Discussing the differences between theatre and screen acting, he highlighted his continued connection to live performance: “The problem with film, or audiovisual production in general, is the lack of the spotlight on you, which helps you connect with the audience. I consider myself primarily a theatre actor. I want to perform in front of a live audience; on set I miss that glow, so I have to develop a method every time. But I still think it is a privilege to do this job.”
Among his most recognisable roles is Tony Blair in two seasons of The Crown. Reflecting on the transformation, Carvel said: “I really enjoyed acting with fake teeth. I worked closely with a dental technician on set to find the right voice, and after that I couldn’t do it without the dentures.”
He also portrayed Donald Trump in The 47th, staged at London’s Old Vic Theatre in 2022 and 2023. “I didn’t want to make it a caricature. I did use prosthetics, even on my neck, and I had orange hair, but it wasn’t about becoming him physically. He had to exist only in the audience’s imagination.” Reflecting on his political roles, Carvel added: “Acting itself is a political act, I learned that back at university. I’m very proud that in the gallery of characters I’ve played, political or not, none of them resemble each other—you would never say they were played by the same actor.”
Known for his work as Baelor Targaryen in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Carvel also spoke about his lead role in Dalgliesh, a series he remains closely attached to, with a fourth season in preparation. He also confirmed his upcoming role in HBO’s Harry Potter reboot, where he will play Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, describing him as “a man operating in an increasingly dark world where he must confront his well of fear”.
The Italian Global Series is organised by APA – Associazione Produttori Audiovisivi, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with Cinecittà, and with the support of the Emilia-Romagna Region, APT Servizi Emilia-Romagna, the Municipalities of Rimini and Riccione, AGIS, and contributions from SIAE, Enel and Gruppo FS. The festival is directed by Marco Spagnoli.
