Paul Hurstfield is a familiar face on both television and cinemas screens and plays Gavin, the central character in Poor Wee Me. We distracted the busy actor, property developer and wine connoisseur long enough to ask a few questions.
Firstly Paul, how would you describe your character in Poor Wee Me?
Gavin, the character I play in Poor Wee Me is a guy who, like a lot of people, has managed to reach his 40s without ever learning to read or write properly. Because of that he has had to survive by working in boring, manual jobs. Factory work, warehouse jobs, basically humping stuff around or operating machinery has been the only working life he has known. He has also had to avoid certain situations where his lack of reading might show him up.
The frustration caused by this has started to fuel his anger and affect his home life with Jenny, his partner who’s played by Sue Jaynes.
Why did you particularly want to play Gavin?
What attracted me to this part was the film’s restricted narrative. Because the film follows Gavin, we see the world through his eyes and start to understand why he does what he does; why he’s angry and frustrated and how getting some help can change his life completely.
Also this film harks back to some of the films of the sixties. Its northenness shines through. Gavin’s a character with simple needs. He wants to work at a decent job and have a happy home life with someone he loves. These are the real necessities of life.
How did you get involved with Poor Wee Me?
I got involved after I worked on one of Simon’s [Poor Wee Me writer and director] short films a couple of years ago. We were talking about another of his projects – Scorpio, a feature script – when he started to write this. The minute I read it, it seemed to come off the page immediately. As someone who spent years doing manual work before becoming an actor I could see where Gavin’s frustration was coming from. Knowing that there is more inside you and being desperate to use your brain. Its like having one hand tied behind your back.
What other acting projects are you involved with?
Apart from Simon’s film, I am involved in a live project playing James Watt, the scottish engineer, so it’s a little different. Not just the accent, but the 18th century language takes some learning. Also bits of TV comes along now and then like Casualty [BBC One] and The Bill [ITV1] etc.
I’ve also been writing a couple of short film scripts which I want to get made and may have some funding for. Which reminds me, I must speak to Simon!
What kind of thing do you get up to when you’re not performing or preparing for a role?
When I’m not acting I do a bit of property developing. I’ve just sold a property in Kidderminster and am now looking in the Daventry area for another. Its very satisfying seeing the end result. I also like to get over to France now and then to buy wine. The end result of that you do not want see!
Who are your favourite film makers?
My favourite film makers have to include Shane Meadows. Even if I hadn’t worked on Dead Man’s Shoes with him I would feel the same. The future of British film definitely lies with people like Shane and Simon Powell, and Andrea Arnold of course. I am also a big fan of Ken Loach, the Coen Brothers and I love french film especially.
If you were organising an independent film festival, which films would you most want to show?
Well, it would definitely be in the North – probably Salford, my home town – and with older northern based films like Hobson’s Choice, Love on the Dole, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning as well as more recent films like Looking for Eric, This Is England and of course Poor Wee Me.
I’d also have free tickets for the first couple of days for the retrospective films like they do at the Dinard British Film Festival in France. A film festival should be for local people to afford and enjoy as well as visitors. There you are, I’ll get down from my soapbox now!
