Robert Emms on Starring in ‘The Choral,’ Opposite Ralph Fiennes, and His ‘Andor’ Experience

What was it like for Emms to be part of the Star Wars universe, thanks to his role in Andor? “All of that stuff, it being Star Wars, it having a lot of secrecy, and it being quite intimidating at times, really played into the actual scenes that I was playing,” he tells THR. “Because the character I play is across the rebels and the Empire, the ISB. So, in a weird way, that tension helped. It was an amazing thing to be a part of.”

[SPOILER WARNING: something key about Emms’ Andor character is revealed in this paragraph!]
He also lauds Andor for its willingness to get political. “It is quite heightened, quite theatrical, but doesn’t shy away from saying some political things,” Emms highlights. “And I think that’s amazing. I’ve also loved meeting the fans over the last couple of years. They are the most dedicated group of fans I’ve ever met. And they just absolutely went for my character. That was lovely. I mean, the other day, someone stopped me in the street and said to me: ‘I’ve been to the bench in Valencia where you had your last scene.’ I hope I am not spoiling this for anyone. I die on that bench in Valencia. And he’s been there and made a vigil, a little shrine, and paid respects to my character. People are really, really lovely about it.”

So, Andor and the broader Star Wars franchise can remind people about the passion and power that film and TV can bring to bear, according to the actor. “Of course, it’s also a money-making machine, but one thing we sometimes forget,” Emms says. “That is how important art is and how important stories are, and how important sharing stories is. People go to watch films to change their lives. Maybe that film hasn’t made the box office a load of money, but it may have changed one person’s life in a very powerful way.”

Emms just wrapped shooting his next film, Blood on Snow, from director Cary Fukunaga and writers
Jo Nesbo and Ben Power, based on a Nesbo novel. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Eva Green, it is about a hitman who falls for his client’s wife, who happens to be the target of the assassin’s latest assignment.

“We shot it in Latvia, and a few days in London,” Emms tells THR. “It’s sort of a ’70s hitman film with a bit of an edge to it. I’ve seen bits of it, and it looks fantastic. And it has some great, great actors in there that I loved meeting. “Olafur Darri Olafsson, who’s in Severance. And Pilou Asbak from Game of Thrones, who is also really good. We had a really great time.”

Emms is even looking at creating some of his own ideas, telling THR: “I’ve got some things which I’m developing that is my own stuff. It’s quite early days. I’ve been developing a film with a director and also a short play with one of my best mates — she’s a writer.” But he needs to find the time and focus in between all his acting opportunities. “That’s also going on in the background, because when I get an acting job, that takes priority. And you pick up your own ideas again when you finish an acting job, but you need to switch your brain a bit.”