Undoubtedly one of the most exciting talents working in the British film industry today, it was our pleasure of sit down with Joe Cole to celebrate the release of his latest film – the unforgiving prison drama A Prayer Before Dawn – which tells the true story of Billy Moore.
Moore was incarcerated in a notorious Thai prison, knowing his only route out of this hellhole was to box. Cole talks to us about his experiences meeting the real man he’s portraying on screen, and just how rigorous a training regime he had to go on in order to get fully fit for what was a uniquely demanding role to take on.
He also speaks about his time spent shooting, and how often he got genuinely smacked in the face, and how he, much like the viewer, was completely unaware of what all of the other actors were saying about him, enforcing the immersive nature of the shoot that director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire was eager to inflict on his leading man.
Lastly, Cole talks about his role in the forthcoming picture Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. directed by Ben Wheatley. Watch the full interview here:
Synopsis
The amazing true story of Billy Moore, an English boxer incarcerated in Thailand’s most notorious prison. Thrown into a world of drugs and violence, he finds his best chance to escape is to fight his way out in Muay Thai tournaments.
A Prayer Before Dawn is released on July 20th.
