Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Villain’s Craig Fairbrass

Craig Fairbrass is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. With over four decades’ worth of experience under his belt, Craig has done it all in his career. His latest project, Villain, finds the gifted actor embodying a character unlike any he’s played before, showing a different side to his artistry.

From writers Greg Hall and George Russo, Villain is an action-packed film that follows Eddie Franks (Craig Fairbrass), who attempts to turn his life around and reconnect with his family, only to be forced back into a life of crime.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of chatting with Craig about the project.

PC: You read the script for Villain in one sitting. What initially stood out to you that made you want to be a part of this project?
Craig: It’s just a quality piece. It’s a great story and I find that the character is so interesting and not one-dimensional. He’s someone who’s trying to do the right thing, but he’s not allowed to. It’s a really refreshing piece to read and so well written by George Russo and Greg Hall.

PC: At the heart of the film is your character, who’s trying to turn his life around and reconnect with his family, but he’s forced back into this life of crime. How did you prepare to tackle that journey?
Craig: Jumping back to the first question you asked me, I’m always looking as an actor for that human story. The crime genre is a style of film that everyone loves. But every now and again, you find a story that has an emotional backstory within the boundaries of that genre. I love doing stuff like that.

PC: Eddie is a different type of character than we’re used to seeing you play. What did you learn about yourself embodying this character?
Craig: That’s a great question. To be honest with you, I get offered a lot of the same type of roles. It was refreshing to read the script and see there was more to this character. Over the years, I’ve grown as an actor. I need the opportunity now to show what I’ve learned. Eddie is sensitive, and he’s vulnerable in his weakness. He’s trying to connect with his family and do the right thing. He’s a victim of circumstance. It was super interesting to delve into.

PC: Villain does a really fantastic job of balancing action with more heartfelt, emotional moments. As an actor, is one more challenging than the other?
Craig: I love doing action. Don’t get me wrong. I could do action all day in my sleep. When we decided to make this film, we wanted to make sure the action was real, impactful, and brutal because that’s what violence is in real life. It’s not high kicking, spinning around, and the same old shit that we all watch.

We wanted to make this different. We tried to give it a refreshing look and feel, and we wanted to make sure it really served a purpose. The more emotional stuff—those heartrending moments—is what gets me going as an actor. If you can move people slightly or make them feel slightly uncomfortable, you’ve done your job. The reaction I’ve had from this film from the critics and public has been overwhelming. We’ve got five stars across the board. I’ve had people message me on Twitter and say that they believe me in this role. That’s why I became an actor.

PC: The film was really well received by audiences and critics. What do you think is resonating most with them?
Craig: The music is incredible. It’s very moving. It’s very authentic and it’s a real reflection of the diversity in London. It’s a real insight to the city. It’s not all glamorous. It’s very gray. A lot of the reviews have said it’s gray. But at the heart of this film is a really good story and character that you root for. You want him to do the right thing and reconnect with his family. The more he does that, the more he gets pulled back into being this victim of circumstance.

To keep up with Craig, follow him on Twitter. Catch Villain now available on digital and on demand.