Read the full original interview ‘Red Riding Hood’ Round Table Interview – Maahin’s Report from Blogomatic3000
Here’s the excerpt with Max’s interview:
Then we spoke to Max Irons, who plays Henry, the boy Valerie is engaged to.
Is it difficult to make the first steps as an actor, with parents (Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack) and grandparents (both of his mother’s parents were actors) like you have?
Max Irons: I don’t think it is any more or less difficult with them, if I’m honest. People have their own opinions, which vary from country to country. In this country we have a heightened awareness of nepotism as an idea. Realistically, I don’t think you’re going to get a job because of it. There’s too much money invested, director’s reputations – I don’t think it works that way.
Does it help though?
MI: Perhaps there are casting agents out there, who would say I will meet them because of it. But then again, if you go in there and do a rubbish job, you’re finished. And they’ll remember.
You won an award for Wallenstein, but even though you’re making movies, would you do theatre again?
MI: Actually, the next thing I want to do is theatre. I mean Schiller is one my favourite playwrights of all time. I wanted to do Louis Miller, but I couldn’t do it because I was away. But yeah, theatre, more of it.
Do you prefer theatre to film?
MI: Well no, I’m so lucky, and overjoyed to be in a movie, especially with the calibre of actors we’ve got in this. But in terms of what I enjoy most, is theatre without a doubt. It doesn’t pay as well, and not as many people see it, so my agents tell me not to do it. Just being able to go through the story every night is exhilarating. It also requires you to live a certain way, a kind of ordered life. You feel good doing it. And if it’s a good play, it should complete you.
Did you ever get a line of advice from mum or dad before you took up acting?
MI: They’ve always said to me to keep an eye on what’s important. The work, the acting, that’s important. The rest is consequential. You know, the photo shoots, to a certain sense, the press, and for lack of a better term, celebrity. That’s all consequential.
Did you ever not want to do what your parents do? Did you ever want to be something boring?
MI: I wanted to be a fighter pilot, for a long time. I have encyclopaedic knowledge of aeroplanes, I don’t know I just do. Then I realized you have to kill people, which is a bit of a downer. But no there was no active rebellion against it. But I have parents who don’t particularly like the superficial element of being an actor, and keep away from it.
Did you consider changing your name?
MI: In the world we live in today, with the Internet, if someone wanted to find out who your parents are, they could. Also I’m not ashamed of them. I’m very proud of them. When people say, oh you want to follow in their footsteps, I find it strange because what you kind of want to do is forge your own path, but at the same time acknowledging his.
When you see them acting is it easy to see them as actors, or do you always see them as your parents?
MI: I think I always see them as actors, which speaks for them as actors. There are certain things I don’t want to see, like the sex scenes. Occasionally you stumble onto them, it’s very uncomfortable viewing.
Do they ever give you any pointers on how to work?
MI: It’s a bit like parents giving you driving lessons, you know they’re right, but you want to tell them to shut up. But if I’m going to Los Angeles to meet people, they will tell me what to expect, or what a screen test involves.
Has there been a movie recently, which really impressed you?
MI: A movie I saw this year, which is the kind of movie I’d like to do most, The Social Network. Just because the writing was so good. Great cast, great director, great script – what more do you need.
And what’s next?
MI: Who knows, I’m weighing up my options. Theatre, ideally.
jeremyirons.net 
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