Alex Pettyfer
Stormbreaker’s heartbreaker, Alex Pettyfer, is the UK’s hottest export since Harry Potter. He plays handsome headmistress’s son, Freddie, in his new movie Wild Child. But catch him while you can because the 18-year-old star plans to desert us for Hollywood.
Your character Freddie is a bit of a rogue
.Not really. He’s a gentleman, I think. He’s made out to be a rogue at first, but he turns out to be a gentleman.
He’s very cocky. How similar is that to what you were like at school?
I’m a cocky so and so.
Were you popular?
No.
Really? Why not?
I was popular in the last school I went to, for about five months before I left school. But I was a joker. I still am a joker.
You were the class clown?
Class clown, baby. Love that!
So did you leave school early?
Yeah, I left school at 15.
You used to be a model didn’t you?
No. I’m an actor. I just did a bit of modelling. I’m not being arsey about that, I’m just saying, I’m not a model. But I did do a Burberry campaign, which I loved. But all the Burberry people are all actors and musicians anyway.
Yeah, Sam Riley’s in the new campaign isn’t he?
Thank you! At least someone realises that they’re using actors and not models. Sam Riley’s great. He’s probably more Burberry than me.
So, back to the film, what was it like being the only boy on set?
Oh, terrible. I hated every single second of it. Not really I loved it. It was awesome. It’s a lovely cast, a big family. Look at us, we’re all jokesters. Well, I’m the joker really.
Now Emma is obviously from America. Did you make her feel at home? Did you take her out?
Yeah, we chilled out. I took her out. Well, we all took her out.
Where?
Well we filmed in Yorkshire, Kent, Cobham is that in Yorkshire or Kent? We also filmed in LA so I was in LA for like a week. Yep, I got to go to La La Land.
But you don’t have any scenes in LA.
Because they got cut out in the end.
So was it going to be a scene where you go back to LA with her?
Yes. That would’ve been good. It’ll probably be in the DVD extras. It was fantastic.
How do you feel about LA? Would you ever like to move there and do the whole Hollywood thing properly?
I’m moving there shortly. I’m really excited. I’m shooting a film for five weeks over here first and then I’m going out there. It’s a horror called Tormented and I play the bad guy.
How old were you when you got into acting?
(TV drama) Tom Brown’s Schooldays was my first role. I was fifteen.
What did your parents say? Were they wary, or encouraging?
It was a choice that I made by myself and I stuck with it. I am as you can see a strong character. I do my own thing. If I succeed, I succeed; if I don’t, I don’t.
Now, you’re something of a teen heartthrob
Am I? I’m no Zac Efron. But who else is a heartthrob like him? William Moseley maybe?
Do you get pestered by girls when you walk down the street?
Not really. I keep myself to myself. I’m loud and outspoken in interviews and whatever but I keep myself to myself normally.
So we won’t see you falling out of clubs anytime soon?
No!
What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done?
I put laxative in my teacher’s drink, locked the door and made him soil himself. When I was about 13, I did that.
That’s awful!
Yeah. I didn’t realise you were only supposed to put in a couple of drops and I squirted loads of it in. I locked the door and put the key at the bottom of the bin so he was looking for it. He crapped everywhere in his pants. I was a wild child until about 17. I’ve grown up a bit now. But I’ll probably be a kid until I’m about 35.
What’s been the most exciting moment of your career so far?
Just this whole journey I’m on. It’s really cool and very weird, new experiences come along every day.
What’s your ultimate ambition?
To do a good body of work, make a lot of money and be successful. I’d like to be known for great acting, like Steve McQueen.
Would you like to win an Oscar?
Oscar schmoscar. I just want to be known for being a good actor.
Can you see yourself living in LA indefinitely?
Forever. Well, unless I have to be dragged away.
So why everybody should go out and buy the DVD of Wild Child?
Because it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s a great fun film and it is what it is. It’s a chick flick for a good night in. Get a curry in, sit down, chill out and have a good old giggle.
Wild Child is out on DVD now