Toby Stephens found himself making the best man’s speech on and off camera while filming this two-part thriller.
Not only was Toby’s character Peter best man in the two-part drama entitled THE BEST MAN but he also did his duty for brother Chris Larkin at his wedding last summer.
“My best man speech for my brother was by far the most terrifying though,” admits Toby. “I’m used to being on stage in front of a big audience but suddenly I had to be myself and it was totally different.
“I think Peter is quite good at eing in control of these situations. He’s certainly not shy. When he makes his best man speech he’s being manipulative, very deliberately controlling the scene even though he’s not particularly enjoying the fact that it’s Michael’s wedding.”
Describing his character Toby says: “Peter is basically a public schoolboy who is now in his mid thirties but hasn’t really grown up. He is still in the same place he was back in his late teens and still lives with his best friend. A serious case of arrested development. That relationship is his entire life, all his emotional life is invested in his best friend Michael.
“Peter’s only relationships with women are sexual, they’re not emotional at all and so when his best friend decides to get married his world falls to pieces. He is obsessive about Michael.”
Toby admits he has been around people from a similar background but says he has never experienced a relationship that exaggerated.
“That’s what makes this such an entertaining concept. It’s taking something that I think everyone at some point in their life has felt, a kind of friendship jealousy, and exaggerating it. Peter’s feelings are something one can understand.”
But Toby stresses this isn’t sexual jealousy.
“If there is an undertone it is very subliminal. I don’t think Peter is gay. I think he needs women, he finds them attractive but can’t form emotional bonds with them. I think he actually finds women threatening and sees them as something that will blight his life.
“I don’t know many people who are that extreme about it but it is a blokish thing – the ball and chain syndrome.”
Toby isn’t a fan of the romantic comedy. He explains: “Personally I find it more interesting playing people with problems than your typical romantic lead who is decent, upright and sensitive. I love portraying complex and complicated characters.
“Peter is nasty but there are reasons for his behaviour. I don’t like playing nasty for the sake of it, there has to be a fundamental reason behind the flaw. Peter is incredibly loyal to Michael and I hope people understand him. I also thought from the moment I read the script that he is a hugely entertaining character.”
And Toby is pleased to have got on so well with co-star Richard Coyle.
“I really like Richard and that made things so much easier. Friendship is at the centre of the piece so it’s important that we had a relationship off screen as well. We were very easy with each other which makes Peter and Michael’s bond more realistic.
Toby has recently finished filming Sharpe’s Challenge in India alongside Sean Bean. It will be shown on ITV1 in the Spring.
