Rory Wilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times asks the actor and ‘Poldark’ and ‘Doc Martin’ star Rory Wilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

Seize every adventure that life presents you and always look around you to enjoy the moment.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

No matter how much you polish it, a turd is still a turd.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2015?

It’s a close tie between Miley Cyrus and Kayne West. Miley Cyrus has perfected the art of self-humiliation, but Kayne West is the king of public embarrassment. I’d rather humiliate myself than cause others embarrassment – so, it’s Kayne West in my opinion.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Oil painting. Before becoming an actor I was an artist, and I do sometimes miss the cathartic meditation of losing oneself in the creation of a painting. Put on some Philip Glass, get a large prepped board out and open up the paints – heaven.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

Spending a few hours with my best friend from childhood. He died when still very young.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?

Tricky. They created the problem, but our greed created them. To get out of the crisis, we need the people who created it in the first place to carry on doing what they did, to get us out of it. Our own fault for embracing capitalism, I guess.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

‘That’s not a problem’. Makes me really want to punch people!

‘Hello, I’d like to buy these, please’.

‘That’s not a problem’.

‘Oh – good’ – SMACK!

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Yes, charity does begin at home. Always look after your family – in the end they’ll be the ones you turn to for help. But charity doesn’t end at home. I support Cancer Research, Save the Children, and the Cornwall Air Ambulance but I should do more for charity really.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

Mobile phones are both ace and a nightmare. When we need them they’re the most useful invention of the last 25 years, but when someone pipes up on the train next to us and proceeds to envelop everyone loudly with their tedious world, I feel compelled to suggest they say ‘It’s not a problem’…

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

Patrick Stewart, Brian Cox, Lauren Bacall, Tom Waits, Hilary Mantel, Kate Bush, Marion Cotillard, Michael Palin, Nick Cave, Cary Grant and of course my partner Emma Spurgin Hussey.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

Fruits de mer at The Falmouth Bay Seafood Restaurant in Truro, Cornwall – all freshly caught from the Cornish seas that morning.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

Depends where you are. In hot climates a long G&T at 11:00am is perfectly acceptable, whereas in the UK a glass of red with lunch is fine. Whisky for breakfast should never be encouraged. I personally don’t drink during the hours of daylight.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A Negroni please.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

Small dinner parties with good friends where conversation is lively and lots of laughter ensues. I’ve never been one for large scale bashes, although I do my best – put on your actor hat and get into the role.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My youngest nephew. He’s still a toddler and thinks everything is brilliant. Kids really can be quite inspirational.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Red wine – I’m a sucker for a decent bottle of French.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A small dot as I hate tattoos.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

An MGB GT V8 (British Racing Green).

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

When I was 18 months old I fell (I was actually pushed) out the back of my parents’ Austin minivan, in a car park in Lyme Regis. I landed on my chin and subsequently bit off the last quarter of my tongue, which was promptly gobbled up by a seagull. Thankfully, my tongue grew back, but it resulted in a lisp during my early years, which made it very difficult to say my own name. I still lisp after one too many.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

Photos of my family, an Elvis clock and an as-yet-unanswered wedding invitation.

Rory Wilton is a UK based stage, film and television actor. He lives on the north coast of Cornwall and plays Richard Tonkin in the new series of Poldark on BBC1 and Chippy Miller in Doc Martin on ITV1 (currently filming his fourth season). He is also the co-artistic director of the Bedlam Youth Theatre Company of Cornwall with his actor/writer partner Emma Spurgin Hussey.

Follow him on Twitter at @RoryWilton.

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