In our ongoing series of exclusive interviews on Blazing Minds, we spoke with actor Ritchi Edwards to discuss his role as Detective Lionbur in the new movie JITTERS, as well as his other projects and inspirations.
What was your first acting experience?
I have been acting for nearly 25 years now. My first acting experience was on the London’s West End with Theatretrain – Motown and then The Long and Winding Road playing The Beatles Manager Brian Epstein and also local productions with The Braintree Dramatics Society – a production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters where I played Vitoller, Wimsloe and a guard – I have always loved the pressure of having to get it right first time on stage. Then from there I moved on to film, short films and then feature films, so it has most definitely been a journey, wow, looking at that question and looking back is making me feel my good ol age of 35 haha. Being an actor with an upper limb difference, with ADHD and Autism, I have always wanted to be a vessel of hope for those who are a little different. I look back now, and it has been one helluva journey from where I started to where I’m at now, and I am so grateful to every opportunity that has presented itself through the hard work.
How did you know you wanted to be an actor?
It was at a very young age, at the age of 5/6 years old, watching movies like James Bond, The Spaghetti Westerns starring Clint Eastwood and The Goonies, it really woke something up in me. Some years later, at the age of 11, I was urged to go to a weekend drama school called Theatretrain by my mum and Nan, they sensed my want to perform, and they knew it would be good for me as I was born with one hand. My self-confidence was very poor when I was younger, often hiding my left stump under a hat whenever we went out in public, so I do owe a lot to both my mum & nan and the arts for giving me confidence in that aspect of my life. I have always, since a young age, truly been a fan of the art of visual storytelling, different worlds and different characters to escape into, and it’s something I shall always be in love with and deeply passionate about. What we do can be challenging physically and mentally, but it is extremely rewarding, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
What was your inspiration for your role as Detective Lionbur in Jitters?
Even though this was a toned-down role in terms of my appearance in the movie, my inspiration for the role of Detective Lionbur was movies like Bad Boys, even though it is more on a comedic level than Jitters. I wanted my role to have that feel of camaraderie like in those movies, so that was a big source of inspiration. It’s funny how we came about with this character name. Myself and Marc were on the phone, and we were brainstorming what sort of name my character should have. At the time Marc picked up a Lionbar, and it was then that it struck – take away the a for copyright reasons, and we’ve got Lionbur haha. I look forward to hopefully delving more into Lionbur’s life and who he is in a potential prequel or sequel. This was said in an Instagram LIVE session with Marc, so I know I’m allowed to say that, it’s public knowledge, haha.
How do you get into character?
I love that each of my fellow actors or filmmakers have certain ways to prepare and I think that is another beauty of our creative industry – I have a very particular method that I have stood by for many years, I like to know my characters past-present-future and the world that they are a part of, its through that that I have a very good understanding and it allows me to build a foundation and characteristics around my characters being. When I’m on set, I am not always my normal chatty self, as I love to get in that zone, and I am very focused. I’m always approachable and still friendly. I’m just a little bit more reserved, say, than when you would see me elsewhere, as when I’m on set, I’m very invested in bringing to life the best character possible 110%.
What do you think the audience will take away from Jitters?
Without giving too much away for those that haven’t seen it yet, I think the audience will take away a great deal on the use of AI in terms of how it can also be a very dangerous implementation in everyday life! But on the other hand, I think the audience will have a great horror movie experience, and we really hope everyone enjoys it and it’s a movie that they will tell their family and friends about. The support is always so very much appreciated.
What’s your fondest memory or moment while filming?
I think, as a collective, the whole experience shooting with the team again is what will always stand out to me, rather than just one memory, getting to work with Marc again, Richard Oakes (DOP), James Fuller (Producer) and Fab, Anto and David Freedman (Producer) while also getting to work with some new faces. It really is a wonderful feeling making magic with friends in the industry on a professional level, but it is also a wonderful feeling making magic in general, when you all have that one goal of making a great project, one hell of a movie experience, it creates such a feel of being a unit, the unit of magicness, haha.
If you could trade places with any other character in Jitters, who would it be and why?
I was thinking to myself that I wouldn’t want to trade places with any other character in Jitters. Still, then I thought that playing Jitters would be a very interesting character play – when you see the movie, you will understand why, and Daniel Jordan is fantastic as the titular baddie! As a collective, it is so great to see what each of us brings to the table; everyone has distinct talents that they bring to a character.
What’s been your favourite role to play thus far and why?
That’s a really hard question because all of my roles have had attributes which have made them really enjoyable to play, playing AL a British war veteran in Homeless Ashes will always have a soft spot because it is a culmination of things why I loved playing that character from getting to portray him on screen but also the friends I made through that journey from Marc Zammit, Fab Santino, James Fuller, David Freedman and we are all still working together to this day most recently with Jitters, but it was also where we had our Homeless Ashes red carpet world premiere at the prestigious Raindance Film Festival where I got to walk the carpet with my late grandfather and biggest number 1 inspiration Alan Fuller – an incredibly proud moment for me and a memory I now hold even more dear, so it’s a journey within my career that I always speak and think of very fondly!
Another is a role I can’t speak about at the moment but that I have had a truly great experience with as an actor and I can’t wait to talk more on that down the road so keep those eyes and ears peeled – however one of my favourite roles that you can see me in now is Al in Homeless Ashes, that was mine & Marc’s first project together and it was also great to share the screen and spend time with The Walking Dead’s Lew Temple a truly great character actor and really great man to talk to I remember us both sitting having lunch on set on a VERY hot day in London chatting, memories. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years and enjoyed the characters that I have played so far. I look forward to bringing you many more to enjoy.
What advice would you give to new or aspiring actors/actresses?
Seek out local amateur dramatics to get your foot in the door, get some headshots and get a showreel to showcase your talents and have an online presence that clearly showcases you as a brand. In the digital age now, which is very social media heavy I think it’s very important to show what you are all about and who you are in terms of your career a clear statement that you are an actor or filmmaker or any other ventures that one may choose, I do think it so important to show a clear professional indication of who you are.
And I know it can be very hard out there, and there are many setbacks and “no, sorry, not this time” are many, but remember each failure is one step closer to that success and one more step toward a yes. I know the industry can be seen as a competitive minefield, but go forward with the attitude that the biggest competition is with yourself to be the best you can be. A no can be very hard to take, especially if you have worked hard at a process during an audition, but that role has only gone to someone more suited and it is never taking away anything from your talent, so after each set back always keep pushing forward and keep doing what you do because an opportunity will come through your hard work and perseverance.
Who are your favourite actors and actresses, and why do they inspire you?
Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Daniel Craig, Clint Eastwood, Gerard Butler, Josh Brolin, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Jennifer Lawrence, Ethan Hawke, Bruce Willis, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Denzel Washington, Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Austin Butler, Jack Nicholson, Kevin Costner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rachel McAdams, Adam Sandler, Keanu Reeves, Sly Stallone, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Arnold Schwarzenegger are my favourites among many others, I know that is one hell of a list haha I just find each of them and their characters they play so enjoyable and it’s also the process in which they go through is what is also very inspiring to me as a fellow creative. It is fascinating to see the methods each creative has in bringing a character to life.
Do you have any dream roles you would love to play?
My dream role and the pinnacle of my career has always been James Bond or a villain in a James Bond movie, although there are SO many franchises I would love to be a part of, like Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, Marvel and the Alien franchise – always fancied myself kicking some Xenomorph ass haha. I would also love to do a western. My grandad Alec Edwards (who is sadly no longer with us) best friend Uncle Terence Mountain starred in two James Bond movies and was also in Where Eagles Dare with Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton among many others but his most memorable role is as Raphael in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service opposite George Lazenby’s Bond that is another thing that has always served as a stark reminder to me that DREAMS DO COME TRUE! Back to another dream role – The Joker has always been a character that I would love to play too, as I think his over-the-top sadistic comediceness with that essence of evil thrown in is very enticing as an actor and a role I’d love to get my teeth stuck in to! Heavily character-driven roles really grab me and make me excited because there is so much there in terms of what you can do to create not just a great character but a whole experience the audience can enjoy and get lost in as an escape.
What other roles can we expect to see you in soon?
Although I can’t give away any character or film details, I am very happy to say that this Christmas you will be able to see me in Robert Eggers ‘Werwulf’ and I will also be working with Marc Zammit again in the near future. Major details are very much under wraps at the moment on both counts, but I look forward to divulging more down the road and sharing more with you all.
Thank you so much for having me, Blazing Minds!
Check out our review of JITTERS here on Blazing Minds and watch the film on Prime Video.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
