Weekend with Youssef Kerkour: ‘By nature I’m a night owl’
The Bafta-nominated actor on being a homebody, a perfect Saturday watching TV with his family, and why he’s a fan of the Imax
Youssef Kerkour is Moroccan-British actor who was nominated for a Bafta for his performance as a Syrian refugee in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series Home. He portrays Steely Pate on HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a prequel to Game of Thrones, which aired this year.
Kerkour’s upcoming projects include the film The Gallerist, and the Apple TV series The Wanted Man. He lives with his family in London.
Are you a morning person or do you like to sleep in?
By nature I am a sleep-in person. I’m a night owl. I have real stamina — I can stay up for two days without feeling the effect of it and then crash out, but I’ve forced myself to go to sleep early and wake up early because I get more done. The kids are the alarm clock.
What does your perfect Saturday look like?
Waking up and staying home. My happiest place is at home with my children, my wife, in front of the television, drinking a cup of coffee. The to-do list is all done. And all I have to do is sit, read the newspaper, play with my kids. I try to watch a film a day.
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Best film you’ve seen recently?
There’s a movie called The Square by Ruben Östlund. Many people haven’t heard of it, but it’s truly phenomenal and timeless. I just saw Project Hail Mary in the cinema — really great, lots of fun. And One Battle After Another, a phenomenal movie.
I also like comedies that take you by surprise, so films like Galaxy Quest. It kind of came and went in theatres but it is the Olympic champion of movies where you put it on, not expecting anything, and it turns out to be the funniest, most wonderful thing you’ve ever seen.
Do you feel you get to do enough comedy as an actor?
Yeah definitely. I’ve kind of made a name for myself in a sitcom, I have a natural affinity for it. The heavy emotional stuff is good too, but it takes a toll.
You star in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, a TV adaptation of the book Tales of Dunk and Egg by George RR Martin. Are you the kind of person who reads the book before watching the film?
Normally yes, but with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I didn’t because it was a franchise where the work that went into the screenplay was so meticulous and specific. The fan expectations meant you could not break with the source. It was very serious.
I didn’t read the book until it wrapped but I was very surprised when I did that in all my scenes with Peter [Claffey, who plays Ser Duncan the Tall] we hit all the same notes as in the book. We just did it naturally, the same pauses, same everything.
You’ve said you’re a homebody, but what do you do when you go out?
This is a confession — I am very, very boring because I get all my excitement at work. I’m a workaholic. But if I’m by myself and I’ve got all the time in the world, I will go find a sushi restaurant and then go to a cinema. I can watch movies all day.
What are your favourite cinemas in London?
BFI Imax nowadays has a lot to be said for it because movies are starting to be made for that screen. So, when The Odyssey comes out, you’ll want to see it in the Imax.
What would you say to Imax sceptics?
They have a valid point. But the reality that we’re in now is that you’ve either got massive, epic blockbuster movies, or teeny tiny, independent movies that are watched in art house cinemas. The middle ground is gone.
I think movie theatres for a long time took the piss. Nobody should be spending 25 quid a ticket. Movies used to be five quid and a bit of popcorn. So if you’re going to go to the movies then make it big. The Imax ticket is worth what the other ones charge. You know the experience is mega and enormous.
Favourite restaurants in London?
I love a place called Busaba Ethai, a Thai fusion place. It was very big 10 or 15 years ago. I also love Bentley’s Oyster Bar just off Piccadilly Circus. The most incredible fish.
How do you balance work with personal life?
I’m starting to realise that it’s OK to tell somebody: “Thank you very much for this, I’m going to get to it on Monday morning.”
Are you working on anything at the moment that we can look forward to?
Tons. I did a film called The Gallerist last year. It’s a lot of fun. I’m filming Assassin’s Creed now in Rome, which is a lot of fun as well. There’s a TV series called The Wanted Man for Apple, which I’m very excited about, with Hugh Laurie. There is also a show called The Reluctant Vampire with Lenny Rush, who is very sweet and very funny. And then there is an indie movie called Major Players with an amazing director.
