Cameron Tharmaratnam played the lead role of Hamza Choudry in the short film Bespoke, and he wrote and appeared in the horror short film Irish Son as The Boy. Further screen work for Cameron includes an episode of Doctors, the ITV medical mini-series Breathtaking, filming for the Sky Original Christmas film The Heist Before Christmas (which starred Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt), playing Dave in Marvin? (with the world premiere showing at SXSW), and he worked on an episode of the Northern Irish crime series Hope Street playing Micky Drury. On stage, Cameron has held readings of his play The Apple Orchard in London, New York and Belfast, and he played Connor in the world premiere of his play The Worst Person I Know at the New York Theatre Festival in summer 2022. Upcoming for Cameron will see him performing in Three Sisters at the Gaiety in Dublin for Dublin Theatre, develop a feature with Screen Ireland, and his film Irish Son is showing at festivals across Ireland, the UK and the United States. Chatting with us, Cameron told us about playing lead character Hamza Choudry in short film Bespoke, his horror short film Irish Son, working on the Christmas film The Heist Before Christmas and holding readings of his play The Apple Orchard.

In the short film Bespoke, you star as leading character Hamza Choudry, can you tell us about the film and your character?

Bespoke explores the kind of rabbit’s foot element of ‘getting what you want’ through the lens of a modern humble beginnings to riches story set in today’s tech-centric, capitalist landscape of Europe. As the son of a South-Asian immigrant myself, I totally understood the personal ambition behind Hamza’s character and the complications this creates within his family. It’s a timely and genuine story which was a joy to make with the Explorers team, who feel like a family to me, having already worked with them on Marvin?.

How was it working with writer/director Eduardo Cisneros and what was it like reading the script for the first time?

Eduardo’s a director who really trusts his actors and allows you to bring your own interpretation and personality to the character. It’s a great feeling showing up to set knowing the director is open and willing to take risks with you and that you’re both excited to explore the world together. As for the script… it’s a real gut punch. On top of being ambitious, original and clued in, he’s [Eduardo] done a great job at tugging at the heartstrings.

Can you say about the horror short film Irish Son, in which you play The Boy, and how was it writing and starring in the project?

Irish Son’s a deeply personal project to me and one which explores a facet of life as an Irish person from the Global Majority in a way that forced me to be really inventive, whilst looking inwards, when writing and performing it. A challenge but a thoroughly rewarding one.

What did you enjoy most about writing a horror script and where did the inspiration for the film come from?

The horror genre allows you to experiment with theme and style in a way that other genres don’t; especially when it comes to talking about race. So, obviously, (Jordan) Peele is a big inspiration but it also draws from the European independent film circuit, such as You Won’t Be Alone and Raw. However, the major inspiration from the outset, years ago, has always been Goya’s painting Saturn Devouring His Son.

You played guest character Felix Shaw in an episode of Doctors last year, how would you describe Felix and what was he like to play?

Felix is charming in the ‘boy next door’ kind of way. He’s unassuming and hides very little but it’s this, almost unbelievable, naivety he has that made him fun to portray. A far cry from The Boy in Irish Son!

How was your time on set of Doctors and how was it filming with the rest of the cast?

Doctors was an institution and I’m so sad it won’t be coming back. Everyone on set and in the team behind the scenes in Birmingham was a pleasure to work with. I have so many colleagues who have acted on the show and everyone only has good things to say about it.

What was it like being part of an episode of the ITV medical mini-series Breathtaking and the Sky Original Christmas film The Heist Before Christmas (which starred Timothy Spall and James Nesbitt)?

Filming in Belfast is always fun because I get to come home and very often you’re working with many of the same team in regards to camera, sound, make-up departments etc. so it’s always a lovely, friendly environment when you’re on set and everyone is always on the top of their game.

In 2023, you could be seen playing Dave in Marvin?, what was this project like to film and how was it attending the world premiere at SXSW?

Marvin? was the first time working with the Explorers team in Amsterdam, many of whom are now close friends, and also my first time shooting in that city, which is beautiful and full of craic. Also, the crew members in Amsterdam are some of the most talented I’ve had the pleasure of shooting with.

Having a film show at SXSW is a dream for any actor/filmmaker and getting to attend it with Sven (Ironside) and (Sarah) Rose, my co-stars, made it even better.

How was it filming your episode of the Northern Irish crime series Hope Street as Micky Drury in Series 2?

Lots of my friends’ parents love to shout ‘Micky!’ at me now at Christmas parties, so that’s fun. But, like I said before, shooting in the North of Ireland is always a good time on set and Hope Street was no different. The crew, actors and team behind the scenes are all exceptionally talented and great to work with.

On stage, we understand you held readings of your play The Apple Orchard in London, New York and Belfast, how has it been working on the play and taking on the role of Steve Nadar?

Again, The Apple Orchard is a piece of writing that is both deeply personal to me and exceptionally ambitious so it’s a continuously evolving journey as we try and get it to a main stage but it’s been a total pleasure too. Everyone who has worked on it so far, and championed it, has become a good friend of mine and a collaborator for the future. So it just shows that, despite its obvious challenges, when you make independent work, it only serves to further expand your world rather than waiting around for the phone to ring.

How did you find the experience performing in the world premiere of your play The Worst Person I Know at the New York Theatre Festival in summer 2022 as Connor?

It’s always mad craic to do a play with your friends and to do it in Manhattan doesn’t get much better.

How is it seeing scripts you’ve written come together on screen or stage and do you have a writing process?

My writing process involves: a lot of coffee, a lot of different playlists, and a lot of time staring blankly at a ceiling, and the people in my life are exceptionally patient with my mood swings as a result of it. But, despite this, when you eventually find the words, for whatever is going on in your head, on the page, which are then learnt, rehearsed and performed by actors, and brought to life by the team behind the camera, all of whom are giving their time and energy and imaginations and talent to that little thing you wrote in your bedroom, then that makes it all worth it. And you should be exceptionally grateful to those people because not everyone gets to feel the unique kind of joy that comes from that.

How different do you find working (either acting or writing) on screen opposed to stage and do you have a favourite aspect of each?

Not particularly. I think it’s always about being willing and open to work with the person/people acting opposite you. Because that’s the fun part of acting. It’s no fun acting by yourself.

Where does your love of acting and writing come from and how did you get started in both?

My parents will say I was a pain in the arse as a child, maybe as a result of an overactive imagination, so let’s not argue with them.

What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?

I don’t watch a lot of TV or theatre. I usually just watch films or read. I love going to the movies in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, when it’s just you and one other unemployed person and you get to indulge in the escapism seeing a film in the cinema still provides. It’s so important we preserve movie theatres and there’s some great ones near me in London that I love, namely: The Castle, Genesis, and The Prince Charles. In Belfast, The QFT is a special place. We screened Irish Son there for friends, family and crew and it’ll be magic when my first feature is on their board.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can share and what are you hoping the next few months bring for you?

I’m looking forward to performing in Three Sisters at The Gaiety in Dublin for Dublin Theatre Festival.

Writing-wise: I’m currently developing a feature with Screen Ireland as part of their Perspectives scheme and Irish Son is showing at festivals across Ireland, the UK and the US. Hopefully we’ll see The Apple Orchard’s main stage debut next year and there’s work to do with that. So, plenty to be getting on with!

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