Photo Credit: Michael Mattes/Shuttershock
Paul Telfer, who plays Xander Kiriakis on Peacock’s, “Days of our Lives,” stopped by the BUZZ to chat about the Webby Award nominated, “Unsinkable.” The 11-part movie series features an incredible slew of actors including: Nathalie Emmanuel, John Malkovich, Harry Hamlin, Blair Redford, and Brian Cox, just to name a few. It’s a true story based on the British tanker, the San Demetrio, and Telfer plays the role of Calum Macneil. The actor gave us some insight into Macneil’s character:
“He just happens to be a merchant marine when WWII kicks off and is now forced, like many merchant marines at this time, to not only sail the dangerous seas, but also do it under potential attack from active forces at any time. What’s fascinating about him—Macneil specifically, though it applies to all the characters—is that a key part of the story’s power lies in ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances and doing incredibly brave things, both for themselves and for others, in the effort to get home.
What is cool about the Macneil part of this is that he is from the west coast of Scotland, which is where I am from originally. While it can be beautiful and rugged and all that, there are complexes of Ireland that reach into Hebrides/Outer Hebrides, which are notoriously rough to sail in. Because he was from that area and because he knew how to pilot small boats and sometimes improvise craft, he was fortunately the perfect person to survive that initial attack. So, that was really cool to tell the story of an ordinary person, who’s from part of the world that I am from, that when asked and forced by circumstance in responsibility into that position, was able to step up and do it. It’s inspirational to me, and I hope it would be for anyone who listens to it, too.”
While some may not have heard of his role in the Audible series, fans do recognize him from his soap roots, and we made sure to talk about working alongside Louise Sorel, who recently just returned as Vivian Alamain:
“For me, knowing the history of Vivian, and knowing the legend of Louise, that’s one thing. However, to get to play off of her… you’re not just playing off of a character. You are playing off of the character’s history. They always make characters act like we know each other, whether it is drinking coffee off-screen or by reputation. To work with a proper soap, for lack of a better word, mega-villain, like Louise, it is just exciting and fun. There is this build-up because of the history of the show. It’s fully contained in this lovely woman. I mean, Louise is delightful. Then, she comes in as Vivian, and she is so mean, so acid, so cutting. I love when Xander gets someone who is meaner than he is and makes his past crimes and transgressions look like high school compared to what she’s done. It’s like, “OK, little man. You think you’re a tough guy? You think you’re a villain? You ain’t know Vivian Alamain!”
Paul talks more about the recording sessions for, “Unsinkable,” and hinted at what is being played out on the show currently…and we have Vivian to thank for what’s ahead!
To watch the full interview, click on the player below:
You can listen to Paul Telfer as Calum Macneil in the 11-part Audible series, “Unsinkable,” now, and watch him as Xander Kiriakis on, “Days of our Lives,” streaming every day on Peacock.
