Lucas Lees booked his first professional screen character playing Zack in CBBC popular series The Dumping Ground, with Series 14 releasing earlier this year. For The Dumping Ground, Lucas works with a cast including staff members Ebube Chukwuma (Josh Tersoo), Paula Penman (Anne) and Dave Johns (Bernie), and original The Dumping Ground actor Kia Pegg is the acting coach for the series. Away from acting, Lucas uploaded a monologue last year to Instagram on the subject of OCD. We found out from Lucas about having his first professional character as Zack in The Dumping Ground, what Zack is like to play and working with acting coach Kia Pegg.

Can you tell us about your character Zack in CBBC’s The Dumping Ground and what drew you to the role?

Zack is a really interesting character to play because, on the surface, he comes across as quite angry and grumpy, but deep down he’s actually really misunderstood and misjudged. I think a lot of the way he acts comes from what he’s been through, and that’s what makes him such a layered character.

What drew me to the role was actually how different Zack is from me in real life. Our personalities are basically complete opposites, and I really liked the challenge of stepping into the shoes of someone who thinks and reacts so differently to how I would. As an actor, that’s the exciting part – getting to explore emotions and behaviours that aren’t naturally your own.

I also think viewers slowly start to understand Zack more as the story develops, and you see there’s more to him than just being the “angry” kid. Playing a character with so many emotions and different sides to him has definitely been one of my favourite things about being on The Dumping Ground.

How did you feel booking Zack as your first professional character, and has filming for a TV series been as you expected?

Booking Zack as my first professional character felt surreal. When my mum told me that I got the part, I was actually speechless – I couldn’t believe it because I’d never done any professional acting before. It took a while for it to really sink in that I’d actually got the role. Once it did, I was so excited, but equally nervous at the same time.

Filming a TV series has been such an amazing experience and, in some ways, very different to what I expected. I didn’t really know what to expect going into it, but I’ve loved learning about all the different aspects of filming, from the lighting to the cameras and everything happening behind the scenes. It’s been a huge learning experience for me, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

What is Zack like to play and what do you enjoy most about the character?

Zack is really good to play because I get to use so many different emotions. What I enjoy most about his character is that he has so many layers, and I’ve loved being able to show that throughout the series. As each episode goes on, the audience gets to know him more and more, which has been really exciting to be part of as an actor.

I enjoy that he isn’t just one thing – there’s a lot going on with him emotionally, and getting to explore all those different sides of his personality has made playing him really rewarding.

What is it like filming alongside your fellow cast members and having original The Dumping Ground actor Kia Pegg as an acting coach?

Filming alongside my fellow cast members has been amazing. All of my castmates are great, and we’ve all become really good friends outside of filming too, which has made being on set even more fun and comfortable. Everyone is really supportive of each other, and I think that helps a lot when filming.

Having Kia Pegg as our acting coach has also been incredible. She knows the show inside and out from being part of The Dumping Ground herself, and she’s been brilliant at helping me build Zack’s character and understand him better. I’ve learned so much from working with her, and she’s really helped me grow in confidence throughout the process.

What do you remember from your first day on set and how was it filming your first scene?

It was definitely really nerve-racking at first, but once I got into it, it became one of the best experiences of my life. All of the crew are so supportive and knowledgeable, and they really help you feel relaxed and comfortable on set, which made a huge difference for me.

I do remember thinking, “Wow, there are so many people behind the camera!”. When you watch a TV show, you don’t really realise how many people it takes to make everything happen. There could be around 20 people on set while you’re filming a scene, all working on different things like lighting, cameras, sound and direction. It’s been amazing getting to see how everything comes together behind the scenes.

How was it watching the new series when it premiered on CBBC earlier this year and seeing yourself on screen?

At first, I said I wasn’t going to watch it because I find it hard watching myself back on screen, but I did end up watching it because I genuinely really enjoy the show itself. It’s so funny and dramatic at times, and it’s just a really great watch.

Me and my family all got together to watch it when it premiered on CBBC earlier this year, and it was such a surreal experience. It felt really strange seeing myself on TV, especially knowing everything that went into filming those scenes, but it was also really exciting and something I’ll always remember.

Do you have any stand-out highlights from your time on set of Series 14 of The Dumping Ground that you can share?

There was a lot of joking around on set, so that was always fun and made the days really enjoyable. I think one of the most memorable moments for me was the scene where I got to flip the table and wreck the room. It was so fun to film, and it was great to see Zack getting to be really emotional and intense in that moment.

Those kinds of scenes were really exciting because they let me push the character in a different direction. Being able to go all in with it while still having that fun, light atmosphere on set made it even better.

What is it like reading the scripts for The Dumping Ground, and do you have a process for learning your lines?

Reading the scripts for The Dumping Ground is always really exciting because you never know what’s going to happen next with the characters. As soon as I get the scripts, I normally read through everything straight away because I just get really into the story.

I actually learn my lines really quickly – it’s almost like I’ve got a photographic memory. Once I’ve read them a few times, they usually just stick in my head naturally. I still practise them out loud though, especially for bigger scenes, because it helps me get into the emotions of the character and make everything feel more real on screen.

Everyone on set is really supportive of each other too, which makes such a difference. If anyone ever forgets a line, there’s always someone ready to help. Little Henry (Wright), who plays Vinny, is honestly the best at knowing everyone’s lines – and he’s only eight! It’s actually so impressive, and it really shows how close the cast is.

You uploaded a monologue on OCD to Instagram last year, can you tell us about this?

I was diagnosed with OCD when I was 12, and at first I found it really difficult to explain what I was going through. A lot of people around my age didn’t really understand it, and sometimes I felt misunderstood myself.

The monologue was very personal because it talked about the constant thoughts and worries that can take over your mind, and how exhausting it can be trying to fight them every day. I wanted to show the reality of living with OCD, especially as a young person, instead of the stereotypes people often joke about online.

Posting it on Instagram was honestly a bit scary, but I felt like if even one person watched it and felt less alone, then it was worth sharing. The response was really positive, and a lot of people messaged me saying they related to it or learned something new about OCD. That made me realise how important awareness is.

For me, speaking openly about OCD has helped turn something I once felt embarrassed about into something that can help others understand and support people going through similar experiences.

How did you get into acting and did you always know you wanted to act on screen?

It was since I acted in a school play when I was 11 that I really got into acting. I really enjoyed it, and it seemed to come quite natural to me. Before that, I never really thought about acting at all – I was always just really into lots of sports. I still do enjoy my sports now, but acting is definitely my favourite.

I didn’t always know I wanted to act on screen. It was more something that grew from that first experience in the school play, and then I started to realise how much I enjoyed it and wanted to keep doing more.

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

I love watching The Office (US) – I find it so funny, and I can rewatch it loads without getting bored. I also really like Happy Gilmore and Good Will Hunting – they’re both great films in completely different ways. On top of that, I’m a big fan of most Marvel films as well.

I tend to enjoy things that are either really funny, really emotional, or just really entertaining to watch, so those are some of my favourites.

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

I love playing football and I play for a local team that my dad coaches, which I really enjoy. I also play golf, do jujitsu, and I like staying active in general. Outside of sports, I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends, whether that’s going to the cinema, going out for food, or walking our Frenchie Olive.

It’s a nice balance for me because I can stay busy and active with sport, but also just relax and enjoy time with the people I’m closest to.

What advice would you give to a younger actor hoping to book a role on a show like The Dumping Ground?

Don’t give up on your dreams, and always believe it could be you. Work hard, stay consistent, and most importantly, have fun whilst you’re doing it – because if you’re enjoying it, that really comes across in your performance.

I’d also say do your research about acting and watch a variety of actors to see different styles and techniques. Learn as much as you can from others, but also try to find your own way of doing things. Keep practising, stay patient, and don’t be put off if things don’t happen straight away.

Is there anything you find most rewarding about being part of the acting industry?

What I find most rewarding about being part of the acting industry is getting to bring a character to life and then seeing how people connect with it once it’s on screen. It’s really special knowing that something you’ve worked so hard on can make an audience feel something, whether that’s laughter, emotion, or excitement, and that it can stick with them after they’ve watched it.

I also really enjoy the whole process of filming itself and how much you’re constantly learning along the way. From working closely with the cast and crew to understanding everything that goes on behind the scenes, there’s always something new to take in. I’ve especially enjoyed learning about the different technical sides too, like cameras, lighting, and how scenes are put together, which I didn’t really know much about before.

Being able to grow as an actor while doing something I genuinely love is definitely the most rewarding part for me. Every experience on set has helped me build confidence and improve.

Do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about and what are you hoping this year brings for your career?

I have some exciting things lined up this year, but I can’t say just yet as it’s all under wraps. I’m really looking forward to what’s coming though. I’m also so grateful to have such amazing support from my agency South Coast Kidz, who keep giving me some amazing opportunities, so watch this space.

In terms of what I’m hoping this year brings for my career, I’d just love to keep building on what I’ve already done, keep learning, and hopefully take on more roles that challenge me as an actor. The experience so far has helped me grow, so I’m excited to see what’s next and to keep pushing myself forward.