Revenge estrela Barry Sloane: 'I'm proud to fly the flag for Scousers in California' 

Revenge star Barry Sloane: 'I'm proud to fly the flag for Scousers in California'

Liverpool actor on his latest US show The Whispers and his career Stateside since leaving Hollyoaks

Revenge star Barry Sloane revealed he is proud to fly the flag for Scousers in the States as he chats about his latest US show.

The Liverpool actor has built up a solid fan base working alongside Emily VanCamp in the hit American programme and treading the boards on Broadway with the award-winning play Jerusalem.

And as US audiences eagerly await his latest project, the ECHO caught up with the 33-year-old to talk about his role in ABC’s supernatural drama The Whispers, which airs this summer.

We also spoke to Barry, from Garston, about finding success across the Atlanic after leaving Hollyoaks as the village’s resident evil, Niall Rafferty, and find out why he never planned to make the move to Hollywood.

“You’ve got to pinch yourself at times. It all happened so quickly, with getting Jerusalam at the Royal Court [in London] and that being the success that it was. And then it taking off in the West End, then getting transferred to Broadway, it was all amazing.”

Did the play kick start your career in the States?

“It enabled me to get the movie Penthouse North with Michael Keaton and Michelle Monaghan, which was incredible to work with those wonderful actors.

And very quickly after that Noah came about. Auditioning for Darren Aronofsky was a high point, and the fact he’d seen me in something beforehand was a great moment, then doing the movie and working with Russell Crowe was a wonderful experience, if fleeting!”

Did you ever expect to land work in America so quickly?

“I never expected to work in the United States at all. It wasn’t something that I was beating myself up about or putting pressure on myself to do. What made it come about was taking that play from London to Broadway, which got me noticed and some representation in New York.

"I never once came out for a pilot season, it was very important to me I’d only ever go over to LA if I was going with a job. I’m very lucky but I’ve also worked very hard.”

Why do you think British actors are doing so well across the Atlantic?

“People often say it’s the work ethic. I just think we’ve got many, many great actors. We come over and chance our hand and if you’re brave enough to make that jump then you deserve the spoils of that.”

“It was a wonderful experience. I’m excited for people to see it. Niall was a very exposing role, it was probably the first time in my career that I exposed myself like that emotionally, and certainly with The Whispers it’s something I felt happened again.

“I left a lot of myself on the pitch as they say over here, and I had to go to places that weren’t particularly pleasant during filming of the show, but hopefully what we created people are going to enjoy watching.”

“It’s a supernatural Homeland, so if you’re a fan of Homeland, and it had a supernatural edge would you be interested in that? I guess that’s the kind of question we’re asking. It’s very Spielbergian. It reminded me of watching that E.T look, that 70s or 80s stuff that makes you feel safe, comfortable, but on the edge of your seat and curious. We’re going to terrify people as well but I think people are going to enjoy the human element of the show as much as anything.”

How do you think people will respond to your character?

“We air in the US in June this year. When we meet my character Wes in the first episode he’s cheated on his wife. With any of my characters I’m not asking the viewers to like them, I’m asking them to be in their shoes for a little while.”

Did you expect such a huge reaction to your character Aiden in Revenge?

“No. I knew it was going to be a love interest of Emily Van Camp, which was exciting at the time. I never set out to be liked, I played him cold and callous at times, it was great that people warmed to the character so much and liked him. He offered something that wasn’t on the show at the time.

“Revenge was a great phenomenon, to be part of popular culture in such a way was exciting. It was a memorable character that people are still very fond of. And through that I got to do The Whispers, which is the next phase and I’m looking forward to people getting to see that.”

“The United States has been wonderful to us as a family. Gracie my daughter has spent more time on this continent than she has back home. [My wife] Katy [O’Grady], I and Gracie have a wonderful life, and we have a beautiful home in Santa Monica. We’re very fortunate, I feel very blessed.”

“We miss Liverpool all the time as we always will because it’s my home. It’s what made me the man I am. It’s where my family and friends are. I’m always a very proud, boasting Scouser so I’m happy to be flying the flag here in California.”

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Hollyoaks singletons Jorgie Porter and Stephanie Davis share a Valentine's date

Stars flock to Amanzi restaurant to party at Dubai-style brunch

Liverpool FC WAGs Dani Lawrence and Erin O'Neill enjoy bridal in London

WATCH: Hollyoaks' Cameron Moore tells the ECHO "I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Hollywood"

Soap star talks about his character\'s complex character, working in the US and being inspired by Barry Sloane

Liverpool's hidden gems that few people ever see

Hundreds of children enjoy the Craft Mine at St George's Hall

Liverpool city centre cigar and whisky lounge where smokers are most definitely welcome

'Delicious' Danny Hope going for gold as Insane Championship Wrestling returns to Liverpool

Grand National 2015: Zara Phillips among the celebs out in force at Aintree

Grand National 2015: Spot yourself in our crowd pictures from all three days

Three Queens Liverpool 2015: How to enjoy the Cunard spectacular in New Brighton

Grand National Ladies Day 2015: Cobalt blue, YSL sandals and shades Ladies Day style winners

Reread our Grand National 2015 live coverage: all the news and updates from Aintree racecourse

Buy & sell items including cars and houses, or browse thousands of ads

Jade Wright shares her passion for Liverpool music

Live: Breaking news from Liverpool and Merseyside for Sunday April 12

Liverpool FC transfer rumours: Reds won't meet Depay asking price, Jenkinson could move to Anfield, Illarramendi to Merseyside

Aintree racecourse viral video: Formby man, 34, quizzed in connection with assault

For the latest local news straight to your Twitter, Facebook feed or e-mail inbox.

Want to get in touch? Our full contacts can be found on this page and here are some of our key contacts.

For newsroom contact details click here, alternatively send your story via this form.

Trinity Mirror Merseyside, the Echo\'s parent company, is one of the North West’s largest multimedia providers reaching more than 900,000 adults every month.

The Liverpool Echo, Trinity Mirror Merseyside’s flagship brand, is the area’s best-read newspaper including national newspapers.

The Liverpool Echo reaches 1 in 3 people in the area with a daily readership of more than 256,000* people.The Liverpool Echo website reaches 1.5 million unique users each month who look at around 8.5 million pages**.

To advertise with us please click here for full details.

Editor-in-Chief, Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company\'s Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.