Rufus Sewell: Pale Horse is Agatha Christie but not as we know it

Rufus Sewell stars in an adaptation of Agatha Christie's Pale Horse, where the mystery is more chiller than thriller. Photo / Getty Images

Ahead of his role in Agatha Christie's Pale Horse, Rufus Sewell tells Michele Manelis why visiting Australia meant so much to him

Are you an Agatha Christie fan?
I'd never read any of her books but I've always enjoyed the Agatha Christie movies growing up, just like anyone else, a kind of Sunday evening staple or a Christmas special. I loved the Albert Finney films and I also loved Peter Ustinov in them.

Was there anything in particular about this one that attracted you?
Well, the fact that it came my way is always a big plus! It's one of many types of roles I'd always wanted to do, and also the fact that it went against what we know of Agatha Christie. It's from the early 60s, which is not really the timeframe we usually associate with her. It's a much spookier story, it's a bit more like a horror. It reminded me of The Wicker Man, Jacob's Ladder, and Macbeth. It's dark and strange.

I really liked the otherworldly elements. Do you believe in the paranormal?
I don't particularly believe, but I believe there's obviously more to the world than we understand, though that doesn't mean that I believe in witches and angels.

How would you describe this time in your career?
More of the same, really. It hasn't really changed. But I worry less about that now. People will see a pattern in the roles that I do and ask me why I am attracted to certain roles but the truth is, certain roles seem to be attracted to me.

It hasn't changed with age?
Maybe it will change. I'm getting to an age where people will realise I am a bit more useful as an actor than they thought. People for some reason want to regard me as a "type" 0, rather than someone who can adapt to roles. Hopefully in the future maybe someone will watch me and say, 'Oh. This is someone who can do the opposite of what we've seen him in, let's offer him that!' But more than likely I'll just get offered more of the same thing. I don't really care anymore.

At this stage you must feel that you don't have to prove anything?
I have decided that I don't have to prove anything. I don't think I have to prove anything to myself, because I've decided I don't really worry about the opinions I used to worry about. I can battle to change people's perceptions of me but I think it's a losing battle. I know what I am capable of and the people who I respect know what I'm capable of and I have to make peace with the fact that people see me in a particularly limited way and that's fine.

Presumably your looks have been an obstacle in your career when you say people have only seen you in a certain way?
I don't think so. There are people who are far better looking than me. I am not going to give you a quote on that. I have talked way too much about this stuff in the past.

Looking back on your life, what would you say to your younger self if you could go back?
Enjoy the things you do and don't worry so much about what they lead to. I try to follow it now.

How's that going for you?
I'm doing all right! That's why I can say I'm not so worried about how people see me anymore. I don't worry about a career path or what the next job is. I'm actually doing pretty well, I am leading a pretty nice life. That kind of thinking can rob you of happiness if you concentrate on it too much.

How have you changed in the last decade?
Well, the truth is, I am a lot less rock 'n' roll than I used to be. I wouldn't like to admit this in my 20s but I actually quite like routines. I am more of a creature of habit than I would have wanted to admit to myself in my 20s. In reality, all of my rock 'n' roll heroes are quite suburban and it's quite a relief when you realise that. Rock 'n' rollers tend to want to be in their hotel room with a tin of baked beans, sausages and a cup of Tetley.

Speaking of which, have you started shooting the [untitled] Elvis movie in Australia?
I haven't actually. I am rehearsing in LA. I was really into Elvis when I was very young and that's why this film is so exciting. I also loved The Beatles and Bowie. It doesn't mean I listen to them all the time. Often your favourite music, you tend to over listen. I am still very much into Bowie and I still love Elvis.

I know your dad was Australian, do you have any kind of affinity for Australia?
I do very much, actually. I was very conscious of my Australian roots when I was growing up. My dad died when I was 10. We were very poor and I think my mum had tried at some stage to take us to Australia, but she could never get the money together, she always struggled. And then I managed to go in my late 20s to film Dark City. When I first landed in Sydney, which is where my dad came from, it really did feel in a sense like I was coming home. And I have always felt that about Australia and I am very proud about my Aussie roots and it means a lot to me.

Have you ever worked in New Zealand or been there?
No, but I would really love to, I would really love to work in New Zealand. So anyone out there reading this with a job going, my greatest asset is my availability!

What advice would you give a struggling young actor that will read this?
It's the same advice that I would give myself, try to enjoy the things you do when you do them and not treat everything as a giant stepping stone. Because when I look back on the times I was doing my dream jobs, I didn't allow myself to enjoy them.

Do you think it's more difficult now for young actors coming up with social media and all the things that were not around when you were coming up? Do you think there is a bit more pressure on them these days?
I think the pressures are different. I think it's a very different world now, I can't imagine what the differences are psychologically. I find it very strange that people are under pressure to sell themselves in a different way now, but I think the pressure has just changed. It's difficult to say if it's just harder or just different.

The Pale Horse is screening now on SoHo