making cocktails, lots of cocktails.

Do you have any hobbies or interests to keep you occupied?

Cycling, singing, playing video games, going to the gym.