In the Netflix historical drama mini-series Death by Lightning, Alfie Tempest plays recurring character Irvin Garfield opposite Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield, and Death by Lightning premiered on Thursday 6th November. Alfie was directed by Ridley Scott when he played Young Lucius in Gladiator II in the flashback scenes, with Lucius played by Paul Mescal, and he filmed in Morocco and Malta for the project. Further screen roles for Alfie has seen him play Sammy Hurley in Apple TV’s Masters of the Air, be in the cast of BBC period drama Miss Austen (which stars Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen), and work with Stephen Graham in the Netflix series Bodies. Last year, Alfie made his professional theatre debut in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard as Homeless Boy at the Donmar Warehouse. We chatted to Alfie about his recurring character of Irvin Garfield in Death by Lightning, working on Gladiator II as Young Lucius (Paul Mescal) and making his professional theatre debut in The Cherry Orchard.

You can be seen playing recurring character Irvin Garfield in the new Netflix historical drama mini-series Death by Lightning, how did you prepare for taking on the role and how was it reading the scripts for the first time?

I took some research from his backstory. I was doing American West history at school at the time, so it gave me an opportunity to find out what it was like around this time, and we looked at pictures of how they dressed and the games they played as children.

What was it like filming opposite Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield and how was it getting into character as Irvin?

It was a privilege to work with Michael, such a great person with a fun personality and he gave me inspiration as an actor and how I could potentially be when I am older. On set, we all became a family, and all of us that played the Garfield children, we would play around and were like brothers and sisters around the film set, telling jokes and playing games. It was really easy around everyone to portray the role of Irvin and get into the mindset of what it was like to have a father become president.

Did you have any favourite scenes to work on and what do you feel you learnt from your time on set of the series?

My favourite scene was filming in The White House. There were lots of rooms and the set was truly amazing. We got to run around, play and smash vases, which was fun!

I always learn so much from all the other actors on set, and no matter how small or big your part, everyone works so hard at portraying their character.

How does it feel now Death by Lightning has premiered on Netflix (Thursday 6th November), and can you say about the show for those that haven’t yet had chance to watch it?

When we saw the trailer I was really excited to watch it and then when we watched the full release, seeing what an amazing job everyone had done, I was blown away. I definitely would say watch it as it has some amazing scenes and the story really is unique!

How did you find the experience on set of Gladiator II and being directed by Ridley Scott?

Overwhelming and a total privilege. You could really see all the hard work and passion that went into every part of it. I was often in awe of the other actors around me. Ridley knows exactly what he wants and has a great vision that showed when he directed me. It was a moment in my life I will never forget.

Do you remember how you felt finding out you’d booked the role of Young Lucius and what was it like meeting Paul Mescal and playing the younger version of his character?

When I found out, I came home from school, my mum gave me a card and when I opened it said “you got Lucius in Gladiator 2!!”, which instantly made me burst into tears of joy as I knew how lucky I was.

The first time I met Paul was in the hotel after a day filming and we sat on a sofa by the pool, we chatted about his career, my career, and how (as we are playing the same character) we would never be in a scene together. It was amazing to play the younger version of Paul Mescal.

What was it like filming for Gladiator II in Morocco and Malta and playing Lucius through several flashback scenes?

It was very hot and sandy, but the locations were all impressive and it was lovely to stay in the same hotel as all the cast and crew. I had chances to chat to the other actors and crew when we were not filming. I made some great friends. It was helpful to be able to see what the character was like in the original Gladiator in 2000 and then be able to portray him again.

I really enjoyed doing the scenes with Connie (Nielsen), who is an amazing actress and was giving me tricks and tips, as well as Pedro Pascal. I also got to film some cool action shots and have horse riding training, which should be a skill I can use again in future roles.

How would you describe your character Sammy Hurley in the Apple TV series Masters of the Air, and what was the show like to be part of?

Sammy was a very inquisitive and adventurous boy, who enjoyed learning from the airmen. He was always outdoors and we spent a lot of time with the amazing Sarah-Jayne Butler, the acting coach. We made diaries and stories of events we came up with based on our characters, which definitely helped us to live through the eyes of the characters. We even got to hear the real Sammy talking and look at the rooms they would have lived in. I also went to the actual school and house he grew up in Norfolk.

Masters of the Air was my first big production, and as I was so young, it was an amazing production to learn my craft as an actor.

Raff Law became a great friend, who I still chat to now and again. He was a great support and we had a lot of fun on set.

When I found out I got the part in a Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks production, I was very grateful and knew I would fit right in and give my best performance.

You have also worked on the BBC period drama Miss Austen, which stars Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen, and played Sam in Bodies for Netflix, can you tell us about filming for both?

So, both of these were very different to what I had done before, which gave me another great opportunity to be part of a great cast. Stephen Graham gave me some great advice while in the makeup trailer, even sharing his biscuits with me. That was another pinch me moment in my career. Miss Austen was, of course, working for the BBC, which, again, I hadn’t done before so it was a really nice role to get.

How was it making your professional theatre debut in 2024 in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard as Homeless Boy at the Donmar Warehouse?

I remember saying to my mum when I started out that I didn’t think I was confident enough to do live theatre. Then, when the audition came in from the Donmar, first of all I couldn’t believe that I had been called to one of the most amazing theatres to work in, but to do a Chekhov play felt unbelievable. When I got the role, I had more confidence in my ability to perform live.

It was such a quick turnaround and then I was performing on the West End stage with some lovely actors. I realised that theatre could definitely be an enjoyable option for me. Doing the bow and feeling the buzz of a live audience is a whole new experience, which felt amazing.

What did you enjoy most about performing on stage and being in the cast of The Cherry Orchard?

I think what I found the most amazing was that everything we did happened live and that anything that went wrong we all managed it, helped by all of the other actors. Everyone became a family on stage and had each other’s backs.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

My dad was a big influence on my career, he started at the age of 10 when he went to Italia Conti Stage School and then gained the role of The Artful Dodger in the TV drama Oliver Twist with George C. Scott, Cherie Lungi and Tim Curry. A lot of people say I am following in his footsteps. He is still an actor and is with the same agent as me!

I did a few things as a baby and then it was my mum who found an open audition for Masters of the Air. She asked me if I wanted to give it a go and I just jumped at the chance. I couldn’t believe I got the part. I then got an agent (Imogen at Byron’s Management) and have been acting professionally ever since!

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

My all-time favourite franchises are Star Wars, Marvel, and really any Steven Spielberg films, which is another reason why I was so happy to be playing in one of those productions. Recently, I have grown to love the TV series Stranger Things on Netflix, especially because some of the lead roles are a similar casting type to me and their acting is absolutely amazing. I can learn a lot from watching them and I see a lot of similarities in their style of acting to mine.

How do you like to spend your free time?

In my spare time I like to kick back and play some video games online with my friends. I also enjoy practicing and playing the piano with my family – I go to piano lessons at school to practice as well. I like playing golf with my grandad, tennis with my dad, football at school with friends, and in case I ever need to do my own stunts I do gymnastics.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about and what are you hoping 2026 brings?

I can’t talk about what I have been doing but I just hope to be able to continue and transition into acting in my adult years. Whatever happens, I know I have been so lucky and privileged to get amazing memories so far.

Alfie Tempest is represented by Byron’s Management www.byronsmanagement.co.uk

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