Spike Fearn, the 25-year-old actor from Coalville, Leicestershire, is on the brink of stardom with his leading role in the Gen Z romcom Finding Emily. Despite comparisons to Hugh Grant, Fearn remains grounded, focusing on his craft rather than fame.
A Reluctant Star
Fearn admits that seeing himself on the poster for Finding Emily feels strange. He is trying not to think about the potential career trajectory that often follows romantic comedy leads. Instead, he plans to stay busy filming another movie when Finding Emily releases, keeping his head in the work.
Meeting at a cafe in London's Holborn, Fearn wears a Polo Ralph Lauren hoodie. He moved to the capital in 2022 to pursue acting seriously, after roles in short films, a cameo in The Batman, and a part in Aftersun alongside Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. He also appeared in Alien: Romulus and Ella McCay.
Life in the City
Fearn admits he is addicted to the noise of London but contemplates returning to a quieter place. He finds excitement in not knowing where life will take him.
Early Beginnings
Fearn started acting and improvisation classes at the Television Workshop in Nottingham, a training ground for stars like Jack O'Connell and Samantha Morton. This led to a short film by Charlotte Reagan and his first feature, Sweetheart. Initially, he didn't think about building a career, focusing instead on daily life.
His perspective changed on the set of Aftersun. Watching Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, and director Charlotte Wells inspired him to pursue acting seriously. He wanted to be part of such meaningful projects.
Leading Finding Emily
Now, three years later, Fearn leads Finding Emily, playing a struggling musician in Manchester who searches for a woman after getting her number wrong. The film is a refreshing addition to the romcom genre, filled with sweetness and genuine humor.
Fearn felt safe on set, despite the responsibility of playing the lead and singing for the first time. He credits co-star Angourie Rice for supporting him throughout production.
Off Social Media
Fearn avoids social media, including Letterboxd, preferring to discuss movies with friends. He intends to keep his private life private, letting his work speak for itself. He doesn't want people to form opinions based on his Instagram.
His ultimate goal is to be the kind of actor that people's dads recognize and appreciate. He values the opinions of dads, saying, 'cause dads always know what's up, don't they?'
Finding Emily is in UK cinemas now and releases in the US on 28 August.
