A Journey from Bradford to Cannes
The British film industry is no stranger to tales of prodigious talents emerging from unexpected places. Shaun Thomas, with his genuine flair for storytelling and a grounded, yet aspirational approach, is a testament to this tradition. Hailing from a council estate in Bradford, Shaun’s unexpected journey into the limelight has captivated audiences, critics, and colleagues alike. Recently nominated for a BIFA Award, we caught up with Shaun to delve deeper into his roots, inspirations, and aspirations.
Photographer: Joseph Sinclair
Styling: Sarah Rose Harrison
Grooming: Nadia Altinbas
You’ve had quite the journey from your early days in Bradford. Can you share a bit about how your upbringing and passion led to your first role? I grew up on a council estate in Bradford. I’ve always had a massive passion for horses and I would bunk off school to go out on an adventure with them. This lead me to be put into a specialised learning program at school and this happened to coincide with when Clio Barnard and Amy Hubbard were on the hunt for an actor to play the role of Swifty in The Selfish Giant. A character with a huge love for horses and this character they were searching for was very similar to me at the time resulting in me landing the role of Swifty. After making the film I knew acting was something I wanted to pursue.
Were there any actors that had a profound influence on you as you began your career? I think the actor who inspired me the most, especially as a young actor must be Sean Gilder. I watched him growing up and then got the chance to work with him. He was very helpful with advice and he inspires me as a person not just as an actor.
How did your collaboration with Molly Manning Walker on “HOW TO HAVE SEX” influence your portrayal of Badger? By working closing with Molly we were able to come up with a very in-depth character. We always spoke through Badgers thoughts at the time and we kept in mind the fact that Badger perhaps had a younger sister, gravitating him towards wanting to protect Tara.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the film, especially regarding the character of Badger? I hope that people can take away a better understanding and awareness of consent and that people are more aware of other factors beyond just verbal agreement. The main thing I want people to learn from Badger is to speak out when you know someone has done wrong and also to drink responsibly in order to protect themselves from getting into situations you may go onto regret.
Every role is a learning experience. How have these experiences shaped your journey as an actor? Every set I go on and every script I read is a new learning experience. I started my career with no experience and I work hard at soaking up as much information and advice as possible. I go into every project with an open mind and a willingness to listen and learn. I think this has helped me get to where I am today.
With increasing attention on your roles and performances, how do you keep grounded amid the whirlwind of the film industry? I just try to remain level-headed, there’s always up’s & downs in this industry so I never let myself get overly excited, but I also don’t let myself get down either. Telling stories and bringing characters to life is what I focus on, so the fame and attention isn’t something I really think about. The only attention I care about is the attention on the film.
Do you have any dream collaborations in the film world? I’d love to work with Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Christopher Nolan if any of those fancy a collab, hit my agent up!
As an actor in the digital age, how do you navigate the world of social media? Social media isn’t something I really use that often other than for work purposes really, but I get a lot of advice from my team on how to navigate it. I think with social media growing so quickly this is something I need to sharpen up on.
Lastly, we’re all eager to know – what’s next for Shaun Thomas? At this point I can’t mention anything I’m working on I’m afraid, I’m sure you will understand but be sure to keep your eyes open for my next role.
Shaun Thomas’s story is not just one of talent and hard work, but also of seizing opportunities and making the most of them. As we eagerly await his next role, one thing is clear – his journey is just getting started, and we’re all aboard for the ride.