An Interview With Actor And Performer Edward Coupland
We recently caught up with talented actor Edward Coupland to talk about his upcoming projects, including a feature film and making the most of his time to reflect during quarantine. Here is what he had to share.
Its great catching up with you! Since we last spoke to you, what have you been up to?
Yeah, the worlds changed a little bit since then hasn’t it! Likewise, well… I’m up at 5am nowadays and in the gym with my trainer at 6. I started my training for projects I have coming up this year so it’s military regiment. My night owl days are over, for now at least…
How has everything been going for you with the pandemic and how have you had to change things?
I think one thing it taught us all, was getting to know ourselves better. After all, if we don’t like ourselves, then how can we expect to be happy in our lives or relationships. We’ve all had to adapt of course, but humanity is good at that. I started journaling, that helped me a lot during quarantine.
Do you feel like you have grown a lot more as an artist over the years, through your experiences?
Most definitely. Life is a series of experiences in which we’re meant to learn and grow from. You don’t grow in a comfort zone; you must be resilient. I’m fortunate that I also traveled from an early age. When I was 18 in my gap year, I saved up and went backpacking around the world for 6 months with my best mate. It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done. I think experiencing different cultures and environments is crucial as an artist. It enriches life and your interpretation of it. Once we learn to get our own ego out of the way, everything else becomes much simpler.
What has been one of your favorite projects to work on so far?
In all honesty, it’s the next one. I don’t really like to look back; I always look ahead to what’s next and beyond — that excites me more as I feel my best work is still yet to come.
Who has been one of your favorite filmmakers you have worked with so far and why?
Working on HBO’s True Blood was a great experience, they do things so efficiently there. Tim Burton was very easy to work with, he had a way of doing things. Scott Vickers whom I’m doing Catalyst with is a very exciting director, how he shot Matriarch on the budget (2018 Lionsgate) was nothing short of amazing.
What other projects do you have coming up?
Catalyst, a limited series ‘The Chieftain’ — an incredible story based on an actual military event — I have quite a few military/MI6 roles coming up the next few years. I’m prepping now for a feature film ‘What are you?’ in which I play the lead role of Hudson early 2022 — and I’m excited that I’ll be doing some more theatre again after so long, in Second Skin Theatre’s ‘Sugar Town’. I’ve missed the live thrill of theatre and the rehearsal period. In TV and film, we always shoot out of sequence, I’ve even done the final scene in a movie in the first shot of day 1 before, so it’s nice to get to follow the linear storyline.
What is your best piece of advice for aspiring artists?
Never give up. Be your authentic self and believe in yourself. Stay positive, weather the storms, be resilient. Love yourself.
