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HE’S NOT A JEALOUS GUY The real-life inspiration for Danny Collins has no regrets about his career path.

Damian Lewis on playing a slim- line HenryVIII in Wolf Hall . “We all have this understanding that he was this womanising, syphilitic, bloated, genocidal Elvis character. And actually the truth is, he had a 32-inch waist and he remained that way for quite a long time. I think the grandiose, more paranoid, cruel Henry emerged in the period after this series. Actually, the more I read about him the more I was happy - and alarmed - to find that I did share character traits with him. I do find similarities between myself and him. I think there’s no question it helps having had the kind of schooling that I’ve had [at Eton] to play a King.The sort of court structure, hierarchies, the way they’re set up, it’s something I feel I implicitly understand.”

I said, ‘well, yes it would. It would have a very detrimental effect’. The article ran and I thought no more about it.” However, in 2005 Tilston was contacted by a memorabilia collector who had purchased a letter addressed to Tilston from Lennon and wanted to

I n Danny Collins , Al Pacino plays the

titular jaded pop star who reassesses his life and career choices when he belatedly

discovers that John Lennon had written him a letter of encouragement when he was just starting out on his career. The film is loosely based on an event the life of singer- songwriter Steve Tilston, but unlike Pacino’s character, he has no regrets about the way his career has gone. “The parallels with my life and

authenticate it. The music legend, it seems, had read the article in Zig Zag and wanted to assure Tilston that one could be rich and famous, and still be true to oneself, saying: “Being rich doesn’t change your experiences in the way you think.” “It’ s quite a friendly letter,” says Tilston. “It’s not in any way castigating me for having these feelings. And then he asked me in the last sentence, ‘so whadya think of that,’ and included his home phone number. It would have been fascinating to have met him. We might have hit it off – or he might

Danny Collins ’ begin and end with the device of the letter,” he says. “I made a decision about the kind of music I wanted to make. I was never remotely interested in becoming a pop singer. I have no regrets about the fact that I didn’t become fabulously rich and famous. I’ve done alright.” Tilston admits it would have

Danny Collins

Steve Tilston

have taken an instant dislike to me and shown me the door! Who could say – life is full of ‘what ifs’.” So what does Tilston think of the film inspired by his missed encounter with a music legend? “I think the movie is great,” he replies. “It’s very true to life and Al Pacino is a brilliant choice to play that kind of entertainer. From the moment he first appears on screen, you can’t take your eyes off him.”

been great to meet his idol, but like Collins, he didn’t find out about the letter’s existence until long after the former Beatle’s death. The letter was prompted by an interview the young Tilston did with a reporter from the music publication Zig Zag (Michael Shannon cameos as the journalist in Danny Collins ). “I was asked, if I received wealth and fame beyond the dreams of avarice, would it affect my songwriting?” recalls Tilston. “And being a kind of pretentious, precocious young songwriter,

Wolf Hall is out on October 7

Danny Collins is out on October 7

How did you get involved in this project? I love the Insidious films and auditioned, like anybody else. I had just wrapped the shoot of Jem and the Holograms when I got an email to audition for the role of Quinn. I was so excited! What was your recollection of the previous Insidious movies? I actually saw Insidious: Chapter 2 before the first one, because I wasn’t much into scary movies before. I remember being so scared. I saw it one night with a bunch of friends. I had a hoodie that I kept on pulling over my eyes every time the creepy lady in the white dress came out. Then I saw the first film after I started going for this role, which made it all make more sense to me because this movie is a prequel that introduces the characters and brings Elise back.

What did you think of the script when you read it? I thought it was super creepy. I remember being in my apartment reading it and how it freaked me out. It’s a very cool script, and what I love about it is that it’s creepy but not gory. After reading the script I started working the lines, met with the director Leigh Whannell, did some scenes for him and got the role. I was so thrilled because it is such a cool franchise. What do you like the most about your character? That even though she doesn’t understand what’s happening to her she still has hope. That’s what I find the most inspiring about Quinn. Also, she really beats to her own drum, and her style is so cool. Funnily enough, when I walked into her room on the set I thought it reminded me of my own.

And Maggie, your best friend in the movie, is portrayed by one of your best friends Hayley Kiyoko. That’s another thing! Hayley is one of my best friends in real life, so I feel our connection on screen is real. Isn’t she the coolest? And she has all these crazy hair colours! I wish I were more like her. Were you looking forward to working with her again? Yes, Hayley and I had just worked on Jem and the Holograms together, so it was really fun to be with her again on a movie set. We just have this great relationship and are both in real life so much like our characters.

Stefanie Scott

The tween star of the Disney Channel’s A.N.T. Farm encounters bad spirits and best friends in the hit horror prequel INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3.

Insidious Chapter 3 is out on DVD and Blu-ray on October 28

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OCTOBER 2015

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