Richard Brake opens up on stepping away from taking classic bad guy roles: 'It was a joy'

Richard Brake has fans in everyone – even if they don’t realise it. The 55-year-old actor has been working in film since 1994, and has taken on countless roles that viewers will have recognised him from a number of times. Whether viewers know him as Joe Chill from Batman Begins, Game of Thrones’ The Night King, or The Chemist from Mandy, he has certainly done it all.

Although a constantly busy schedule for an actor is something to be praised, some people may think of him as an actor who has been typecast.

From killing Bruce Wayne’s parents to causing chaos in Thor: The Dark World, the actor always seems to take on some of the more malevolent roles.

That is, until Brake’s latest film: Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot.

Brake takes on the titular role of Merlin, the mythological wizard who helped Arthur (played by Richard Short) conquer the evil that resided in Camelot.

Brake will be the first to admit, however, he was a little apprehensive to take the role at first.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk about the release of his latest film, Brake explained: “[The director, Giles Alderson] sent me the script and my first reaction was… another ‘Arthur’ story? Seems a bit odd.

“So when I read it it was a very different take on who Arthur is – especially at the beginning.”

Throughout Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot the king of Camelot is plagued by the memories and self-doubts brought on by his recently concluded war.

After the success of saving Britain, Arthur feels as if he may not be worthy for the crown, whilst feeling particularly guilty over the people he has killed.

“It’s this guy that’s almost going through a PTSD type thing,” Brake explained. “And he has to work his way out of that.

“And, obviously, Merlin is there to help him. So because the story was so different we have a very different kind of Arthur.”

Having worked with Brake previously on The Dare, Brake explained that director Giles was a huge reason for him to sign up to the project.

But the biggest reason for Brake taking on the iconic role of Merlin was so that he could play a righteous, just character.

On whether Merlin’s affiliation with being “good” was a reason to join the film, Brake repeated: “Definitely! definitely!”

Brake explained: “I mean, I love playing bad guys and I’ve been really blessed to play some really great ones over the years.

“But it was definitely a real joy to finally play someone that was on the good side.

“Who is on the light instead of the dark. It was definitely a big reason for doing the film.”

Brake also spoke fondly of his on-screen colleague, Richard Short, who played Arthur.

“The whole character just really gelled with him,” he confessed. “He got that feeling of a middle aged Arthur – this man who is going through all this kind of crises of self, from his experience and self doubt and Richard really got that.”

Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot is on Digital HD and DVD now

source: express.co.uk