By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 12/21/23 – In the dynamic realm of film and television, Mark Hampton emerges as a compelling figure, weaving through the intricate worlds of both independent and studio productions. Hailing from New Zealand, Mark’s journey unfolds from his early days in the UK to a thriving career that has seen him share the screen with acclaimed actors and directors. As he takes on multifaceted roles in front of and behind the camera, including a lead role in his feature debut Unlicensed, ‘Mark Hampton stands at the forefront of creativity and dedication. Culminating in his role as the British Prime Minister in the highly anticipated thriller Control as well as a string of exciting projects set to captivate audiences in 2024, Mark Hampton continues to prove as a staple in the entertainment industry.
“I’ve always been a filmmaker at heart.” Hampton says, recalling his early days in the industry. He continues, “I started as a very young kid with a clunky video camera remaking movies that we had seen at the cinema with friends in our houses after school. I always came at it from a perspective of loving the movie making process as much as I love the acting process. Getting to direct things where I am the actor as well, I find it to be very easy because I have written the work as well.” It is more than evident that Hampton’s enduring passion for filmmaking, coupled with a seamless integration of acting and directing, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the art form that has fueled his creative journey from the very start.
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The selection process of characters that Mark can adapt to has incredible range and depth. Illuminating how he comes about choosing roles and characters, he uncovers, “I lean into characters that are in an unfamiliar situation or a fish out of water situation. I made a short film about a guy who goes to Cambridge University, and he joins the boxing club and tries to become part of this world where he really feels like an outsider, and he doesn’t naturally fit in. It was kind of that aspect of the character that I enjoyed, where the character kind of goes on this journey of discovery, has to find out where they fit in the machine, and work out how they can make this work for them.”
In the wake of the recent release of the film Control and the impending arrival of the dramedy Lift on Netflix in 2024, enthusiasts can anticipate a prolific showcase from the recipient of the Creative Industry Awards’ prestigious Best Actor title. The multi-hyphenate shares, “Control was a very fun movie to do. It’s Kevin Spacey being the voice of the antagonist. If you remember the movie Phone Booth, Control is a similar concept in that you’ve got a main character that answers the phone and at the other end the voice tells her, ‘I have control over your life.’ My character, the Prime Minister, he’s very much a realistic Prime Minister in that he is definitely in the pocket of Big Business, he’s very much on the side of the corporations; I think if we imagine the Prime Minister, we have now then it’s not too much of a stretch. Control is worth the watch!”
Catch “Control” now and mark your calendars for the exclusive Netflix streaming of “Lift” on January 12, 2024!
