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First off, it must be said that it is impossible not to like Will Kemp. He’s charming and engaging, funny and at times self deprecating. His passion when he talks about his work is nearly contagious. And yes, I must confess that it is no hard chore to sit across from those luminous green eyes and that disarmingly handsome face to conduct an interview. It’s a dirty job as they say.

But even those of us who might secretly hope Will Kemp keeps dancing (and a whole lot more) would be hard pressed not to pull for him in his quest to tackle that dual career as dancer and film actor. Even so, he’s already made an impressive go of it.

This past winter Will reprised his role of the jaunty and dashing Ratty in William Tuckett’s wonderful holiday treat ‘Wind in the Willows’.  Most recently he rejoined Tuckett as part of the dream team of Adam Cooper, Matthew Hart and Zenaida Yanowsky in the highly acclaimed ‘The Soldier’s Tale’.


 

Will Kemp in William Tuckett’s Wind in the Willows
© Robbie Jack

As the new kid in Hollywood he has also seen his first two films premiere this year. In his debut film role, Will plays Rafe Perry, a cocky, retro FBI trainee in Renny Harlin’s thriller, ‘Mindhunters’. Said one of the producers of his audition for the film, "He kept amazing eye contact with the camera, which had us all asking, who is this guy?"

Will describes that debut experience and entry into movie making as a "baptism of fire".

"In this country, the average actor goes to drama school and then perhaps does small parts on British TV, plays a waiter and whatever. And there I was sharing the screen with Christian Slater and Val Kilmer. It’s like, did I miss a beat somewhere?”

"I suddenly found myself in the deep end. I had to learn how to swim, as it were, very quickly. I obviously knew enough to get me the job so I just had to trust in what I was able to do and rely on my instincts. It was a time to grow up and well, get on with it - stop thinking I‘m so new, I don’t know what I’m doing – just get on with it.  I had a great time and really learnt a lot about making that kind of film."

In his second film, Stephen Sommers’ ‘Van Helsing’ which co-stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, he plays the hot-headed gypsy prince Velkan who has the tragic misfortune of transforming into one of film’s all time legendary icons – The Wolf Man. With his go for broke approach at the audition, he flung himself against walls, ripping his shirt off, rolling around the floor, eyes bulging, veins popping, making quite an impression on the producer and the director, and winning himself the role for which, as it turns out, he was able to use a good deal of his training as a dancer.

He’s had the opportunity now to work under some very extraordinary directors, both on stage and in film. I asked him what works best for him in creating a character.

"I enjoy being given a certain amount of freedom in order to interpret or to come up with stuff, but I do enjoy collaboration. I seek and thrive on projects where I am going to learn from the people I’m working with; I believe that if creative people are open and generous enough when working with each other, a lot more can be learned and achieved by both parties. That’s what it’s all about, trying to produce the best work possible on any given project."

"In as far as working with Directors I guess that I have been spoilt having worked with Matthew Bourne for so many years. Matt always has a vision and it is just a matter of getting inside his head and exploring the world that he creates. He always encourages interpretation and individuality in all his dancer/actors. Matt constantly gives notes during the run of a show and likes you to explore new ideas and your own.”

"Working with Stephen Sommers was great fun because he was not just Directing but had also written Van Helsing. He is so energetic and so passionate about what he does.”

"Renny Harlin works in a very visual way that I can relate to and sets a great atmosphere in which to play.” 
”Will Tuckett too, has a very strong visual approach to his choreography that I enjoy very much, which explains why he succeeds in creating work for the camera as well as stage.”

Kemp also credits his early classical training in dance as being a valuable resource for character development. "Being in a place like the Royal Ballet School and part of an environment where there is so much discipline, where everyone works so hard, it just completely occupies your life. You literally live it and breath it every single day; it becomes who you are. You are so aware of everything you do, how you communicate, how you move. And that, I think, is very good preparation for really anything you do in life."

At this writing there are a couple of film projects that Will is “attached” to. While he is not at liberty to talk much about them just yet, if all turns out for him as he hopes and plans, he will be both acting and dancing till 2006!

And what would be a more perfect fit then working with Matthew Bourne again?  It’s been awhile - since the winter of 2002 and the award winning ‘Play Without Words’ - that the two have worked together. (Will created one of the original Anthony’s in the production.)

 

Will Kemp in Matthew Bourne’s Play Without Words
© Sheila Burnett

"Matt was the first person that I ever worked for so I owe him a huge amount because he was the one who put his belief in me very early on and nurtured me to a certain degree."

"I think it will be very exciting to collaborate again now that we’ve both moved on quite a lot with other things that we are passionate about. We have a wonderful working relationship. He gets me very well. He knows how I think and move. And I love his choreography. I think too, with any fantastic relationship whether it’s work or personal, you always manage to pick up where you left off. Matthew understands my love of dance and my passion for acting. He also understands that at times it is hard to balance the two. Matt and I both know that there maybe some very tough choices ahead but I hope to be able to create something new with Matthew in the very near future.  New Adventures are a company I intend to keep very close to.”

In that stead, rumour has it that Will is slated to dance the role of James in Matthew’s revival of ‘Highland Fling’. In typical Bourne fashion it is a decidedly unique and surprising take on the tragic-romantic ballet ‘La Sylphide’. The production will undergo an extensive and exciting renovation before it premieres spring of 2005.

"‘Highland Fling’ was the first production that I saw of Matthew’s while I was still at the Royal Ballet School.  It is choreographically and conceptually where Swan Lake came from.”

Will also talked briefly about his role of a lifetime....the marquee character in New Adventures’ dance theatre staging of ‘Edward Scissorhands’, which is currently penciled in for an autumn 2005 premiere.

It is a role he would still very much like to dance. “I have had a special affinity for Edward Scissorhands ever since Matthew first asked me to play it four or five years ago. We’ve continued talking about it ever since and it has always been pushed back; most recently to allow Matt time out to do Mary Poppins. It would be a fantastic part for me to play and a great way for me to completely concentrate on dance and working with Matthew and the company again."

Staying in shape for dance, in particular for more demanding roles and long runs, is one of the biggest concerns many have expressed regarding Will’s determination to work a dual career.

But he feels he has a good handle on that. "With dancing I know pretty much ahead of time, enough to be able to get into dance shape; it’s really more an issue the other way around as acting things can happen just like that."

"It’s tough – I have no problem in saying it’s hard work and I intend for the rest of this year and next to keep up the dance training, going to classes etc., it is still very much a part of my life. “

It should be duly noted that nothing is, as of yet, "signed and sealed" with regards to Will’s dancing in either ‘Highland Fling’ or ‘Scissorhands’. The most that might be said is that "it looks good". But, as he will tell you, "Everything can change."

"I’ve learned the hard lesson that you can’t pin your heart on anything until it’s a completely done deal."

Last fall he was all set to begin shooting the Eric Idle film, ‘Remains of the Piano’, an intelligent spoof on the Merchant Ivory costume dramas. But at the very last moment, financing fell through, leaving Idle, as Will put it, "pissed off in a terribly English way" and the film in doubt of ever being made.

It also left Will heartbroken. "I was thrilled about working with Eric Idle, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Robin Williams - all these tremendous actors and a great script. At the time I thought ‘this is just too good to be true’; and it ended up that it was."

 

Will Kemp in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake
© Joan Marcus

Will was also lined up to play the role of The Prince in Matthew Bourne’s summer revival of ‘Swan Lake’. Says Will, "I asked Matthew years ago. At one point I had been playing the Swan for a long, long time and I told him I would really like to play the Prince." Bourne was thrilled with the idea and so when it came back around this year, they talked and it seemed all was in place for it to happen. But once again financing got held up and the production was postponed until this winter.

"Unfortunately for me, what happens now is that Matt has got so popular that he has to have a cast that’s going to be with him for 9 months.  Originally, the Prince was a part that they were prepared to allow to guest.  But I think through rehearsals they realized that the character integrates so much with the rest of the company that if they were ever to have a guest, there would be a lot of extra rehearsals. So unfortunately, Matthew hasn’t asked me to do it this time around. I’d love to do it though because it’s a wonderful production. It is the one I walked into straight out of school.  I feel I matured a lot, as a dancer and a person, through my time in ‘Swan Lake’. "

Before you think this poor lad is running himself completely ragged trying to juggle this two career life of his, there is a lighter side to it as well. Not surprisingly, Will’s ‘matinee idol’ looks have made him an international heartthrob. He gets a little bemused by the pin-up boy image he’s acquired since he first splashed across televisions, magazines, and even entire sides of buildings, in an advert he did with GAP in the autumn of 2002. Most recently those cool good looks have graced such magazines as Vanity Fair, Vogue and GQ. And how many dancers, let alone actors, have their own action figure (based on his character in ‘Van Helsing ’)?

Will takes it all in stride, with a big grin I might add, and there is no sign of it all going to his head. He remains well grounded and is quick to credit his wife Gaby, as well his parents Rosi and Barry, for playing a role in that. But his own good common sense and his perspective on what really are the priorities in his life remind him that it’s good to take a reality check now and again.  Having danced the coveted role of The Swan under the bright lights of Broadway at the tender age of 20, Will was quick to pick up that fame and all that goes with it may be enticing, but it can also wreak havoc with both your professional and personal life. So he takes considerable care in scrutinizing the amount and the quality of media exposure he gets and he keeps his private life just that.

He is even more judicious about the work he chooses. Though he reads loads of scripts, continually meets with directors and producers and has had numerous offers, he has turned down just as many. "The offers I’ve had recently just haven’t been what I am interested in or just have not felt right and I think it’s important to get it right."

In looking back over the past ten remarkable years, the unforgettable characters he’s created, the glowing praise for his work, not to mention seeing himself larger than life on movie screens, I asked Will if there was any one particular moment within it all that stands out for him.

"I have had so many great moments, but  I would have to say that dancing the Swan in ‘Swan Lake’ was such a unique and passionate experience for me. It was such bloody hard work, even at that very early age, that I would not want to try to replicate it again now. It was such a special time and I felt I had just entered a new world."

Whatever other worlds he decides to explore whether in dance, film or even beyond those, you are left with the impression that if anything is good and right in this world, then Will Kemp will indeed find a way to have it all.