Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Cathryn Farnsworth Photography
We got to chat with actor Lucas Barker about playing Fleance in the highly-acclaimed film The Tragedy of Macbeth and his advice for aspiring actors.
Did you have a television show or movie that initially got you interested in acting?
There really wasn’t a show or movie that inspired me as I started acting when I was 5 before I could even read, and I watched mostly animated movies. Our family friend who was a photographer and I did some pictures for her website and such and she told my mom that I should meet with her casting director friend and it all began.
What was the audition process like for The Tragedy of Macbeth?
As an actor, I am always happy to get an audition and definitely take time to prepare as much as I can. The audition process started via self-tape from my agents, and I typically audition and forget it because you never know what will happen. I do remember that the call back in person took several months before they called me in, after that, I meet with Joel and finally got the call to say I booked it! One of the best days ever!
You have had roles in popular shows such as Ratched, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Criminal Minds. How did those roles help you prepare for your film debut in The Tragedy of Macbeth?
I think anytime you as a young actor get to spend time on a production set is a learning experience. Every show I have done has been a different experience; from shooting on a sound stage, to on-location, and even live TV. On set, you have to be focused and understand what’s happening around you, listen to the directors, and make sure you are prepared; all of these I took to The Tragedy of Macbeth set.
Fleance is a major point of contention for Macbeth in the play due to the witches’ prophecy. Outside of reading the text, what did you do to prepare for the role and get into character?
I read the original Shakespeare play, read anything I could find about my character, and made sure I knew my lines! I also needed to practice the dialectic of the time, it is not easy language so you have to be very conscious of your words. This role also required me to learn how to ride a horse, so I had lessons after school.
The Tragedy of Macbeth has an all-star cast and Joel Coen at the helm. Did you learn a lot from your director and castmates?
It was such an incredible experience to work with Joel Coen, Denzel Washington, and Frances McDormand, they are Hollywood elite! It was interesting and inspiring to watch the actors go through their process to become their characters, and I was surprised that even the Hollywood elite prepare A LOT, and once shooting begins the focus never breaks. Joel Coen was the most incredible director, he is very hands-on and really takes the time to work with you so you can see the vision of the shot and put your best work forward. He even laid in the dirt with me to work on a scene so I could see on camera how it should look.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
I think young actors should remember that you will go on lots of auditions and you will hear ‘no’ a lot but your job is to give the best performance you can and then forget about it. I also celebrate the success of my friends because this is a hard industry and we all know how hard we work!