Actor Tim McInnerny's pursuit of excellence (Blackadder, Notting Hill, Gladiator 2, GOT, One Day)

Tim McInnerny shares his journey of mastering diverse roles and staying true to the craft of acting.

Tim McInnerny rose to prominence as a versatile actor, uniquely playing two leading roles in the iconic Blackadder series - Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling - while building a career spanning theater, film, and television. From his early days in school plays to starring alongside legends like Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, Tim has balanced comedy and drama, appearing in projects like Notting Hill, Game of Thrones, and Gladiator 2. A graduate of Oxford University, where he studied English Language and Literature, he honed his craft through the National Youth Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company, always prioritizing truth and authenticity in his performances. 

In this episode, Tim McInnerny discusses:
◽️ Discovering acting through a reluctant school play debut at 14
◽️ Balancing ambition with humility in a competitive industry
◽️ The importance of truth and collaboration in acting
◽️ Navigating the emotional depths of roles like Iago and Hamlet
◽️ Lessons from a 40-year career in theater, TV, and film

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⏱ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:31 Tim shares school play start
02:09 Acting clicked for Tim early
04:36 Harvey contrasts modern acting motives
05:04 Harvey asks about role competition
05:24 Tim on theater, luck’s role
08:08 Tim’s first London play
09:19 Harvey cites passion-driven acting
11:23 Balancing uniqueness with director’s vision
12:19 Tim on collaboration, script’s role
15:29 Tim’s chameleon-like acting approach
16:20 Tim on accessing self for roles
18:36 Harvey references Game of Thrones
19:42 Tim on controlling role immersion
21:08 Harvey asks about disconnecting roles
23:21 Tim discusses playing Iago
25:24 Harvey relates to life balance
26:25 Tim praises Harvey’s self-awareness
27:01 Tim chose university over drama
29:42 Tim on Oxford theater opportunities
31:33 Harvey shares dyslexia, camera issues
33:02 Tim on Blackadder comedy
36:36 Tim defines humor as wit
38:04 Blackadder’s serious comedy process
40:38 Challenges with Shakespeare’s comedy
41:01 Humor from character truth
47:00 Harvey asks about inspirations
48:31 Tim on Redgrave, Dench, Holm
54:17 Harvey asks about legacy
54:38 Tim values kindness as legacy
55:35 Harvey asks about unasked questions
57:34 Acting as self-examination privilege
58:43 Harvey thanks Tim, recalls meeting
1:00:05 Harvey reflects on deep talk
1:00:11 Outro

📌 Resources
Tim McInnerny:
◽️ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570570/

Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): x.com/harveybsmith_

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io
◽️ Fundraising: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/LouLouRacefoiundation?utm_term=PvByaxmdn

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.

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