Rafe Spall Advocates for Actors to Refrain from Political Commentary
British actor Rafe Spall has publicly expressed his view that performers should generally avoid speaking out on political matters, characterising such behaviour as somewhat 'inelegant'. The 42-year-old star, known for his role in the Apple TV+ series 'Trying', shared these thoughts in a recent interview, highlighting a cautious perspective on celebrity political engagement.
A Theatrical Fascination with a Private Stance
Spall, who is preparing to portray a British prime minister in the upcoming Steven Moffat political comedy-drama 'Number 10', admitted a personal fascination with the theatrical nature of politics. However, he firmly believes it is not an actor's role to publicly pontificate on the subject. 'I have a keen interest in politics… but I’m wary of actors who spout off their political opinions just because they’re on TV,' he told The Daily Telegraph.
He elaborated on his reasoning, pointing to the privileged environment many actors inhabit. 'They get carried away, because in this line of work, people are really nice to you. Somebody comes and drives you to work in the morning and you get to do the job you always wanted to do, and you’re given a cup of tea when you need it and driven home again at the end of the day,' Spall explained.
Maintaining Grounded Perspectives in a Rarified World
The actor emphasised the importance of humility, stating, 'In my view, you take the work seriously, but you should never take yourself seriously. Actors breathe a rarified air, so it’s important to keep your feet on the ground.' This philosophy appears to guide his own career choices, with Spall largely steering clear of overtly political roles throughout his filmography, which includes notable parts in 'Shaun of the Dead', 'Life of Pi', and 'The Big Short'.
A Notable Departure and Understanding Public Sentiment
One significant exception was his lead role in the 2020 National Theatre production 'Death of England'. In this state-of-the-nation drama, Spall played Michael Fletcher, a white working-class man delivering a powerful monologue about modern England from a stage shaped like a St George’s cross. Reflecting on that character's frustrations with 'patronising, liberal, leftie uni mates', Spall demonstrated an understanding of certain public sentiments.
'I can understand people’s anger at feeling like they’re being lectured to by people who’ve had the privilege of a university education then become an op-ed writer or whatever,' he previously told The Standard. 'Talking about seizing the means of production to people who are getting by day-to-day and simply want to give their children a better life.'
Despite this nuanced understanding, his recent comments reinforce a preference for keeping personal political views private. Fans can next see Rafe Spall in the upcoming Sky crime series 'Under Salt Marsh', as he continues his acting career while maintaining a discreet stance on political discourse.
