Aaron Pierre was born in 1994 in south London. He trained in classical theatre in Toronto before studying at Lamda. He has starred in Sky series Britannia and in the Superman prequel, Krypton, which aired on Syfy in the US and comes to E4 later this year. Pierre is currently playing Cassio in Othello at Shakespeare’s Globe, opposite André Holland and Mark Rylance.
How is Othello going?
I’m loving every moment. It’s been on my bucket list for a very long time.
The play or the venue?
Both, actually. I really love to read and to see Shakespeare – and I especially love to see Shakespeare at the Globe. It was where I saw my first Shakespeare, back in 2012, when Mark [Rylance] was playing Lady Olivia [in Twelfth Night]. I remember thinking: number one, he’s amazing, and number two, acting is definitely what I want to do now.
So how is it performing opposite Mark Rylance, given he provided that first inspirational experience?
It’s surreal. Before we started, I spoke with our director Claire [van Kampen] and said: “I hope you don’t mind if I’m in rehearsals even when I’m not called”. I just really wanted to observe this master at work. I’ve been taking notes since day one, really.
You’re playing Cassio in a play where often Othello is the only non-white character. What impact does having a more diverse cast have?
What it brings is an additional layer to the story and the themes. It means that at the end, when Othello takes his own life, the man replacing him is very similar.
Do we still have a diversity problem in British theatre – in terms of casting and what stories get told?
We are progressing, which makes me very happy. We still have a way to go. However, we are moving, and we are moving together – it doesn’t feel there is any refusal by anybody. Which is very exciting, because it means we will reach a place, soon, that reflects all our realities.
You star in Krypton. What can you tell us about it?
It’s set two generations before Superman’s existence and we have an opportunity to see how the Kryptonians existed on the planet Krypton. It’s very exciting to get a backstory to something we all know – and we all know Superman – whether you’ve been an avid comic reader or not.
And were you an avid comic reader?
I was, yeah. I got my first comic in 2004. There’s something about the way comics open their story that really grabs me: they make you feel like you’re on this big journey.
Who’s your favourite superhero?
It would have to be between Superman and Static, an old-school superhero.
When did you first fall in love with acting?
I wanted to be a sprinter, when I was a kid. Then I reached a point where such a strict way of eating just didn’t appeal! But my school did plays, and I joined a theatre group in Croydon, in this really run-down warehouse. We’d devise our own plays and put them on for anybody that could be bothered to turn up.
Are you still a runner?
I like to keep healthy and fit, but I’m definitely not a sprinter any more – well, I’m a sprinter at family picnics! That’s when I do my thing.
Is there a punishing fitness regime for some of your roles?
It can be very intense, with workouts composed by the stunt teams.
Do you ever do your own stunts?
Sometimes, just because of my nature, I’ve politely asked if I could try it. There was a scene in Britannia where my character was buried alive; it was midnight, middle of the countryside, really heavy rain, it was freezing. They thought I might not want to get thrown in a pit and covered in mud – but I just had a quiet word and said: do you mind?
How was filming Britannia?
I love stories which require research, because I’m a bit of a nerd. It was so nice to do that research into the history of Britain and the Roman army.
Your said your enthusiasm for food put paid to the sprinting career. What’s your favourite?
I have a really massive sweet tooth. Cake is my vice. It doesn’t really matter what kind of cake it is, as long as it’s cake.
