We had a delight starting the year and having a fun conversation with actor Danny Griffin.

Tell us something that is not on your resume.

This is probably a little odd, but since I was about 10, I have had a love for horses. I started horseback riding when I was about 11 years old. Throughout the years, I have not been able to do it as much as I would like to; however, I've got back into it recently. 

What has been the biggest lesson learnt this year for you?

Well, it's been a really weird year, not just for me but for the world. I can be quite an impatient person; it's something I need to work on. However, I have gotten to work on my patience with all the downtime there has been. 

Have you learnt or explored any other new passions during this year?

I actually got into gaming this year; for about 3months straight, I was very hooked on a particular game. I played it with my friends, which was just great fun, basically hanging out virtually with your mates and catching up. 

 When did you start acting and when did you know it was what you wanted to do as a career? 

I was 15, and  I discovered I could make acting my career.  I  just finished watching an episode of Doctor Who, and I loved the main actor Matt Smith.  Upon googling him, I found out that he was an Actor who studied acting at the National Youth Theatre. I had no idea you could study acting, let alone make a career out of it. That's when I decided I wanted to pursue the craft and I moved to London to study it. 

Do you have any other hobbies/ interests growing up that you enjoyed doing? 

Well, I was lucky enough to grow up In Cornwall. I had the beach down the road, where I enjoyed surfing and sailing a bit. I also enjoyed climbing and had a free climbing wall in my back garden (a Tree) ha. I love horseback riding. I used to go every Saturday, and I  was the only guy who did it!  I didn't care; I was 12. I was also really into swimming, Hockey and Rock Climbing. 

What was it like playing 'Sky' on Netflix Fate of Winx Saga? Are you similar to your character?

I enjoyed playing 'Sky'. What is so interesting about 'Sky' is that he is a little like an Iceberg. He seems kinda normal on top, but underneath there's so much going on. That is true for many of the show's characters and was something I found very relatable. We all have something going on beneath the surface. We may seem polished on the outside, but it can be a different story on the inside. 

You have some pretty intense fight scenes. What was it like working with a sword? 

I wish I could tell you that the swords were real! I wanted one so badly. When John, our swordsmith, came to give me my sword, I felt so excited. The little kid who used to watch 'Aragorn' from Lord of the Rings was about to be given his first sword, only to pick it up and find out it was plastic…. My first response was, "Where is the real one? "

The fight scenes were so much fun, and my co-star Freddy only made it easier. We had an amazing stunt team, who came up with some outstanding choreography, which Freddy and I trained a great deal to get down as smooth and as fast as possible. 

What are some of your favorite memories from working on set?

I have so many. Every day on set was memorable. The whole cast is such down to earth lovely people, and it just became like going to work with your friends. I have a lot of scenes with Rob Collier, who is probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. He would come to set, and as a warm-up he would start rapping or "spitting bars," as he calls it. 

How have you been keeping busy during quarantine? Any tips or suggestions for readers struggling?

It is an incredibly hard time for everyone. And one suggestion that would work for someone wouldn't work for someone else. All I can say is try and have a routine, even if it's just getting up at a reasonable time and making your bed. 

 Anything you would like to say to your fans?

I am so grateful to anyone who supports me.  Thank you for all your kindness and lovely comments about the show. I hope you enjoy our take on Fate the Winx Saga. Follow me on Instagram @Danny_Griffin_ to keep up with my future projects and Fate the Winx Saga news.

TEAM CREDITS:

Photographer: Joseph Sinclair using Hasselblad.

Styling: Ella Gaskell

Grooming: Charli Avery

Timotej Letonja