When you watch Austrian writer-director Florian Pochlatko’s characteristic movie debut Be Regular and the Oddness of the Different World (Wie man regular ist und die Merkwürdigkeiten der anderen Welt) within the Views program of the seventy fifth Berlin Worldwide Movie Competition, you could catch your self rubbing your eyes and questioning: Is Ed Sheeran actually on this film? And how on earth did they get him?
That’s no coincidence. Pochlatko’s movie, amongst different issues, displays on such questions as what’s actual and what’s regular.
The film’s solid is led by Luisa-Céline Gaffron (And Tomorrow the Total World) and in addition options Elke Winkens, Cornelius Obonya, and Felix Pöchhacker, amongst others. And sure, the British man protagonist Pia meets known as Ned and does look lots like Ed Sheeran. However the actor’s title is Wesley Byrne, and he’s a avenue cleaner who lives within the Better Manchester space.
IMDb credit him on the movie as Wesley Joseph Byrne. However the 32-year-old tells THR that “Wesley Byrne is okay.” By way of Zoom, Byrne additionally talked to THR‘s Georg Szalai about how he ended up in a Berlinale movie, when he began getting mistaken for the music star, what sort of leisure he enjoys, and concerning the time he truly acquired to satisfy Sheeran.
The director of Be Regular tells me he came upon about you on-line and the way lots of individuals generally suppose you’re Ed Sheeran. After which he thought you’ll make an incredible character in his movie who matches its world that’s barely off. How did the movie crew persuade you to be within the film?
Byrne It didn’t take a lot convincing, actually. Someone discovered me on Fb. They instructed me about it, and I appeared all the things up to verify it was legit as a result of I get a variety of weirdos. I ended up messaging them, then acquired in contact with Florian, and so they simply flew me over there.
What did they inform you concerning the position? Did you get a script?
Florian despatched me slightly script. Clearly, I say little or no, as a result of I’m not an actor. He despatched me the script and all the things over, and we simply had slightly video chat over Zoom. And he appreciated it, I suppose.
You by no means acted earlier than?
Earlier than this? No, by no means.
What did you discover to be the largest problem of appearing then? Or was there something notably tough at first?
Not wanting on the digicam. I don’t suppose I did it many occasions. However there was an entire shot the place I needed to look simply over the digicam, and I used to be simply screaming in my very own head, “Don’t look down! Don’t look down! The digicam’s proper there.”
Earlier than and after – Wesley Byrne needed to prepare for a shirtless scene in Be Regular and the Oddness of the Different World with pretend tattoos to look extra like Ed Sheeran. Courtesy of Wesley Byrne.
This wasn’t solely your first-ever movie as an actor however you additionally needed to do a intercourse scene. How was that?
I’m not fussy. We had the intimacy coordinator. So beforehand, we talked about what we have been snug with. So it was nothing loopy. You already know, she wasn’t truly on me. It was only a good little digicam trick. It was a enjoyable one to clarify to my girlfriend although.
What was the strangest or most ridiculous factor you needed to do for the movie?
Most likely the intercourse noises. That was the weirdest factor as a result of I needed to do these individually. I simply had
to lie there and do the audio on this little closed set. And Florian stated: “Now inform her she’s stunning and say this.” And I’m attempting to not giggle.
There’s a scene that may be a reference to The Matrix. How was creating that scene the place your voice is essential?
I simply stood there studying right into a microphone. Florian instructed me to simply bear in mind the scene from The Matrix the place Neo is attempting to flee. So I used to be simply attempting to channel my interior Morpheus. I’m no Laurence Fishburne, however you already know, I did what I might.
Would you be open to taking up extra appearing roles?
I’ll simply test what comes. I’m making this up as I’m going alongside. I don’t have a plan. I do have a extremely dangerous short-term reminiscence so even the little little bit of textual content I stated I used to be struggling to recollect. I don’t perceive how individuals memorize complete scripts. On the flight over, I used to be simply studying my little bit time and again.
When did individuals begin mistaking you for Ed Sheeran?
It was earlier than he even acquired actually well-known, earlier than he did The A Workforce. It has been about 10 years (or extra). One of many first occasions I heard it, I used to be at an Iron Maiden live performance, and I didn’t even know who he was. And a few girl simply checked out me and he or she went, “What are YOU doing right here?!” I used to be like: “What are YOU doing?! What do you imply?”
Do you sing or make music?
No, I can’t sing, I can’t play something.
How annoying do you discover it when individuals ask you for an Ed Sheeran autograph or selfie?
It solely actually annoys me after I’m when me and my girlfriend are out having a meal or one thing and other people come and hassle us. That’s the one time it actually will get on my nerves. Different occasions, I’m simply type of chill about it. It’s what it’s. If it bothered me, I’d (shave) my head.
How do you let individuals down and inform them that you’re not actually Ed?
Lots of occasions, I don’t. I simply allow them to have an image, after which they go away me alone. If I stand there and attempt to clarify all the things, it takes too lengthy. I give them what they need and ship them on their means as a result of it’s simpler that means.
Did individuals mistake you for Ed Sheeran if you went to Austria for the shoot or did you may have some other enjoyable experiences?
The individuals who had simply received Eurovision (2022) for Ukraine have been staying on the resort that I additionally stayed at. I used to be chilling with them within the resort foyer. I simply sat and drank with them for some time.
Have you ever ever met Ed Sheeran himself and, if that’s the case, how was it?
Yeah, I used to be his physique double for an advert he did for tomato ketchup. He was tremendous chill. He simply thanked me for being there. He’s a very nice man.
Ed Sheeran and Wesley Byrne… properly, truly, Wesley Byrne (left) and Ed Sheeran (proper). Courtesy of Wesley Byrne.
Have you ever seen him in live performance?
I went to look at him with my sister and my nephew at Etihad Stadium (in Manchester), and so they moved us to (the) VIP (space) totally free.
How come?
Safety came to visit and moved us. I feel it was as a result of too many individuals have been taking photos. To be sincere, there was a queue going all the best way up the stadium stairs, and it was inflicting a little bit of a problem.
What sort of music do you want?
A little bit of all the things. I’m principally a rock and steel man, however generally I hearken to some classical, some pop, some hip hop, no matter, music in numerous languages.
Do you want motion pictures too?
Yeah, I watch all kinds. I’ve simply needed to eliminate all my DVDs as a result of my unit was collapsing. I simply stored my Blu-rays and field units, that’s it.
Do you may have a favourite film?
Most likely Avengers, as a result of I’m a giant comedian e-book nerd.
In the event that they provided you a job in a future Avengers film, any character you’d like to play?
I’m not in adequate form to play any of them. Once I first came upon about this movie, I misplaced about 15 kilos as a result of clearly I knew I’d be shirtless. I’m a professional PT (bodily therapist), so I understand how to shed pounds, achieve muscle and all that.
I heard you wished to however couldn’t attend the Berlin Movie Competition premiere of Be Regular and the Oddness of the Different World. Why not?
I gave my boss a month’s discover, however they nonetheless wouldn’t let me have it off work. I might have beloved to assist the crew out, get some extra consideration on the movie wherever I might. They did all the things they might for me. Yeah, I simply really feel dangerous that I can’t be there for them. The premiere (date) is definitely my girlfriend’s birthday as properly. So, the plan was to go to Berlin for her birthday.
Anything you’d wish to share?
Actually, simply how good everyone was on the movie. There have been no egos. Everyone might act besides me. However everybody made me really feel tremendous, tremendous snug. Everybody was tremendous good. All of us went out for drinks. It felt like I had identified them for years. I’ve simply acquired nothing dangerous to say. I simply need extra individuals to look at that movie and simply hope it does rather well and everyone will get what they deserve out of it.