Andrew Scott has built a career around characters carrying intense emotional and psychological weight, from Jim Moriarty in Sherlock to the priest in Fleabag and the tormented screenwriter in All of Us Strangers.
Now, the Irish actor stars in Pressure, a historical drama about James Stagg, the meteorologist whose forecasts played a crucial role in planning the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II.
In an interview with EL PAÍS, Scott said the complexity of the character and the strength of the script were what attracted him to the project.
“With this kind of character, it’s very important that there is as much emotional journey as possible and that the audience understands what motivates him,” Scott said.
A meteorologist under pressure
Pressure focuses on Stagg, a Scottish meteorological expert working from Allied headquarters in England as the D-Day invasion approaches. His forecasts helped determine when the weather conditions would allow the operation to go ahead.
Scott said he was initially hesitant about taking on another wartime role after appearing in Saving Private Ryan, 1917 and Band of Brothers.
“For me, another Second World War film didn’t make sense unless it was for…” he said, before explaining that the story’s focus on responsibility and difficult decisions changed his mind.
The actor was particularly drawn to Stagg’s willingness to stand by his assessment despite pressure from those around him.
“He’s a man who isn’t afraid to stand by the truth, no matter who is standing in front of him, even when many people were asking him for a different answer,” Scott said.
‘I join projects because of the script’
Scott said the script remains his main consideration when deciding whether to accept a role.
“I join projects because of the script. Do I care about my character? Yes, but I care even more about the script as a whole,” he said.
He also said he enjoys moving between genres and working across film and theatre, while praising director Anthony Maras’s previous work.
Scott researched the real-life Stagg before filming, although relatively little information is available about the meteorologist.
“I got the sense that he was a very direct person and deeply passionate about the weather,” he said, adding that his research also highlighted how strongly people can identify with meteorology.
From Sherlock to the Oscars conversation
Scott’s breakthrough came in 2010 when he was cast as Jim Moriarty in the BBC series Sherlock. Since then, he has developed a wide-ranging film, television and theatre career.
His credits include Fleabag, where he played the charismatic priest, Steven Zaillian’s Ripley, Blue Moon, All of Us Strangers and the James Bond film Spectre.
The actor is also returning to the awards conversation this season with Elsinore, in which he plays actor Ian Charleson, best known for Chariots of Fire. Charleson famously performed Hamlet at London’s National Theatre during the final months of his life after being diagnosed with AIDS.
Scott is also a producer on the film and says he feels particularly connected to the project and its subject.
A possible move into directing
Scott has also begun considering a move behind the camera.
Asked whether he would like to direct, the actor said he would, provided he finds the right project and script.
“I’d like that. You have to wait for the right project, the right script,” he said.
He then revealed that he already has several ideas and suggested that taking the next step into directing may not be far away.
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