I think the artist’s role in life is of paramount importance. The artist’s voice is a magical thing. It gives the artist the ability to connect with their audience, to garner trust, absolute trust. And that’s huge. It’s a massive responsibility I think. It’s something that should not be denied, but of course it is also something that must not be abused.

In my opinion, it is our job to bring onto ourselves the trust of the audience and take them on a journey into the areas of life that they naturally shy away from, be it out of fear, anxiety, or a lack of understanding.

This is true of all artists, but I fell it is particularly the case for narrative artists. Musicians, poets and painters etc. can conjure a mood or feeling, but in motion pictures or prosaic writing we can literally guide our charges step by step through the difficulties they face. Whether it is the writer telling the story, the director molding the nuances, or the actor whom the audience directly follows, we fumble through the trials and tribulations of romance, the dark depths of depravity of crime and punishment and the heart-wrenching agonies of loss and grief, we shine a light for them, we show them a way, a path through their pain, discomfort or fear. It is only when outside of our comfort zones that we can grow and learn, and to be a guide for others in their growth and development is a true honor.

This is why we must be careful what work we choose to put out into the world. We must be certain that we have considered all possible interpretations of what we do and what we show the audience. They allow us to take them into the heart of their fear and pain and they believe we will deliver them again into safety. If we were to choose to “shake things up” or to jolt the audience and leave them guessing, we would not be mavericks on the forefront of a new wave of art, we would be reckless and irresponsible and doing a disservice.

My writing tends to be dark. I’m often asked, “Could you not write something nice?”, but that’s not my calling. I have an innate ability to look into and understand the ill in life, and therefore it is my responsibility to do so. I must help those, upon whom such a life has been forced, to work through it. I must give them strength and show them the light in dire circumstance. I on the other hand lack understanding of other areas in life and so I turn to my contemporaries to guide me along my road.

In performance I have played many roles, across all genres, and I have greatly enjoyed that diversity. Again I have a flair for the dark, but I relish those moments when I get to play in the light of romance and comedy. When working on serious, high stakes pieces, I feel that same responsibility to find the truth in the story that I feel when writing. When working on more high-spirited pieces, I get to enjoy the first hand guidance of the writer and director in areas wherein I’m not at home, and being a genuine member of the displaced, I am a true guide for those who give me their trust.

It is a beautiful thing really… It makes me very proud.