Kin star Charlie Cox has admitted he sometimes “dreaded” working on the set of the gangland series.
The Daredevil actor plays the role of Michael Kinsella in the hit RTE One show, which will return to our screens later this year.
But the English actor admitted he sometimes “dreaded” going to work some days as he would be left emotionally exhausted filming certain scenes.
Read More: First look at Kin series 2 as stars continue filming in Dublin for RTE crime drama
He told us: “When I read it (the script) I was so devastated by the loss of Jamie.
“I can tell you just from filming episodes two and three of last season. There was a period of time where I was like 'wow, I really kind of am dreading going to work'.
“I mean I loved the creative process, I was loving the story telling and I believed in it so much. But sitting in those feelings… when you do a funeral scene and you’re doing a funeral all day, you’re sitting in that grief all day.
“You know there was a scene at the wake where Jamie is in the coffin and we filmed that scene all day and we are grieving all day, albeit it acting but you still have to draw it from somewhere.
“It lingers… It's a very uncomfortable emotion to be living in and so my feeling with this show and in particular what happens in the beginning is that if anything it shines a light on how devastating to a family and to a community that life can be.”
Charlie revealed how fortunate he feels that he no longer takes on roles for the money – but rather to fill his own creative needs as an actor.
“The last few years of my life I have been fortunate enough to be in a position where there has been work. Not all the time. There was a few years ago there was a period where I was waiting for the right thing and nothing would come along. It gets quite nerve wracking after eight or nine months.
“I’ve never been someone who jumps into work just to work. I always wanted to curate a career as much as possible. It’s very difficult to do when you start because you have to take every job you get really.
“The last few years have been slightly different. And so., I’m not taking any jobs for the money. It’s all for creative reasons.
“Then there are other things you factor in, like keeping the family together is a big one now.”
He told how he was originally attached to another project and so wouldn't have been able to be a part of the series, which his wife – TV producer Samantha Thomas – was already involved with.
“So what happened with Kin was my wife is a producer on the show. She works for Bron Studios and we were in lockdown in the States where we live and she asked me to read this show.
“I was committed to a different show and that was slowly falling apart anyway. I was kind of a little bit relieved of that.
“I said to my wife, would they consider hiring me and we could keep the family together, we could all go to Dublin and make a show. I read it and I had also just finished watching Normal People.
“I was really moved by that and was reminded of the kind of storytelling I wanted to be involved in.”
Charlie also revealed his nerves at trying to pull off the Irish accent with viewers as he told how he bases his Irish accent off the voice of former Dublin goalkeeper, Shane Supple.
“I was terrified of that (doing an Irish accent). I worked my ass off when it comes to accents. I’m actually lucky because I’m not someone who can just do it like that. I’ve got friends who can just do accents. Sometimes the temptation is just to half-heartedly do it whereas I spent hours and hours and hours drilling the sounds listening to podcasts.
“I found this interview with Shane Supple, who is an ex soccer player and GAA player. I found the tone of his voice to be really humble and honest.
“I listened to Shane in an interview and there was a texture to his voice that I felt was unexpected for Michael.. I felt like it was close to what I wanted to do with him, his voice. Not to copy and repeat but there he has a clarity. He is very clear about what he wants to say but there is a complete lack of ego. It’s the opposite of a Conor McGregor type thing.
“I found that was the closest that I thought would suit Michael so I just try to base it off this interview he did. I listened to it over and over again.”
Kin had been plagued with criticism that the series was glamourising Dublin’s real-life gangland troubles.
But Charlie said that while he doesn’t believe he is the best person to have a debate with about it, he feels that the show shines a light on how gruesome and painful it can be to communities in Ireland.
It’s a tough one and I’m not sure I’m the person to really have that debate because I’m in it.
“My feeling when I read that script was if anything it shines a light on how gruesome and uncomfortable and painful that life can be.”
He recalled listening to Eamon Dunphy’s The Stand podcast with Nicola Tallant and said he was struck by how easy it is to get involved with rival gangs.
“There was one episode which struck me and it was basically how easy it is to fall into this life and how you are as a young person in a small community or a small town in Ireland, you are offered a lot of money to stand on a street corner and you don’t realise you’re part of a system.
“Your mates are lucky if they are getting minimum wage at McDonalds and you’re earning €2,000 a week doing f**k all. That escalates and before you know it, you can’t get out.
“I really understand it and connect with that idea. What I wanted to do with Michael was have a sense of someone who is so far beyond the possibility where he could exit this life and so he should feel.. a sense of reluctance, grief and frustration.
“It didn’t feel when we were shooting it that that was glamouriosng it but it is very easy for me to say as a paid actor on a show.
“I’m sure you can watch that show through a different set of lenses and think it’s f**king cool, so I don’t know. I’m reluctant to have that debate,” he added.
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