Louis Suc can be heard as regular character Cyril in the new animated series Submarine Jim, which premiered on CBBC this year, and he voices Jack (Jack and Jill) in the Netflix series Rhyme Time Town. In the 2024 feature film Here, Louis played Todd, with the film starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and he’s had guest roles in Goldie’s Oldies as Dorian on Nickelodeon, Plebs as Barney opposite Tom Rosenthal and his on-screen mother Ellie Taylor, and in Doctors, he played Logan Bridges. With Sam Claflin starring as Philip in My Cousin Rachel, Louis played the 10-year-old version of his character in the film, and he played Young Vlad (Toby Sebastian) in I’ll Find You, and in the 2015 feature film High Rise, he played Toby – the son of Charlotte (Sienna Miller). As a stage actor, most recently Louis played Dick in the stage adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five at Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre in 2022 alongside his on-stage family Dewi Wykes as Julian, Isabelle Methven as Anne, Maria Goodman as George, Lara Denning as Aunt Fanny and David Ricardo-Pearce as Uncle Quentin. Further stage roles for Louis have been two original West End casts when he played Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, with Douglas Hodge playing Willy Wonka, and he played Eric in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre for his professional acting debut. We found out from Louis about his regular role of Cyril in the new animated series Submarine Jim, working on feature film Here, his time as Dick in The Famous Five on stage and originating the roles of Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Eric in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical in the West End.
In the new animated series Submarine Jim, you can be heard as regular character Cyril, can you tell us about the show and your character?
The show follows a group of fishy friends who embark on various zany adventures, driving around in their submarine in search of a new home!
Cyril has been such a joy to play. He’s pedantic, a stickler for the rules, but above all, he is fiercely loyal to his captain.
What is it like recording as Cyril and what are you enjoying most about working on the series?
For me, the thing I have found most interesting has been finding Cyril’s voice, as it sits in a place that is quite different to where my normal speaking voice lives. Being able to do something so different vocally has been great fun.
How does it feel now Submarine Jim has premiered on CBBC and who do you think the show will appeal to?
It feels fantastic! It’s so lovely to see the whole project come together. It is a super fun show, and I think kids of primary school age will love it!
How was it taking on the role of Jack (Jack and Jill) in the Netflix animated series Rhyme Time Town?
Getting to play such a well-known character from the nursery rhyme canon was fab and the whole feel of the show itself was so gorgeous and heartwarming.
What was it like filming as Todd in the 2024 feature film Here, which starred Tom Hanks as Richard, and how was it being directed by Robert Zemeckis?
The whole film was shot from one angle, which meant that blocking on set had to be very precise, which was an interesting challenge. Naturally working with Robert was a great opportunity.
You have had guest roles in Goldie’s Oldies as Dorian for Nickelodeon, Plebs as Barney opposite Tom Rosenthal and your on-screen mother Ellie Taylor, and Doctors as Logan Bridges, can you tell us about working on your episodes and storylines?
Well, firstly, Dorian was an interesting one, as he is essentially concealing his mal-intent for most of the episode, so the villain reveal was a really enjoyable moment.
The Plebs episode was a very fun storyline, with a teenage Barney desperately trying to get the attention of a girl he fancies, as and being completely sidelined by Jason who was in fact meant to be helping him.
My time on Doctors was a chance to do something heavier in tone, which I found very exciting to get into. Logan was a typical angsty teen, but you learn that there’s trouble at home which is the root cause of his misdemeanours, so finding that understanding or empathy even was a fun challenge.
How was your time playing Young Vlad (Toby Sebastian) in I’ll Find You and Philip at 10 (Sam Claflin) in My Cousin Rachel?
I remember very vividly absolutely loving my brief viola lessons I had in the preparation for I’ll Find You. Also, the design on that project was so beautiful, and I remember just feeling in awe – it really fulled my young imagination.
My Cousin Rachel was filled with actors I have always admired, and it was such a pleasure to work with Roger Michell.
What do you remember most from being on set of the 2015 feature film High Rise as Toby – the son of Charlotte, played by Sienna Miller?
One of the things that I remember the most from that project was throwing a giant tyre down a staircase, which is obviously every 12 year old’s dream. Not only that though, I really remember just how kind and caring the whole production was. Looking back, I am really grateful for that, as the film does have some quite dark moments, but as a child on that set I felt very safe.
On stage, you most recently played Dick in the new musical staging of The Famous Five at Theatr Clwyd and Chichester Festival Theatre in 2022, how was it bringing the character to the stage and was there anything that drew you to the production?
I mean, it’s always exciting to be up for a reworking of something so well loved as The Famous Five. I think being a part of telling that new retelling was hard to pass up. Also, the music was brilliant and really attracted me to the project.
What was it like being part of an Enid Blyton stage adaptation and how was it performing with your on-stage family – Dewi Wykes (Julian), Isabelle Methven (Anne), Maria Goodman (George), Lara Denning (Aunt Fanny) and David Ricardo-Pearce (Uncle Quentin)?
Everyone was so fantastic, and we bonded very quickly during rehearsals, which definitely translated to our on-stage chemistry.
How did you feel finding out you’d booked the lead role of Charlie Bucket in the original West End cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and what are some of your favourite memories from being in the cast of the musical and originating the character?
Obviously, I was elated, but I don’t think I really understood how big of a production it was going to be! A fond memory from that show is perhaps my opening night, where there were some technical difficulties and Douglas (Hodge) and I were stuck in the glass elevator, half suspended above the auditorium.
How did you find the experience playing Eric in the original West End cast of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre for your first professional acting role?
I had no conceivable notion of what it meant to be a professional actor back then, so for me as a kid it just felt like a big game of pretend with my friends, where we got to dance around and sing fun songs every night!
How different do you find stage acting, filming for screen, and recording voiceovers, and do you have a favourite aspect of each?
They are all very different for sure, at least I see it that way. I think my approach to voiceover is vastly different to how I approach stage or screen, as all of the storytelling has to be done vocally; you get no help from your face or body to convey a particular story beat. However, in all aspects, I think I am always trying to be present and be aware of the real moment.
What was it like training at Trinity Conservatoire of Music and what encouraged you to attend?
My time studying at Trinity was massively inspiring – intense at times, but ultimately very fulfilling. It was a place where we were really given the space to hone our craft and explore, which I am forever grateful for. Quite frankly, my main reason for attending was because I had started having lessons with one of the tutors there prior to applying, and they were endlessly encouraging.
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?
I was an incredibly shy and apprehensive child, but playing pretend and acting was always something that felt safe. So my parents sent me to a drama club, which boosted my confidence, and a little while later I got very lucky after an open audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical. After that, things snowballed, and the rest is history, as they say.
What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?
In terms of cinema, a film that has stayed with me for many years is Amélie. I just think it is visually stunning and utterly timeless.
My most recent television obsession was Severance, which I thought was some of the best television I have watched in a long time.
My last theatre visit was to see David Harewood as Othello, and that was so magnificently staged and the performances were phenomenal.
How do you like to spend your free time?
These days, I spend my spare time reading my ever-growing pile of ‘to read’ books and going to see gigs in town!
Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about, and what are you hoping this year brings?
There are some fun things I wish I could tell you, but alas, I am sworn to secrecy! Hopefully, all will be revealed later this year.
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