Phoenix Laroche plays lead character Joe Thompson in the feature film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, working closely with his on-screen family – parents Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy (Tim and Polly) and sisters Delilah Bennett-Cardy and Billie Gadsdon (Beth and Fran) – and he attended the Leicester Square screening event earlier this year. It has been announced that Phoenix will play Cedric Chalfont in Marble Hall Murders for the BBC, which currently has a scheduled release for September, Barnaby Fitzmaurice in TV series The Party alongside Luke Evans as Martin Gilmour and Tom Cullen as Ben Fitzmaurice, and he was directed by Mel Gibson for the upcoming feature film The Resurrection of Christ: Part One. In the psychological Amazon Prime thriller series Malice, Phoenix played Dexter Tanner for his first regular character on TV, and previously, he played Prince Robert in the Hallmark Christmas film The Royal Nanny and Ethan in an episode of Apple TV’s Trying – Series 2. Having played William in the Apple TV live-action/animated short film The Velveteen Rabbit, Phoenix won the award for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program at the 2025 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards for his starring role. Chatting with Phoenix, he told us about his lead role of Joe Thompson in the film adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree, his upcoming projects Marble Hall Murders, The Party and The Resurrection of Christ: Part One, and winning an Emmy Award for his starring role of William in The Velveteen Rabbit.

Had you read Enid Blyton’s book series The Magic Faraway Tree before auditioning for the feature film adaptation, and what drew you to the role of Joe Thompson?

I had read the book as a bedtime story when I was younger, so I was really excited to audition for the film.

Can you tell us about The Magic Faraway Tree and your character Joe?

The Magic Faraway Tree is an adventure story about magical lands, a delicious tomato sauce, and not giving up on your dreams. I think Joe is a really fun, kind brother who loves his sisters. He’s also a great pilot.

What was it like filming with Andrew Garfield (father Tim), Claire Foy (mother Polly), Delilah Bennett-Cardy (sister Beth) and Billie Gadsdon (sister Fran) as your on-screen family?

It was the best fun ever. We all became a big family and shared so many jokes. Andrew is very funny, and we all had our own handshake which we made together. One of my favourite things was climbing up the giant tree with harnesses and ropes, sliding down the slippery slip, and, of course, flying the Land Hopper.

What was Joe like to play, and what did you enjoy most about playing a lead character in an Enid Blyton screen adaptation?

I really liked playing the part of Joe because I’m a boy who loves playing outside in the woods and fields and making up stories with my cousins and younger brother. I am not really a ‘gamer kid’, but that’s when you bring in the acting part. I loved being a lead role because you’re always busy on set. Hopefully one day I will be number one on the call sheet, have lots to do, and have the biggest trailer.

Do you have any favourite highlights from filming for The Magic Faraway Tree, and how was it attending the screening event in Leicester Square earlier this year?

I loved flying the Land Hopper with all the switches and dials, and the spaghetti-eating competition scene, but the water fight scene was the most fun of all.

The screening was brilliant. It was so lovely to see everyone again. I even signed an autograph and got to say “roll picture” on stage. It is always special when you have to wait a long time for something.

It has been announced that you will be playing Cedric Chalfont in Marble Hall Murders for BBC – with a release date currently scheduled for September; what can you say about your time on set of this project?

It was such a treat shooting in Ireland and Corfu in hotels with swimming pools. Anthony Horowitz is really talented and kind, and gave me one of his Alex Rider books. In Marble Hall, it was interesting playing two different characters in two different timelines. One is even a little bit spooky.

You have also filmed for The Party as Barnaby Fitzmaurice alongside a cast including Luke Evans (Martin Gilmour) and Tom Cullen (Ben Fitzmaurice); how was it meeting your fellow cast members and filming for this role?

We had a fun scene where all three of us were in a den – it was called the boiler room in the script. I didn’t know they’re famous, but they’re both really nice and great actors. In between takes, we lifted weights. I was the strongest!

What was it like being directed by Mel Gibson for the upcoming feature film The Resurrection of Christ: Part One, and what are you looking forward to for the film to be released?

I watched Mutiny on the Bounty and Braveheart before shooting, so I was really excited to work with Mel. He’s got so much energy and is really funny. He knew just what he wanted from each scene, and he gave me some great acting tips. He’s also got a VERY big trailer.

How was it getting into character as Dexter Tanner in the Amazon Prime Video series Malice and having him as your first regular character on TV?

I loved living in London as I discovered a great hot chocolate shop called Knoops. Finding my dead dog was a hard scene, and I had to think about my cat Captain so that I could cry. The best part was filming in Greece. The cast and crew all lived next to each other in villas, and we would hang out, swim, and eat Greek salad. When I jumped off the cliff, I did it myself because, like Tom Cruise, I do my own stunts. It was a privilege to work with David Duchovny, who taught me how to keep each take fresh.

What was it like being part of a psychological thriller series, and how did you prepare for your role?

They kept me away from the dark scenes, and I didn’t read all of the scripts, but I had a rough idea of what was going on. Adam (Jack Whitehall) was always kind to me, so I just played the situation as he played it.

How did you find the experience starring as William in the Apple TV live-action/animated short film The Velveteen Rabbit, and how different was it to your other films and series?

This was one of my favourite bedtime stories, so it was amazing to win this role. The film is so beautifully made. Martin (Pope), the producer, is so clever. We filmed it in Dublin in wintertime, so when it’s summer in the film, it was actually quite cold. The snow in the film is just tiny bits of paper, but I could still make it into snowballs. It was an exciting new challenge to record my voice for the animation scenes and get the timing just right. I still miss the rabbit.

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of William and how was it watching The Velveteen Rabbit for the first time?

I’d missed out on a lot of auditions and was just about ready to give up when my Mumma got the email that, after three rounds of castings, I’d won the part. We both went wild. Watching the films with my cousins was amazing, especially when my younger cousin Bertie kept on shouting, “Why do they keep calling him William? His name is Phoenix!”.

For your role of William in The Velveteen Rabbit, you won Outstanding Younger Performer in a Preschool, Children’s or Young Teen Program at the 2025 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards; what was it like being a guest at the ceremony in Los Angeles, and how was it going on stage to collect your award?

I loved flying to Los Angeles on the aeroplane in first class! Everyone was so kind in LA. My Mumma and I ran along with the LA marathon – it was happening right outside our hotel – and went to a real cowboy boot shop. I was a bit nervous when I had to go on stage and give a speech when they called my name as the winner, but I had written a speech just in case… The award is beautiful and really heavy, and came in a cool wooden box. The airport people let me take it back to England as hand luggage, and I didn’t let anyone else carry it. It’s MY precious.

What are some of your stand-out memories from playing Prince Robert in the Hallmark Christmas film The Royal Nanny in 2022?

I got bitten by so many mosquitos in Belgium, where we were filming. This was my first proper role, and it was great to be working on something for a long time. I loved filming in an actual castle, which had a moat – although, thinking about it, that’s probably why there were so many mosquitoes. I remember one scene where I had to eat pancakes. A lot of pancakes.

What do you remember most from your first screen role, when you played guest character Ethan in an episode of Trying – Series 2 for Apple TV?

I remember the weather was awful, and the director was isolating with COVID, so he was directing the scene remotely. I REALLY didn’t like wearing a radio mic… I think my mum thought it was the beginning, and the end, of my acting career.

How did you get into acting and did you always know you wanted to do it professionally?

My Puppa and Mumma would make films with me and my brother during lockdown, and I’ve always loved doing school plays – although I’ve always been given small parts. I enjoy playing make-believe and shooting films on my iPad with my school friends. I want to be an actor and a producer when I’m older.

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I’ve seen so many great films so it’s hard to think of a favourite, but I love The Thomas Crown Affair, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Detectorists. I also really enjoyed watching The Durrells.

What do you enjoy doing away from acting?

I love cricket, jumping on hay bales with my friends, and zooming around the garden on my bike. I especially love eating Italian food!

Do you have any further upcoming projects that you can talk about, and what are you hoping 2026 brings you?

I’m “resting” at the moment, so open to offers. I hear they might be looking for a new James Bond… 🙂

I’m also looking forward to starting my new school in September.