In our profile series Tell Us In Ten, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how they got their start in the industry to their favourite shows, we want to know everything.
This week we chatted with Gerald Kyd, who plays Don Pedro in Jamie Lloyd’s upcoming production of Much Ado About Nothing.
1. My route into theatre was…
I got a place at the National Youth Theatre whilst in secondary school, then trained for three years at LAMDA.
2. My West End idol is…
Mark Rylance. His talent and range is unending and unfathomable.
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
I have no idea! I hope they’d say I was mildly amusing, and a good team player.
4. My favourite show is…
In the last few years, it was Till the Stars Come Down by Beth Steel at the National Theatre. The acting was to die for.
The Olivier Award-nominated Till The Stars Come Down at the National Theatre. Image courtesy of the National Theatre.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Being asked to perform a Shakespeare monologue at the old Royal Shakespeare Theatre before it was demolished. I shared the stage with many of the theatre community’s greats.
6. The hardest part about my job is…
Unemployment.
7. If I wasn’t an actor, I would be…
Sane!
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I like French pop music.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
From my wife, who told me that sometimes I need to acknowledge that I’ve done okay in this crazy business.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
Chill out, you crazy fool.
Tim Steed, James Phoon, Gerald Kyd, Tom Hiddleston and Mika Onyx Johnson in rehearsal for Much Ado About Nothing. Photo by Marc Brenner.
Much Ado About Nothing begins previews on 10 February at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane – book your tickets via LW Theatres.