Creating The Character of Master Blythe
How I prepared for my first TV role in a prestige historical drama
Towards the end of 2022 I auditioned and won a part in an historical drama called ‘The Last Madame: Sisters of The Night’ playing a colonial British Officer in 1920s Singapore. It's a small part but, you know what they say, there are no small parts and my character goes through a lot in his role.
Master Blythe was described to me as an "intimidating and cunning man. If he wants something he gets it. He also comes from a rich family courtesy of his grandmother. He frequents brothels and indulges his lust for young girls. Though he has the outward appearance of a fine gentleman he is in fact a nasty brute."
He appears in two episodes speaking, and one in which his body is discovered. In that brief time he manages to literally fuck a girl to death before being tortured and murdered himself by her pimp as a warning to others.
So, how do we bring this character to life? The lines in-and-of themselves are not all that helpful as they can be read many different ways so we have to look at his actions. Why does he do this? What do we know about him? What's his background? Well, he's a British Army Officer in the in 1920s. He is upper class with a clipped RP accent. This leads me to believe he is either from a distinguished military family or that he was enrolled in the army for his own good. In the former scenario he is an officer but possibly doesn't think he deserves it because he knows he didn't really earn his place, I imagine his soldiers know that too and thus he has no authority over them. In the latter scenario, he was sent there by his father as punishment for some aberrant behaviour and was unable to stand up him and prevent it. Either way he is insecure; either because he didn't earn his place or because he couldn't stand up to his father.
We also know that he is a weak man because he has a line where he tells one of the prostitutes that she is not very pretty. He desires this woman, which gives her a power over him so he tries to undermine her by insulting her beauty. Furthermore, he is weak because of his inability to control his lust and his rage. The women in the brothel know this about him and prey on it. He resents having to go to them but knows he is powerless to stop himself.
At his age, during that time he would likely be married but if he was happy in his marriage he wouldn't be visiting prostitutes. My suspicion, therefore, is that he is married to some frumpy, horse-faced, country-set girl whose family set it up for social standing. Once again, he was too weak to stand up for himself and declare his feelings.
When you add it all up, he has simply done as he's told his whole life, at home and in the army. This is also demonstrated through his relationship with his Commanding Officer (and cousin) Sir Graham, who intimidates Blythe and eventually has him beaten for his behaviour. Blythe is clearly afraid of other men and so dominates women to feel powerful. This is what we know, now have to find a way to communicate that through the lines which, as I said, can be interpreted in myriad ways.
In the recent words of author, screenwriter and playwright Hanif Kureishi, "Your characters should have fascinations and idiosyncrasies. But they are defined and changed by the events you put them through. These events should pronounce their traits. Story and character are one."
Its those idiosyncrasies that I am trying to find, for instance his breathing when he is around the women. I think he has nervous, shallow breath. I think he's like an animal restrained. He tries not to show it but he is straining against the leash just as his erection is straining against his trousers. He doesn't want them to see because it puts them in control, knowing they have a power over him, so he tries to conceal his feelings, which is ultimately a very British thing to do too.
His eyes flit from girl to girl, sizing them up, taking them in. He's greedy. He wants them all at once but it will never be enough. He wants to dominate all of them because that's the only way he can feel powerful but of course, when he eventually cums he loses, he becomes utterly vulnerable having surrendered to their power. He hates them for it and he hates himself too.
So this is Master Blythe, a weak, undisciplined son of a powerful father who is afraid of men so dominates women to make himself feel manly, but did I capture him? See a few selected scenes in my showreel below.