Interview by Tristan Dyer
Charming and possessing a personable essence, Taylor Napier is a forceful and compelling talent. Falling into acting was a natural enticement after not clicking with any other hobby or sport, it inevitably was a creative itch that he found he needed to scratch.
“I’m actually quite shy, but there’s something about being on stage that is freeing,” Napier expressed.
Napier has an innate gut sense of how his roles come into fruition and shared his mental process when reading a script saying, “I find that whenever I’m drawn to a character, the scripts tend to be a character I get right away and I understand the language. If I’m struggling to put together the thoughts inside the characters head to go from line to line and grasp the journey they are on, then I feel I won’t get the part anyway.”
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Photo by Jacquetta Clark
“I tend to like characters who look at the world with a bit of humor which is what I try to bring to my roles. There’s a lot of serious acting for serious people out there but for me I like trying to find a way to make a narrative with a touch of humor,” Napier continued.
Widely known for playing Maksim in ‘The Wheel of Time’, Napier brings depth to the celebrated series bundled in with his charismatic charm. The show is proving to push boundaries in the fantasy space in the way of exploring relationships with some being nontraditional and sex sensitive relationships. There is a resemblance with Napier and Maksim, being a genuine effort of wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
Photo by Jacquetta Clark
During the new season, Napier shared how his character goes on an emotional journey and “grows up and accepts responsibility for his decisions and actions even if they are motivated by heart.”
Commenting on playing Maksim, Napier touched on what it’s like to work in the captivating and intense theme of the show. “My favorite thing about working in the fantasy genre is that its an incredible space to use up everything. You can have a horror scene to a dramatic and comedic scene and it all makes sense which is what’s fun about it. However the challenging part as an actor is that you’re having to deliver a lot of exposition and ground this other worldly adventure,” Napier stated.
Photo by Jacquetta Clark
Executing his own stunts in a show that proves to have demanding battle scenes is something he takes pride in. With a grueling journey of preparation before filming, when Napier is not on set there’s an implied importance to keep his skills in top form.
Finding his path to success took persistence through the ups and downs which has ultimately paid off. Being a man who is always on the go, Napier stays true to himself and admits in his humble renascence attitude saying, “I’m an actor so I’m an emotional person myself, it comes with the territory.”
Photo by Jacquetta Clark
Taylor Napier - Represented by Olivia Cheung at JadeEAST PR
Writer/Interview Tristan Dyer @tristandyer
Photographer Jacquetta Clark @jacquettaclark
Wardrobe Stylist Andrew Burling @andrewburling
Grooming Selen Hurer @selenhurer_makeup
