Joseph Dilworth: My first question is for Bradley. Arthur’s a fairly, you know, intelligent fellow. At this point or going into Season 3 does he sort of maybe start to suspect that not necessarily that Merlin’s doing magic but that there is something maybe more to him than just being a squire?
Bradley James: It’s very kind of you to say that Arthur is an intelligent fellow. I don’t think he often gets accused of that much largely because he has to turn a blind eye quite a bit when Merlin wants to do a magic trick. I think that’s something that the audience kind of can get a little bit – a little questionable about Arthur’s intelligence I will – so I think again not so much about willing – becoming aware of Merlin’s actual abilities but more his abilities as a person without the magic I think is what Arthur’s becoming aware of.
I think Colin touched on it earlier saying that when sort of Arthur gets to the point where he can appreciate Merlin for who he is as opposed to what he is it might be the perfect time for, you know, the unveiling. Who knows? I don’t think we have any idea how they’re going to play this one out. But, he’ll be very…
Joseph Dilworth: Right.
Bradley James: …very, they’ve taken on enough so hopefully they won’t absolutely conquer the way of doing it.
Joseph Dilworth: And for Colin, since Arthur and Merlin are becoming such great friends do you think Merlin feels that he can perhaps get away with more magic or doing things to save Arthur than he might be more willing to do with people who don’t, you know, he’s not friends with?
Colin Morgan: Well I think the thing is he’s had to do it so many times he’s become an expert on it. So I think he’s had a lot of practice at doing it secretively and in such a nifty kind of way. Obviously his abilities have developed and – quite a lot over the years. And I think he’s got absolute and dedicated reasons as to why he’s protecting Arthur because he’s been instructed right from the beginning that it’s his destiny to see him through to the throne. So he’s completely driven to do it for Arthur.
And if there is justifiable reasons for others as there has been and in the past he will absolutely do it because he always strives to see the good and works for that. And Arthur potentially embodies all that could be good about Camelot when he becomes king. So yeah, it’s all about working towards obvious – he’s definitely more dedicated to using his powers for that reason.
Joseph Dilworth: Excellent. And one last question for both of you. Series 3 already aired in England. And you guys did interviews, you know, before, during and after. Does this seem strange that you’re doing a whole new round of interviews for the same series all over again?
Bradley James: I have a feeling we’re going to get a call from Antarctica in a minute asking us about Series 1 because it goes out in different parts of the world at different times. So you’ll be midway filming – through filming Series 3 and, you’ll get a round of questions about Series 1 from somewhere a little bit random. So you kind of have to keep it fresh in your mind what happened all the time because it’s sort of step by stepped its way around the world.
Colin Morgan: Yeah. I think it’s the same for me as well. I mean you finish a series as we finished Series 3 and you kind of put it in a pocket somewhere. And then as it goes worldwide you’re constantly sort of trying to find which pocket you put it in. It’s interesting to come back and to revisit it and to – it’s good to test yourself, see what you can remember.
Mallory Ellis: Hey guys, great to talk to you. I’m a huge fan of the show. I’m really excited about Series 3 coming out. I think some of my questions about the show itself have been asked so I wanted to ask about you two as actors. Just curious what actors, directors, other people in the business, who do you admire or who has influenced your work?
Colin Morgan: For me one of my favorites is probably – director-wise is I love (Sal Mendez) and Tim Burton are two of my big favorites. I also really admire the work of actors like Sean Penn is probably my favorite actor at this period because of his dedication and commitment to roles and the ability to sort of morph and change himself when he needs to.
And, you know, it’s about dedication and commitment and sort of a passion. I think anyone who has a passion for what they love to do and pursuing it is inspirational for me.
Bradley James: That one’s a – that – I always struggle with that one. I always come out with the same answer with sort of – without giving an answer because I can’t – I would not want to sort of – I couldn’t really just say one name because I’m, you know, you can’t see sort of finding inspiration by the performances that people give and, you know, what the directors do as opposed to kind of just one director.
I mean I – I’ve – I’m constantly learning all the time both with, you know, things I watch that I’ve got nothing to do with and when we’re filming the show. So I’m always sort of finding inspiration by people who do good work. Annoyingly for you I couldn’t give you anyone specific.
Mallory Ellis: Okay. That’s fine. I understand. Don’t worry. And I also wanted to ask since you’re between filming right now what are your plans. Are you working on other projects or taking any vacations anywhere?
Colin Morgan: I’ll start. I’ve been traveling about. I did a couple of films last year, one called Parked and one called Island. And then I’m doing the festival circuit. I just got back from the premiere of one of the three new film festivals in Italy last week for a part which went down really well. The promotion wagon has sort of kicked off with those.
I’ll be starting a project in London in the new year which it’s not out yet so I don’t think I can say what it is. But yeah, so it’s nice to sort of do other things in between. But it’s also nice to have the break because it takes up so much of the year that you’re kind of ready to sleep for a month whenever it’s finished.
Bradley James: I’m nowhere near as interesting as that. I’ve just been trying to play as much football as possible because then you get the opportunity while filming so I’ve been just getting on a football pitch and playing lots. Soccer in your country.
Mallory Ellis: Yes, soccer, football. Got it. And then one last question. Because it is December and we’re coming up on Christmas what are your favorite family Christmas traditions?
Bradley James: Avoiding my family.
Colin Morgan: You’re serious. Well every year we always watch two films…
((Crosstalk))
Colin Morgan: But there were those that are watched every year. And one is Muppet Christmas Carol. And the other is the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Both are films I always watch every year. That’s the only sort of tradition we have for the traditional Christmas dinner which we always have.
Crystal Taylor: Hi there. Thanks, guys, for taking this opportunity with us. Bradley, I wanted to ask you about Lancelot and Arthur because traditionally they’ve been really good friends and they haven’t really done that much with that. So I was wondering is anything coming up along that line or…
Bradley James: It’s something I’ve picked up on myself. I mean it’s, you know, in the legend Arthur and Lancelot were best friends. It was kind of, you know, the sort of such – why it was such a difficult situation that Lancelot initially to betray him is because they were such good friends.
And in some of the kind of darker versions you read Lancelot is actually in love with Arthur. I don’t think Santiago will be taking to follow that storyline down the road.
It’s been I suppose a bit difficult to kind of introduce that aspect because Lancelot hasn’t been in that many episodes. She’s coming up this year. But he’s obviously only done two previous so it’s a little bit difficult because they’ve pretty much introduced straightaway the dilemma of Lancelot and Gwynevere. So I would hope that it does get the opportunity to blossom as a story because it’s quite an integral part to the original legend. But who knows? We shall see.
Crystal Taylor: Thank you. Can you tell me what you think Arthur – how he sees his relationship with his father?
Bradley James: Arthur’s grown up with purely his father as I suppose as anyone in sort of a high position in him. And his only parental figure has been his father. So, you know, his father’s such a huge influence on him.
But I think as time goes on I – as the show has gone on I think you sort of see Arthur kind of starting to figure things out for himself where he has disagreed with his father. And I think in time it’ll lead to Arthur sort of making the choices as king that he will do that’ll be different to how Uther does it which you would imagine there’ll be a stark contrast in the way that the pair of them rule. So yeah, as time goes on I think it just becomes a lot more questioning from Arthur in how Uther does things.
However, I should have started with this as opposed to rattled on about that. I think what Arthur does see is that on one side he has the kind of liberal kind of argument from people like Morgana and Merlin who are saying oh you should do things and blah, blah, blah. And then he’s got this kind of hard-nosed kind of conservative line from his father who’s going, you need to kill people with magic, blah, blah, blah.
I think what he does have is the ability to see both sides of the argument. And I think that’s kind of what, perhaps, Morgana doesn’t have. She can’t understand why Uther makes certain decisions. And Uther can’t understand why Morgana feels certain ways about things. And I think Arthur has the ability to be able to see both sides of the argument.
Crystal Taylor: Thank you. A real quickie for Colin and then I’m done. Do you get to work with John Hurt with the dragon or is the dragon scenes all like CGI or whatever?
Colin Morgan: Not when I’m recording my side of the conversation. I have got to get into the studio with him a couple of times but not as much as I would like to. But I have witnessed the dragon in person.
Bradley James: You basically help him out when he’s doing his dialogue, right?
Colin Morgan:
Bradley James: (Unintelligible). He’s not that experienced as our John. He’s only a newcomer to the business so he needs…
Colin Morgan: Yeah.
Bradley James: …somebody to help him out, sort of, you know, sort him out with the various aspects of his performance.
Sylvia Bond: Hi guys. Thank you for your time today. It’s – I really appreciate it in the holiday season. I know things are busy.
Bradley James: Hello Sylvia.
Sylvia Bond: And I really enjoy the show. It makes a nice break from reality. I have two or three questions depending on how this goes. You don’t have to give me any spoilers but what scenes from Season 3 have you enjoyed playing and what part did you tap into to make it realistic?
Colin Morgan: One of the ones that I really enjoyed doing because it was one of my favorites from the Arthurian legend was the legend of the crystal cave. And it was fun to kind of in my head imagine what it was going to look like because there was a lot of CGI involved of seeing visions of the future reflected within crystals and to sort of try and imagine it and then again as often with this show with so much CGI to see the end of result. It’s always good to see the two of them married. So that was one of my favorites purely because of the legend of the crystal cave.
Bradley James: For me it was doing a scene where a certain group of guys sit around a certain piece of furniture and, you know, get together. That was easily best moment for me.
Sylvia Bond: Oh I can’t imagine what piece of furniture that might be.
Bradley James: No. Well there’s not many (unintelligible) on – in – back in the…
Colin Morgan: It’s true.
Bradley James: (Unintelligible).
Sylvia Bond: All right here’s the…
Bradley James: Well there’s…
Sylvia Bond: …question.
Bradley James: Rather. It could be anything.
Sylvia Bond: Well I know. But there’s a very – certain pieces of furniture. I think I know the one you’re referring to.
Bradley James: Quite right.
Sylvia Bond: Here’s a question for Bradley. If Arthur finds out about the magic what do you think his reaction will be? Do you anticipate something or has it been developed or how’s that going to go?
Bradley James: I actually believe that we’re very close to the point where were Arthur to find out I think previously that we’d perhaps have a problem because Arthur would, you know, bring it up to the powers that be and Uther would become aware. I think we have reached the point or at least we’re not very far away from if we haven’t where Arthur would be able to accept it. Without spoiling too much of Season 3 I think certainly the direction that the show goes I think we’re not far away from it.
Sylvia Bond: Nice. All right, here’s a generic question for you. What are you reading right now, both of you?
Bradley James: The newspaper occasionally, the TV Guide every now and then when I get the chance and pretty much the end of that.
Sylvia Bond: How about you, Colin?
Bradley James: Oh you’d (unintelligible) answer to this.
Colin Morgan: I’m reading a comic book series called Bone at the minute. Have you ever heard of that?
Sylvia Bond: No.
Colin Morgan: It’s one of my friends. It’s like one of his favorite comic book from a kid. And he lent me like ten volumes of it. And so I’m kind of working my way through that. But it’s called Bone and it’s well worth checking. It’s really good.
Brian Jacks: A lot of the great comedic moments of this series come out of your characters’ relationship. How did that develop between you? Is it all acting? Does any of it carry over off-camera?
Bradley James: I think it’s been said that the similar sounds coming from the pair of us when we’re working together is laughter. We do tend to have quite a good time and crack quite a few jokes. And I suppose that sort of then takes itself onto set when we’re performing the roles. And it kind of helps, kind of that fluidity I suppose and that ease when it comes to doing scenes with comedy involved.
And it’s a lot of fun to work with Colin. Colin, just cover your ears a minute. You might…
Colin Morgan: Yeah.
Bradley James: But it’s a lot of fun to work with Colin because we work together a lot and I could have personally found myself in a situation where because Arthur and Merlin do have so many scenes together you really would have been hoping for somebody who you can act with.
And I think, once we sort of get on set and get through the course of filming the series we have a very good time. So I feel very fortunate about that because it could have been a hell of a lot worse.
Colin, you can take your hands off your ears now.
Colin Morgan: Oh sorry. I was…
Bradley James: How could you hear me say that? That proves you weren’t covering your ears.
Colin Morgan: Oh no.
Bradley James: Anyway, sorry. Go ahead. Speak.
Colin Morgan: Yeah. I agree. I mean it’s great because you can go and have a bit of a laugh before your scenes when there’s humor and comedy involved but equally when it comes to more I guess dramatic ones or ones that are a bit heavier. We also can tone it down and focus on it as well. But it’s good that you’re getting that dynamic as well. We’re both challenged with the work in that way. But as Bradley says because we get on so well it’s never feels like work which is great.
Brian Jacks: Great. Bradley, after three seasons how good are you at broadsword?
Bradley James: How good am I at broadsword?
Brian Jacks: I don’t know if there’s belts or rankings but how good?
Bradley James: Well I didn’t ask if there’s belts or rankings. I’m really good when someone tells me what they’re going to do and what moves they’re going to do because I can make it look like I didn’t know what they were going to do and then block those moves and kill them.
If someone was to attack me without any previous choreography I don’t know. It’d be interesting to see what I would do. But it wouldn’t be interesting to me. It’d be bloody scary. But I would imagine I was better than when I started.
Brian Jacks: Colin, can you talk about an episode where they age you up later in Season 3?
Colin Morgan: When what? Sorry.
Brian Jacks: I’ve seen images of you aged in…
Colin Morgan: Oh yeah.
Brian Jacks: …later episodes. Can you talk about that at all?
Colin Morgan: Yeah. I’m not sure I can say under what circumstances I do age. But I can probably tell you more about the kind of – the mechanics of what that involved but – which was about six hours every day and – in prosthetics and getting the prosthetics applied on and the wig fittings and beard fittings. I was aware prior to that going for head cap and getting the mold made and then of course the process that the special effects guys then had to do in terms of aging. Then my face and contact lens has been made and teeth mold’s been made. It’s just a long, long process.
And for what was then a really fun thing to do it was great then to after nearly three years playing Merlin together a chance to play old Merlin in terms of the one that people are familiar with seeing.
Jamie Ruby: So you both mentioned — hi — you both mentioned that you have a lot of fun on the set together. Can you tell us about some particularly funny thing that happened or maybe pranks that you, you know, do to each other or something?
Colin Morgan: Well (unintelligible) of you to come in there probably.
Bradley James: No. I was doing exactly the same thing purely because I never come up with a good answer to this question.
Colin Morgan: I mean it’s fun on set but it’s naturally good fun. There’s nothing that people pull or try to do to kind of provoke fun. It just is fun on set. And I think that’s testament to kind of the people and both the regulars and the guests that come on. And…
Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. So how did you both get started in acting?
Colin Morgan: For me it’s all I’ve wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to do acting. And so I did local plays and productions and local theater groups and anything that involved it and then going and studying it and attending drama school and getting my first lucky break in theater in London and just kind of went from there.
Bradley James: For me I think it was a combination of wanting to impress a girl and – on at the school. And then also there was this – I initially got into it when I must have been about six or seven or something and every Wednesday afternoon in my school these kids used to disappear from lessons. And I would be like where the hell are they going; what am I doing here working my butt off in lessons and they get to disappear and go have fun. I found out they were doing sort of drama class. And so I was like I’m doing that if that’s going to get me out of lessons for Wednesday afternoon.
So it started out with that. And then I think – yeah, it continued – it sort of got reintroduced to me by a certain female who showed an interest. And I said yeah I’m well interested in that; I’ll do that (unintelligible). And then it took over.
Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. And then one last question for Colin. Who do you consider a greater enemy for Merlin: Morgause, Morgana or Uther?
Colin Morgan: Definitely Morgana. I’m probably a combination of Morgana, Morgause but probably Morgana just purely because of the part she has. Merlin tried to kill her which is the biggest – she’s got this – the biggest dirt on Merlin that anyone does and she’s – she threatens to use that against him. And again she’s in a position of power. And Merlin’s the only one that knows of what her true power is and how she can use that. So yeah, Morgana definitely.
Julie Haas: I talked to you both earlier. But I just had two quick questions. One, Colin, there was this plate at the end of one of the episodes that if fans have ever listened to the commentaries they know you were allergic to everything on the plate. It was tomatoes and cheese and chicken. Was that on purpose or was that a joke?
Colin Morgan: That wasn’t on purpose. I’m not actually allergic to tomatoes…
Julie Haas: Well no, you’re a vegetarian. Sorry.
Colin Morgan: Yeah. Yeah. Somebody asked me that earlier on if I was allergic to tomatoes. It was a complete lie too. I’m not. And I don’t eat chicken. And yeah, I am allergic to dairy products so – but no, that was not intentional that I know of. I could have had the tomato though.
Julie Haas: Could have, that would have been. And I also…
Bradley James: Since when…
Julie Haas: …had a question…
Bradley James: …have you been lactose intolerant?
Colin Morgan: Since what?
Bradley James: That was — this is Bradley from no sense whatsoever. There’s a question for Colin. Since when have you been lactose intolerant.
Colin Morgan: It’s a bit personal, something like that.
Bradley James: That’s new for me. I never knew that. Anyway, sorry. Continue on. My apologies.
Julie Haas: No. It’s fine. You guys always do a sort of behind the scenes thing every year. So it was – the first year was the video diaries. And then it was the road trip and the secrets and magic. And this year you guys did a quest. How did that work out? Was there any reasoning…
Bradley James: How does that work for me?
Julie Haas: …behind? Or did they just put you in a room?
Bradley James: I think they just spring it on us each year what they want us to do. And they just chucked us in the room and run to the back of the studio, threw whatever crap they had lying around in it and went oh we’ll make up some challenge and put it behind the scenes footage.
But it’s actually quite fun. I remember sort of dreading that, thinking oh god, what have they cooked up for us here. But then I remember it being quite a lot of fun.
Don’t forget to watch Merlin when it returns to SyFy in January!
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