Charlie Cox was born in London on 15 December 1982 and was educated and received his training in drama at Sherborne School in Dorset where he appeared in a number of productions. He also appeared in the BBC production of Judge John Deed as the Young Vicar. Sci-fi fanatics may remember his portrayal of Dennis Bridger in A for Andromeda. Review Graveyard caught up with Cox as his latest movie, Stardust, was due to be released in UK cinemas...

ReviewGraveyard: Stardust is a hard movie to define, Fairytale, Romance, Adventure. What's your take on the film?

Charlie Cox: My take on the film is exactly that. It's got a bit of everything in it, for everyone. It's an action adventure film but at the same time it's a romantic comedy. It's certainly a children's film as well as being made for adults. It's kind of hard to pigeon hole.

RG: Your character Tristan goes on quite a journey throughout the film. Is this something you can relate to?

CC: It is yeah, it certainly is. He goes on quite a journey externally, but inside of him is kind of the biggest journey, he goes from boy to man and any young guy can relate to that.

RG: This is your first big Hollywood blockbuster how did you get involved with the movie?

CC: I just auditioned. I was just one of the guys lucky enough to get an audition. From that point on I went for a recall and went back again. It was a long process but eventually I got there.

RG: You were first to be cast. Was that quite an honour?

CC: Yeah it was. I think Matthew wanted to find the couple, the two main characters before he cast the others. Never for a minute did I think they'd cast the likes of Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer, that was a real shock. It was pretty spectacular not an opportunity you get everyday. It was hugely beneficial to me so early in my career.

RG: Stardust is based on Neil Gaiman's novel, had you read this before you read the script?

CC: No I hadn't. I read it after I read the script. I hadn't heard of Neil. He's much better known in the States than he is here. I have since become a fan of his.

RG: And do you think fans of the book will be pleased with the adaptation?

CC: That's very hard to say because with all books that are made into movies there are people that kind of don't agree with the transformation. A movie is one persons interpretation of the book, it's not everybody's interpretation so there are going to be people who I am sure don't' see it the same way. The hope is people will understand its one person's idea. It's more a testament to the book than an exact copy.

RG: What was it like working romantically with both Sienna Miller and Claire Danes?

CC:It was pretty cool! Can't ask for much more than that in your job can you.

RG: There are a few British comic figures in the film, including Ricky Gervais and David Walliams. What was it like with them on set?

CC: Comic, very amusing, it was hard to focus. There's one scene with Ricky Gervais and Robert De Niro. In the background behind Robert De Niro are all his pirates, looking very menacing. But if you watch them very carefully there are times when they are smirking and they had to keep on retaking it because they were cracking up and couldn't stop laughing and had to look away from camera. It became very funny.

RG: The film features a lot of special effects was that challenging to film?

CC: Not really! There are different types. I'm sure it was very challenging for the guys in charge of the CGI but to film it from my point of view it wasn't very difficult you just had to pretend, which is what we're doing anyway.

RG: The locations in the film are beautiful, where was the film shot?

CC: A lot of it was Scotland some of it was Iceland and in and around the old towns of England.

RG: What was your favourite scene to film?

CC: My favourite scenes to film were the early ones with Claire where we're bickering and fighting. We had a lot of fun doing it and were just laughing a lot and being stupid on set. There's just more in them getting annoyed with each other is kind of fun and we were such good friends by then.

RG: What are you planning to do now? Will you be leaving England for Hollywood?

CC: No I'm not no! I live in London and I love it here so I'm not going to be moving abroad. You know I've had to spend a bit more time there and it's great it's sunny!

I plan to do as much work in the UK as I possibly can. I'm still young you know I don't feel the pressure to become the next James Bond.

RG: Thank you for your time.

With thanks to Kate Linfoot at Way to Blue

Stardust is released in UK cinemas through Paramount Pictures from 19 October 2007.

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