Paul Forman FAULT Magazine Covershoot and Interview
Photographer + Producer + Creative Director: Tanguy Onakoy
Grooming: Anne So
Location: Hotel Maison Albar Le Vendôme, Paris
Ahead of his upcoming roles in Doctor Who and Emily In Paris, we caught up with Paul Forman to discuss his process, his plans for the future and of course, his FAULTs.
Tanguy Onakoy: What is the last film you saw?
Paul Forman: The last film I went to see was ‘Civil War’. I’m at a point where I trust an A24 production to “dare” and it certainly did just that. Its raw and blunt use sound mixing, was unlike anything I’d heard in a cinema before. You can feel the impact of each bullet. It proved efficacious, as I left the cinema feeling slightly uncomfortable and troubled. I salute any art that makes me feel.
TO: My dream directors are Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Guy Ritchie, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Luca Guadagnino. Is there a directior you would love to work with?
PF: I could fill this entire article with great directors I’d like to work with. I feel lucky to live with a generation of incredible creative talents, each with their own unique styles, each of whom I’m certain would make me stretch in a different direction – as an actor, that’s all I want.
Damien Chazelle , Derek Cianfrance, Jane Campion, Steve McQueen, Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig are a few names who’ve directing some my favourite films.
TO: Is it challenging to act in French like you do in Emily in Paris as someone who grew up in London?
PF: I don’t think I’d enjoy a role if I didn’t find any challenge within it. I’m fascinated by how different accents affect the body language. Some require communicating more using the body, hands, face and others require stillness, they’re more cerebral. Finding that balance was captivating for playing Nicolas. I was very clear when I auditioned for the role, that I did not want to play a “stereotypical French accent”. He was born in France, educated in Switzerland, often working abroad, he felt more international. I did use some of my upbringing to make him multicultural (being educated in an international school myself), I knew people like that and I wanted to pay some respect.
TO: Would you like to do more acting in France?
PF: I would love to be in French productions, it’s a whole side of me I’m yet to explore artistically.
TO: What are you up to next?
PF:I look forward to being at home. I went straight from filming ‘STAGS’ to filming season 4 of ‘Emily in Paris’, so I’m keen to get back visiting my local coffee shop, catching up with friends and family, going to the theatre. It’s an important part of my life, to re-centre. Having said that, I’m working hard on not thinking about what’s ahead of me, what’s next and just being present and living in the now.
TO: What can you tell us about the role of Lord Barton in the upcoming Doctor Who series?
PF: Lord Barton! From the Regency era, he’s a man with a whole charming facade going on, but trust me, there’s a lot more brewing beneath the surface. He has smooth words but they’re hiding some seriously sinister secrets.
TO: What was the most challenging aspect of the role?
PF: This felt like a physically transformative role, which certainly demanded resilience. However, the satisfaction of fully inhabiting the world of the show and this character made the experience deeply rewarding.
TO: What is your FAULT?
PF: Should we make this a special edition of the magazine called FAULTS?? Because it’s so hard to choose one… but social anxiety comes to mind. It’s difficult because it’s almost an invisible weight. Navigating social situations can feel like you’re walking through this maze sometimes, with invisible barriers. But in the midst of these difficulties, you’ve got this amazing knack for understanding people and seeing the world in your own cool and unique way. I grew up feeling alienating because of that but I do attribute a lot of that feeling to my understanding my emotions and therefore to the work I do – and for that I’m forever grateful.