The 29-year-old eloquent and humble actor Max Irons, who stars in the upcoming The Riot Club and Woman in Gold, has a different model in mind when it comes to his acting career rather than to do a big blockbuster: a slow steady march toward stardom on a road full of risk and learning. For Out magazine's April 2015 cover story, the younger Irons sat with Out managing editor R. Kurt Osenlund to discuss his career, his father's 2013 statement on legalizing same-sex marriage, and a prevailing homophobia in Hollywood. Here's five things not to miss:
On re-watching his father's, Jeremy Irons, 2013 HuffPost Live statement that the legalization of same-sex marriage might open the door for interfamilial unions:
"I remember thinking, You don't know what you're talking about. You're thinking through a problem out loud. I know my father, and his views are similar to mine: As long as you don't harm anyone else, what you do and who you love are nobody's business. He has since clarified as far as I understand, and truth be told, if you pushed him to explain what he was talking about, I don't think he'd actually know."
On the inequalities he observes in life and his industry:
He thinks people should be able to keep things private if they want to or "shout it from the rooftops." He thinks it would be wonderful if everyone could be honest about themselves, yet he doesn't think coming out is a moral imperative, and he thinks forced outings are "fucking foolish and dangerous." He says, "You never know someone's circumstances."
On his role models, building longevity for his career and taking chances on the roles he selects:
"Philip Seymour Hoffman was always a genius, but no one gave a shit about him in the beginning. He laid a foundation of work that went up and up until he could get a movie made. De Niro won't even have his first two films on his resume, because he's ashamed of them. I understand that kind of trajectory, and it takes time. And learning."
On what he hopes the audience takes away from his upcoming film, The Riot Club:
"I think if The Riot Club does anything, it'll make people google the Bullingdon Club and ask questions like, 'Do these men truly, honestly represent the values of the people?' I'm not so sure. Our film has made certain people angry, and it's also generated applause. And I think that's exactly what we wanted and expected."
On his dream vacation and what he'd bring:
His dream vacation would be in a warm, remote cabin in the Scottish Highlands, or maybe on a volcanic beach in Iceland, where nature's tumult rages just outside his door. What amenities would he bring? "Sausages! And a small fryer. And some audiobooks. All in my little cocoon."
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