McGuire’s been acting since the age of five, when he acted alongside Sir Laurence Olivier in A Voyage Round My Father. He shot to fame in Grange Hill and EastEnders in the UK and moved LA to star in the box office hit, Meet the Spartans. Robin Hood, McGuire reckons, is an appealing challenge as people have their own version of Robin Hood. “The character comes with an historical identity,” he says. “It’s a matter of trying not to balls that up.” What special quality does he think he brings to the role? “It would be conceited for me to try and say,” he answers. “Nothing special – I just aim to do my best. He’s a man rather than a boy. He was a husband and he’s a father. He’s a leader of men. I came to the character most human way I could. A lot of that’s governed by the writing. I bring what I can to the writer’s vision.”
Is he ever compared to the actor Jonas Armstrong? “You’re talking about the BBC TV Series called Robin Hood. People will make obvious comparisons but in that show you get to see more of Robin’s life. In Once Upon A Time there are 30 or 40 different characters. Obviously I play Robin in a fantasy world, a make-believe world where iconic characters and heroes come together, anything’s possible, and there are lots of possibilities. Everyone gets a kick out of all of that.” What does he get a kick out of when it comes to the role? “There are lots of different elements,” he answers. “Putting the costume on. It’s a nice feeling, a strongly identifiable feeling once you’re in costume. And the costumers in Once Upon a Time are phenomenal. It’s cool; it’s like being a little boy playing make-believe. I’m this version of Robin Hood to a generation of kids. That’s a lovely element to it, that I’m this Robin Hood for this generation. It’s a lovely responsibility to have.” How would he describe the character of Robin? “He’s a good man. A flawed man; he’s been on the wrong side of things. He’s had to atone for earlier sins. Now he’s trying to live an honest decent virtuous life and be a good father.” Are there any particular challenges? “Just trying to find the tone of the show. Technical things – you get used to playing with bows and arrows and horses; what every little boy would love to do. You bring something of your own to it. It’s much more of a pleasure than a challenge.”
Does he do any of his own stunts? “No. I do what’s safe and permissible and then hand it over to the stuntman. After you’ve broken arms and legs, you tend to be more sensible about these things. So he has broken limbs on set? “Yes – an arm and a leg. It does happen! I used to have a lot of youthful exuberance but I’m a lot more cautious now.”
Is McGuire recognised often when he’s out and about? “That’s increasing,” he answers. “I went on holiday with Colin O’Donoghue (who plays Captain Hook in Once Upon A Time) and our wives to some mountains near Vancouver, and maybe it’s cos we were together, but we were recognised there. I’ve not gotten used to that, it’s relatively new. But it’s great to be part of something that people are watching. Whether it’s on TV or DVD, people are watching.” McGuire has been to Melbourne once before and is looking forward to catching up with friends. “I really enjoyed it. It’s a cool city.” He says he’s got his fingers in a few creative pies (he also has a career as a songwriter/musician) but Once Upon A Time is his focus for the foreseeable future. “I’m trying my hand at everything. I’m a bit of a jack of all trades.” Beat wonders who McGuire likes to see perform. “Mark Rylance, a UK stage actor who’s just started to make films.” (Rylance is an award-winning actor who was also the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre).
Is there a character McGuire would like to play? “There’s characters that have already been played, where you think, I wish I’d had that opportunity. James Bond. Most young men would like to play James Bond, what guy wouldn’t want to be James Bond? It’s an optimistic dream but let’s go for the big one. I’m just happy to keep working,” McGuire adds. “It’s a tough game, I’ve been doing this a while and I know actors who’ve fallen away.” Does he worry that being so long in such a distinctive part means that he might not get cast in other roles? “Your job as an actor is to look through your material, see if it speaks to you and take that leap. That sort of thing is beyond my power. I don’t waste too much time fretting about something you can’t control.”
BY LIZA DEZFOULI
