Actor Freddie Fox is known for his work in theatre, as well as on the big and small screen. He can be seen in the Emmy-winning series “Slow Horses” and has also achieved a cult following for playing Gwayne Hightower in the “Game of Thrones” prequel ‘House of the Dragon.” He now gears up for the premiere of his short film “The Painting & The Statue” at the Hollyshorts festival this August. A whimsical premise meets a grounded setting in this poignant short, which marks Fox’s second outing as a director. The film revolves around a time-spanning romance between the titular pair, a painting and a statue who fall in love amidst an uncertain wartime scenario.
In this interview, Fox opens up about the joys of filming with an all-star cast, the learning curve as a novice director, the professionalism of Mark Gatiss and more.
*This interview has been edited for clarity.
Vidal D’Costa for The Movie Buff: How did the idea for this unorthodox romance stem?
Freddie Fox: I wish I had a really deep and meaningful answer, but honestly, the idea came to me in the bath. I just thought it was such a cute premise for a short. I also watched Cocteau’s film “The Blood Of A Poet” and that got the idea really cooking for me.
VD: You share writing credits with Tanya Reynolds of “Sex Education” fame. Can you talk about your creative process, and especially working alongside Reynolds to bring these inanimate characters to life?
FF: I wrote the first draft. Then Tanya wrote the second. Most of the premise and character work was me, and Tanya wrote the ending. Directing Tanya was a total joy! She’s a truly amazing actress with the best comedic instincts. She also really put in a solid for me on that day as she wasn’t feeling well at all, and with only a silk dress for warmth too! I hope we get the chance to do it all again one day.
VD: You’ve worked on stage as well as screen, and now director, too. What are some challenges you’ve encountered behind the camera as compared to being in front of it? Are there any lessons you’ve learnt as a novice director? Do you feel more at home as a director or an actor?
[Tanya] is truly an amazing actress with the best comedic instincts.”
Freddie Fox
FF: It felt, whilst we were shooting, that the skill sets were complimentary. I definitely think acting and being on so many sets over the years has made me the kind of director I want to be, especially for the actors, as we speak the same language. I guess, for me, my job as director was to clearly communicate a vision to a team who were all far better at their jobs than me, so I tried to be super clear, super encouraging, and then flexible when the cast and crew had better ideas (which happened a lot!)
Having the kind of cast and crew I did made that part of the process a total pleasure. The nightmare for me were the logistics, especially as we had so little money to get the job done. That’s the bit I didn’t like. That being said, it’s amazing how generous people were with their time and talent. That’s what allows movies like this to get made.
‘The Painting and the Statue’ features a stellar ensemble cast. Do share your experience directing veterans like Mark Gatiss (Mycroft from the popular BBC series Sherlock) and Doctor Who alumnus Fenella Woolgar in this short? How was the atmosphere on set and do you have any favourite anecdotes/memorable moments during filming?
FF: Working with the likes of Mark Gatiss and Fenella Wooglar (and the whole cast!) was an insane privilege. My god, they’re good. [They’re] my kind of actors, the ones that can do it all, on stage and screen. Mark actually was playing John Gielgud on stage during the week, then would come and shoot with us at the weekend, completely knackered but still knocking it out of the park!
There are so many moments I wish I hadn’t had to cut for time/story… My favourite being the double act that Will Merrick and Asim Chaudhry created. In the back of the 1920s sequence, there’s a couple of men you only see in soft focus who leave almost immediately. In the script, those guys have a massive camp fight in a scene I ended up having to cut for time, but MAN, it was funny. I only wish I hadn’t had to let it go. Also, the scene we shot last was the one with Nathan Stewart-Jarrett and Hannah Onslow as the Flapper and the Dandy. When they finished their first take, the whole crew were laughing so much they literally burst into applause at the end. It was a total joy!
VD: Who are some filmmakers, artistes or actors you look up to or who’ve influenced your own work?
FF: Wow. So many. Often people that can straddle theatre and film… although my early heroes were action movie stars like Burt Reynolds and Bruce Willis. My first short, “Hero”, was about an old actor, inspired by my meeting Burt Reynolds when I was a kid. Then I migrated to Al Pacino when I saw Dog Day Afternoon. Then of course the greats of an older generation like Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, etc. I’ve stolen more off Gary Oldman’s films than probably any other actor. And directors… I’d love to make a movie one day that was even a tenth as good as “The Great Beauty” (Sorrentino) or “The Third Man” (Carol Reed.) My dad’s (BAFTA-winning actor Edward Fox) acting work has also been a big influence on me, particularly on the stage.
There are SO many moments I wish I hadn’t had to cut for time/story.”
Freddie Fox
VD: Could you share details about any upcoming works in the pipeline that our readers can look forward to?
FF: I’m shooting the next season of “House of the Dragon” at the moment, and putting together a documentary on British theatre. I’m having a lot of fun on both.
The HollyShorts Film Festival takes place August 8–17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California
