Actor Joe Azzopardi talks to YVM about his new film, Enola Holmes 3

YV Media: With Enola Holmes 3 on the horizon and your upcoming lead role as Salvu in Xelter, you have some massive projects lined up. How do you approach transitioning between a massive franchise like Enola Holmes and a project with the De Laurentiis Company?

Joe Azzopardi: From an acting perspective, it doesn't really change my performance or how I conduct myself on set. The difference is more about the social aspect. On these bigger shoots with loads of people involved, the social life surrounding the production is just a bit more fun. Plus, I was a hired actor on Enola Holmes 3. On Xelter, I was also producing the film, which is a whole other added level of stress. Which I think actually helped the performance of Salvu.

YVM: In The Boat, you carried the entire film in a one-man "tour de force." What are the unique psychological and physical challenges of being the sole actor on screen, and how did that experience shape your approach to acting?

Joe: With a one-man film, inanimate objects suddenly become characters. Inanimate objects suddenly become characters. You're not just memorising lines — you're also memorising every action down to the smallest detail. In the film, what he hears on the boat is what makes him believe someone is toying with him. But those sounds don't exist on the day of; they're all added in post-production. So, you have to create that entire psychological reality in your head. You're reacting to something that isn't there, which requires complete commitment and belief. The Boat is all situation based, mainly concentrated on playing the moment in a smart and truthful way.

YVM: You attended Mountview Academy under Dame Judie Dench and were scouted early on for the BBC’s The Whale alongside heavyweights like Martin Sheen and John Boyega. What is the most valuable piece of advice or lesson you took from that early, high-profile experience?

Joe: Against the advice of my teachers, I would probably say that if you get the chance to work on something in your final year… take it. My teachers all tried to convince me to stay at school and do my final year showcase, but I was too hungry to start working. And it paid off for me with the valuable lessons I learnt from my first day on "The Whale." Working with that cast (Jonas Armstrong, David Gyasi, and John Boyega) was a baptism of fire. Not just in terms of acting, but on-set etiquette too. It was an invaluable experience I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.

YVM: You maintain a strong presence on stage with classic Shakespearean roles like Mercutio and Puck. How does your theater background feed into your on-camera work for major film and television productions?

Joe: It's definitely the way I approach a script beforehand. Theatre taught me how much is learned through the rehearsal process — you have to do all that preparation in your own head before your first day on set. There's a certain burst of energy I get on stage that I try to recreate on set, but it has to be far more contained. What reads as amplified and expansive on stage needs to be much more subtle for the camera.

YVM: You are of Maltese and British descent. How does your English-European heritage and your connection to Malta influence the types of stories you are drawn to tell?

Joe: I suppose this would make a difference when I put my producer hat on. I would say I'm more drawn to tell stories that have a British/Maltese crossover. Like Xelter taking place in British-occupied Malta and revealing a bit of history about what the Maltese went through. Enola Holmes 3 does a great job at highlighting this too.

YVM: When you aren't on set, you’re incredibly adventurous—free diving, surfing, and hiking. Do you find that the discipline and adrenaline of extreme outdoor activities help you clear your mind or even tap into the energy needed for your intense dramatic roles?

Joe: Oh absolutely! I was always very adventurous and liked to push myself to take adventurous risks. Though when I was younger, there was always a lot more hesitation and doubt as to whether the risk would bring reward. But since I’ve come into my own as an actor, I’ve actually become more fearless. My reason being that if I can walk onto a set or stage with hundreds of people watching me, crawl on the ground, and start crying like a little boy… well, then, is doing this cliff jump really that scary? Or diving below 20 meters? Or plucking up the courage to take on the really big wave with a surfboard? So long as you keep yourself fit and trust in your own body, the mind will also follow suit.

Follow Joe Azzopardi on Instagram @JoeAzzopardiofficial

Photo credit: Alex Boulton