Introducing Heraclius

To be trusted with bringing an historical figure like Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, to life was a real privilege. With much still to learn, this was probably my favourite, and most challenging role as an actor to date.

With the fictional characters I have portrayed so far, I have had to rely on conversations with the writers and directors so that I can begin to get to know the character; be that a manipulative charlatan, a lonesome time-jumping wanderer, or cold blooded assassin. As I am breathing life into each character, I find myself trying draw on how they have been imagined by their creators. They are then somewhat filtered through my own psyche. Elements of my own Self merge with the character imagined by the writer, and someone new is born from these two ‘parents’. It’s really quite magical process.

With Heraclius, I found myself taking a similar approach, but now I also had historical documents to draw from. I could learn about the political situation in which he found himself, what his life had been like and what was going on for him at that particular point in time when his beloved city was being laid siege to. What kind of person was he recorded to be? What was his health like at the time? I really wanted to get to know him. Even after all this, I can only make my best guess at who he was as a person.

As I spent time digesting what I had read, and thinking about other characters I have come across in books and films, I found my Heraclius gradually taking shape. Old and care-worn. His health isn’t the best anymore. He’s maybe now sightly cantankerous, but with deep sense of responsibility and loyalty to the people under his care.

No man is an island

People are not islands; living in isolation from each other. We shaped by the environment in which we find ourselves. The people around us, and the situations in which we find ourselves collectively. I might be able to create a version of Heraclius which makes sense to me, but when he is actually placed into the story with the other actors, and physical environment, he evolves yet again into another version. It was actually quite difficult for me to place myself into the historical moment. If it was me there; care worn and worried, but still fiercely protective of his people; how would I act if it was me there. Samuel Häkkinen, who plays Balian, and myself talked about this as we struggled to break into the scene.

Samuel had been living the role of Balian for many weeks now. The breakthrough came for us when he realised how similar the situation in Jerusalem was, to the current situation in Ukraine. A battle weary army defending itself against a seemingly overwhelming military power. This was the final piece of the puzzle. I felt myself now able to better understand what Heraclius might have been feeling.

Up until this point, the line, “Not many” had been delivered with a sense of stoic defiance. Now, it was delivered with quieter sense of heartbreak, which for me felt more genuine.

As an actor, I can prepare for the role in my own mind, but it’s only when my character interacts with the other characters that he truly comes to life.

Here is the Heraclius we created.

Watch the full short film

This short film is well worth watching in its entirety!

Watch it here: https://youtu.be/URz4nSW_-E8

Credits

Producer: Midsummer Pictures, Silent Paprika Films
Director: Samuel Samuel Häkkinen / @samuelhakkinen
Director of photography: Henna Välkky / @hennavalkky
Costume and make-up: Elina Ström / www.elinastrom.fi / @alien.morts

Balian d’Ibelin: Samuel Häkkinen / @samuelhakkinen

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