Scottish actor Jack Lowden, best known for his role in the hit series Slow Horses, has made a candid confession about his comfort levels, revealing he feels significantly more at home on a theatre stage than he does in his own life.
A Return to The Stage
Lowden was speaking at the global premiere of NT Live’s The Fifth Step in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he discussed the intense experience of returning to the stage after a significant break. He last appeared in a play in 2018 with Measure for Measure at the Donmar Warehouse.
He first took on the role of Luka, a man new to Alcoholics Anonymous, when David Ireland's two-hander premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2024. He later reprised the performance in London's West End, this time acting opposite Martin Freeman.
An Actor's True Home
"It's always a relief to be on stage," Lowden stated frankly. "I don't really feel comfortable at all on camera." He elaborated on this feeling, a sentiment many actors express but which he insists is genuine for him. "Whenever I get to be on stage, I instantly feel at home. A lot of actors do say that, which can sound like shite sometimes, but I genuinely do mean it. I feel more at home on stage than I do in life and I don't know why that is at all."
Reflecting on the NT Live capture of the play, which was filmed at @sohoplace in London and is set for release in cinemas on 27 November, Lowden admitted it was a strange experience. "Watching that was very strange – that's the first time I've ever seen anything of myself on stage," he said, even joking about his own performance, "I can only apologise for not really having an arse!"
The Allure of The Fifth Step
For Lowden, the appeal of a project lies deeply in the character. "I don't really care what the thing's about to a certain extent… I just care about the character and if the character's worth playing," he explained. He described The Fifth Step, which is co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, as "the most actor-friendly play I've ever done … or seen," attributing this to the fact that both its playwright, David Ireland, and director, Finn den Hertog, have backgrounds as actors.
The play itself is a dark comedy that delves into serious themes of addiction and recovery. Lowden's character, Luka, asks Freeman's character, James, to be his sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous, with the drama unfolding on the verge of the confessional stage in AA's 12-step programme.
Despite the heavy subject matter, Lowden emphasised the importance of entertainment. "There's no point in doing [these issues] in a play unless it is, first and foremost, entertaining. No one should sit in the dark for an hour and 15 minutes and never laugh. I think that's robbing people of their money."
Lowden's distinguished stage career includes acclaimed performances in Black Watch with the National Theatre of Scotland, Ghosts opposite Lesley Manville, and Electra with Kristin Scott Thomas.
