Actor Brian Gilleece, known for his appearances in acclaimed television productions including HBO’s ‘Westworld’ and CBS’s ‘Matlock’, joins the cast of Apple TV’s neo-noir crime drama ‘Sugar’ for its second season, alongside Colin Farrell. In the series, Gilleece portrays Iain, a mysterious character whose understated presence and carefully considered physicality reflect the intriguing world of the show. Having spent nearly five months working on the production, the actor describes the experience as a significant milestone in his career. In this exclusive interview, Gilleece opens up about working alongside Colin Farrell, the memorable moments that have shaped his acting journey, including sharing the screen with Kathy Bates, and his ambitions for the future. He also reflects on what makes ‘Sugar’ such a distinctive television series and reveals an exciting project he is developing beyond acting.
What was your experience like working on the second season of ‘Sugar’, and what did you enjoy most about being part of the production?
It was incredible. I’m definitely working my way through Ireland’s finest here, having worked with Rory McIlroy a few times with Nike on the commercial side of things and now Colin and Laura. It’s pretty surreal. Obviously, growing up watching these actors who are in some of my favourite films and TV shows, and then getting to watch them play up close is the best “acting class” anyone can have. I honestly am so grateful. There are fewer and fewer opportunities to work on original material that is specifically created for the screen first. And the fact that this series not only shot here in LA, but it’s a neo-noir and pays direct homage to the incredible films and filmmakers of that era, is really a dream gig.
Can you tell us more about your character, Iain, and how you prepared to bring him to life?
People may be surprised to know that the role was originally listed as recurring with no scripted lines. I think a lot of actors would have turned down the audition immediately.
“But my team knew I would be up for such a mysterious character, especially for a show I was already genuinely a fan of after watching the first season when it aired.”
Also, I’m a big suit guy – love a good suit – and it was clear this guy was going to be well dressed. Moose Khan played my equally mysterious counterpart, and we both leaned into the physicality of our characters. These people with all the money in the world who can operate with impunity – how do they sit? Hold a drink? Move through a room? Look at other people without drawing too much attention to themselves?
Photo credit: Carina Conti
What was it like joining the cast of ‘Sugar’, and how did you find working alongside the other actors on set?
Having worked on the show on and off for almost five months, this was the longest I’ve been on a project so far. The last day of filming, when Chris Fletcher, the 1st AD, called a season wrap on me in front of that giant cast and crew at this extravagant Hollywood Hills mansion as the sun was coming up at 6:45 in the morning – yeah, that was a pretty special moment. I gave Moose and Laura a big hug and then walked over to Colin, who said, “Well done, man.” It hit home for sure. I have always loved being part of a team, and as a working actor, we pop in and pop out, so we don’t always get to be part of those moments.
“To get to be part of such a special creative team where everyone’s contribution was valued at every level means a lot.”
Sam and the team made each of us feel free to collaborate, which for an actor is really all you can ask for. I also learned so much about what it really means to be number one on the call sheet. Watching Colin’s work ethic around his performance and his leadership when the cameras weren’t rolling was really inspiring. I hope audiences can feel how much every single person on that set cared and gave their all to the project to make it a very exciting season.
‘Sugar’ has attracted attention for its distinctive storytelling and atmosphere. What do you think makes the series stand out from other crime dramas?
Story. Story. Story. It all starts and ends with quality and interesting storytelling, which ‘Sugar’ really delivers on. We’re living in a bit of a moment where spectacle is taking over, and a project like ‘Sugar’ that leverages its success on a great story well told is becoming more and more rare. There is also just something so handsome about noir. And then setting it in LA and “making the city a character” in the way so many projects have used New York City. It’s a beautiful place to shoot, and there really is nothing like the light in LA, so pairing that with a really genuinely interesting story and top-quality performances – it is the whole package for an audience that I think is really thirsty for something like ‘Sugar’.
Looking back at your acting career so far, which experiences have been particularly memorable for you, and how have they shaped you as an actor?
I’m proud of each project I’ve been part of, including the few I’ve created, because each marks a notch of growth or movement forward, or a chance to observe a great actor or director, or make a new connection.
“However, one that stands out would have to be a scene I did on ‘Westworld’ with Aaron Paul and Evan Rachel Wood. I played Michael Tritter in Season 3. It was by far the biggest location shoot I had ever experienced.”
We shot in DTLA with 300 extras, electric scooters everywhere, multiple cameras on cranes, and I’m standing in position ready to go when I hear, “Hey Brian! Brian, what’s up, man?” It turns out it was the building engineer from a sales job I had when I first moved to LA. Suddenly it dawned on him that I was actually in the scene, and he hit me with a double thumbs-up and said, “You’re doing the thing, man!” It was such a great reminder to stop and really take in how awesome it was to be working on such a giant worldwide show. I try to do that on every job now. Had another really special situation like that arise while shooting ‘Sugar’. I auditioned for this role on ‘Matlock’ opposite Kathy Bates in between episodes of ‘Sugar’. I got the call from my agent and manager while I was on set, and Colin saw my face when I was on the phone and asked what had happened. So I said, “I’m going to do this ‘Matlock’ episode opposite Kathy,” and he just instantly said, “Oh, I love Kathy, that’s amazing. We worked on a movie together 20 years ago. She’s the best. Please tell her I said hello.” Which definitely helped with my nerves getting to meet her for the first time. After the initial table read later that week, I went over to Kathy for the first time and said, “I hear you worked with Colin Farrell. I’m actually shooting ‘Sugar’ this week as well.” Kathy instantly said, “Oh, I love Colin. I worked with him on a film 20 years ago! He’s such a sweetheart. Tell him I said hello.” So yeah, it felt pretty cool to be playing telephone for two of my acting heroes, and shooting both projects on the Paramount lot the same week was absolutely surreal.
Photo credit: Carina Conti
What kind of roles would you love to explore in the future, and are there any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Honestly, that’s a really challenging question because you don’t know what you don’t know. There could be some fantastic writer out there right now sketching up a character that ends up being perfect for me that I would never have thought about. But if you’re asking in terms of what type of job, I’ve always said it: I think being a regular on a network soap is one of the best jobs in Hollywood. Just the frequency – getting to play a character day in and day out, 3–4 days a week consistently? Sign me up! Also, I have a knack for absorbing a lot of material quickly, so frankly, it looks like a lot of fun. So GH, ‘Days’, ‘Y&R’, I’m here if ya need me. If we’re talking films, I really love what is coming out of Artists Equity – and have always been a Matt and Ben fan. ‘The Rip’ was awesome. That high-octane storytelling that people like Joe Carnahan, Joseph Kosinski, Gina Prince-Bythewood and David Leitch are carrying the torch for – those are the kinds of stories that made me want to be an actor in the first place. I mean, who doesn’t watch ‘Con Air’ or ‘Speed’ when it just happens to be on in your hotel room? As far as what I am developing here for the future, most people know I’m a HUGE hockey fan. I still skate 3–4 times a week and absolutely love the game. Recently, there has been such growth in the popularity of the sport itself and also in seeing it on screen. Even having it be the sport that the main character in ‘Inside Out 2’ played was so fun for me to see, knowing how much the sport has grown, especially for women too. I’m developing an unscripted show set in that arena, which I am super excited about. I don’t want to give too much away, but it builds on a concept that a buddy and I explored during the pandemic and really amplifies it in a new way.
Featured photo credit: Carina Conti
