From his start in the classic Grange Hill (which I can currently rewatching), Actor Luke Dejahang has been on my screen many times over the years. TV’s The Bill, Only Fools and Horses, London’s Burning (as Ronnie ‘Hi-Ho’ Silva) The Jerry Bruckheimer produced action film Bad Company (which I love!!) So I certainly wasnt going to turn down the chance to have a virtual chat with him and have Luke take part in the ‘Spending Time With.’ questions. Thanks for doing this Luke! 

How was 2023 for you?

HI there. 2023 was a year of ups and downs for the industry as a whole. I had a very busy first quarter, acting in an Apple TV+ show called Tehran which was great fun and even more enjoyable as we were shooting in Greece which I absolutely loved. Athens is such a beautiful city and what isn’t there to love about Greek food and culture. I also was really grateful for the numerous awards we won for our short films Brushing Out The Curls and Confines. Brushing Out The Curls won the Birmingham Film Festival Bull Award for Best Film which was one of the highlights of the year for me. I was also cast as an SAS serviceman in a feature film which is scheduled to shoot soon (unfortunately it was put on hold during the strikes). I have also been working with an award winning director and producer on a feature film called Fatherhood which is making progress and we will have further announcements soon.

So you started as an actor, then went into business and then back to acting. Can you talk about this journey?

My journey, like everything I have ever done, hasn’t followed any how to rule book. After leaving secondary school with A levels I had a choice to make. I had already acted in several tv shows whilst studying and had places secured at several universities. However, I just wanted to act so decided to pursue that as I had a fantastic agent and was already an Equity member (which was essential in those days if you wanted to work). Rather than going to university, I continued training with the incredible one and only (late) Anna Sher who was one of my biggest inspirations. I also studied with a brilliant teacher, who studied with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner. I really did learn from some of the best teachers of the time.

I went on to play firefighter Ronnie Silva in ITV’s London’s Burning. Following that I did various other tv shows and films and then before I knew it I was 25 with two babies and a family to support so it was time to re evaluate everything. I wanted to be around when the kids were young and also felt the responsibility of having to provide every month without fail. Acting, I love, but it is a profession that can be up and down and the results are often outside of one’s own control. That’s the game. So I decided to put that career on hold, pivot and train as a carpenter, as I figured people will always need a roof over their heads. It worked out ok and 15 years later, I own a company called Crown Pavilions and am in a position where I can go back and pursue what I see as unfinished business. I have stories I want to tell so I am also co-writing and collaborating with some wonderful creatives that just want to do good work and tell stories that will hopefully resonate with people. So here we are Actor to carpenter to entrepreneur back to actor and producer! I’m loving the journey.

Out of all the characters you’ve played, which one is the most like you?

I don’t think any character I have played is like me but I always start with the emotional state of
my character without judgement. And then I simply try to see the world through their eyes and soul and then let the work happen and manifest however it wants to take shape. It often surprises me as you never quite know what is going to happen within the confines of their world and reality and that is what makes it so much fun. You play, be free and the rest takes care of itself.

Do you have any props or keepsakes from any of your films or shows?

No, I don’t actually, but I always buy souvenirs whatever country or place I film in so I have lots of items over the years which I know relate back to a specific job and that’s a fun way to remember and keep memories.

Do you have an off switch when not working, and how does it work?

This is one of my weaknesses. I am always ‘on’. I think having a very active mind means I have to always keep myself occupied with work, family or something positive. I have definitely improved over the years and now find that yoga, weight training and spinning classes are my happy place as well as cooking and spending time with loved ones. Simple life really is what I look for to unwind, as my day to day acting and business world is full on.

How do you prepare for an audition?

Read the script over and over again. Learn my lines. Create the world of my character within my head and then… let go and let the work happen.

What’s the first thing you do when you get on set?

Get a coffee and when the opportunity presents itself get to know my fellow team and work colleagues. When there is a positive and good atmosphere on set, I truly believe that the best work happens. I have been on incredibly supportive sets and also on more challenging ones, and I know first hand which produces happy people that feel empowered, confident and able to create their best work.

Do you prefer day shoots or night shoots?

Love both. If you are doing what you love doing it makes no difference, to my mind.

If you had to make a ‘bucket list’ of people you’d love to work with, tell me one name who would be on it?

I would love to work with Darren Aronofsky. His films and style of directing resonate with me. I would also love to work with Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Ken Loach and Shane Meadow. I am a huge fan of their work. Sorry, that’s more than one name  

With regards to your own projects, what are you working on that you can tell me about?

My feature film Fatherhood which Rockwood Films (my production company) will be making is my main focus currently. It is a hard hitting feature film with action, drama and a story which ultimately explores themes of fatherhood (as the title suggests) but also forgiveness, redemption and ultimately love all within the context of a pressure cooker high stakes urban environment. I love films that entertain but also have something to say, ask the audience questions and hopefully at the end leave us thinking and discussing what we just saw. At best, leading us to a place of understanding, whatever that may be.

Do you read reviews of shows that you are in?

I try not to. I think it is healthier to focus on the work and do one’s best to simply prepare, show
up, and be as truthful as you can be in the moment and context of the imaginary world you are in. The rest is out of your hands and control. I cannot influence what other people think. They are entitled to their views. I can only focus on the work and bringing my truth to it and that’s it.

Let’s shine a light on some of your past work. Which of your projects are you most proud of?

I am particularly proud of my last three short films and the wonderful directors I had the honour of working with on those. Bardo (directed by BAFTA winning Michael B Clifford), Confines (directed by Emmy nominated Richard Bazley) and Brushing Out The Curls (directed by BIFA winning Jason Wingard). My feature film, Fatherhood, will see me working with director Steve Crowhurst, whose last film. Big Boys Don’t Cry, I found to be so powerful and moving. I think this film will be equally powerful and I cannot wait to make further announcements in due course.

Out of all the projects you’ve done, which one do people seem to ask you the most about?

Probably London’s Burning and Only Fools and Horses as they were both big shows at the time
and equally fun to be a part of.

What’s been the most difficult thing about your creative journey?

I see my career in two separate boxes. Before and After becoming a father and an entrepreneur. My approach is also very different. In the ‘before’ stage I was constantly up and down in equal measure because I allowed myself to be. I was affected by external things that were out of my control. Get a gig, celebrate. Miss out on a big job, console oneself. It wasn’t and isn’t healthy. In the creative industry you have to protect yourself and your mental well- being against things that you have no control over. In the After (today’s me) I have learnt that it’s as difficult as you allow it to be. I have learned to enjoy the job regardless of the outcome or things that are superficial and ever changing. I create daily, in whatever form that may take, so I am relaxed and enjoying the process. As a human being, of course I have good and bad days, but it is less to do now with what others think or decide as I am in control of my own destiny and along the way I do not think it is a coincidence that I am meeting a lot more people (in the ‘after’ stage) whose company and openness I really enjoy. Perhaps I am more open. You get back what you put out in equal measure, as a brilliant acting teacher of mine always says.

And, the flipside. What’s the most enjoyable for you?

Working with like minded people that put the work first. Are passionate about working as a team and understand that any creative endeavour is a collaboration (in most cases) of some sort. So a good day is working with people that come to the table with this positive and kind mind set. And at the end of the day you all feel you have done your best work.

I was tweet chatting with Mick Garris (The Stand, Hocus Pocus) recently and asked him which name spring to mind when he thought ‘Oh my God i’ve met them My reply was George A Romero (Night Of The Living Dead), Mick’s was Steven Speilberg. Who would yours be?

Anthony Hopkins would be mine. Had a small part many years ago in a film he was starring in ( that film was 2002’s Bad Company) and he was one of the nicest people I have met on set. A true gentleman and one of the greatest screen actors alive, no doubt.

If you could sit down with any one living person and chat to them for two hours, who would you choose?

It would have to be Francis Ford Coppola. I think growing up, I was most influenced by his work professionally so he would be that guy! If Marlon Brando was alive, he would certainly also be on that list.

Thanks for taking the time out for this chat Luke.  Wishing you all the very best for 2024.

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