Guy Remmers

Following the season one finale and renewal of The Buccaneers, Guy Remmers is undeniably here to stay.

PHOTOS: Joseph Sinclair using Leica, Hasselblad and Profoto

TALENT: Guy Remmers

STYLING: Sarah-Rose Harrison 

GROOMING: Charlie Cullen at Joe Mills Agency

WORDS: Jasmine Perrier

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: Joseff Williams

SPECIAL THANKS: Pinnacle PR

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All eyes on Guy Remmers

By the time he landed the role of the dashing Duke, the British actor had already spent “ten years of various in-person auditions and self-tapes” to forge the path leading to his big break. “I couldn’t give a number, but it would be well over 100,” he says. “I might have been 19 at the time that I was signed to an acting agent who came to watch a play I did at the National Theatre, and I think I landed the role of The Buccaneers when I was 27 — I’m now 28.” He recalls he found his love for acting and storytelling at secondary school. “I’m dyslexic and I did really badly academically at school, but I had an incredible teacher who had trained at LAMDA and pushed me to go to the drama class. I remember watching her do an impression of an old man and being completely amazed by this person who transformed themselves.” As a result, he joined an after-school acting course and eventually took the stages of some prestigious theaters between his hometown and London. “When I went to sixth form, I did an open audition for a play called The Grandfathers at the Bristol Old Vic. I got one of the main roles, so I did a lot of theater when I was from the ages of around 16 to 20-21. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.”

That play then got picked up to go to the National Theatre, which was all stepping stones and building blocks for Remmers. “That was the moment I knew, ‘This is me, this is what I love, and this is what I want my career to be.’” He takes a moment to reflect on his roots and the emotions he felt on stage under the bright lights. “It started with the character I played, Kol, standing in the middle of the stage as we got all the audience into the theater. I had my head down and my eyes shut the whole time, and I could hear people talking, coming in, and sitting down. The director used to say he could see my heart pumping through my chest because I was probably so nervous. Eventually, they all went silent and when the play started, I woke up from this stationary thing. That was an incredible feeling.” Therefore, going back to the National Theatre at some point in his life would be a full-circle moment. “Theater is where I started that playing and devising — we definitely had that on The Buccaneers, but it was different. I think actors who do both are extraordinary and I would love to be one of them.”

Given that Remmers is at a relatively early stage in his career, there are many aspects of filmmaking he became familiarized with during his time working on The Buccaneers. “I found it so lovely getting to see scenes that I wasn’t there for and only saw on the script come to life,” he says on his favorite bit about watching the show. “Then, I recently watched the finale and for all my scenes in episode eight, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m happy with that.’ I feel like I’ve learned quite a lot from watching it back. It was strange, but I still watched it,” he adds with a gentle smile, before reminiscing about his first-ever scene filmed — Theo’s proposal to Annabel ‘‘Nan’’ St. George [Kristine Frøseth] at the end of episode two. “That was quite a big scene in my character’s journey and I was really nervous. But I remember feeling really proud after shooting that because I felt like I’d delivered it with emotional truth and it felt right.” With help from his co-stars with whom he shares a profound level of chemistry on and off screen, the actor discovered different perspectives. “I definitely learned a lot from the actors who had much more experience with TV and film. Amelia Bullmore said to me that she’s got to a point in her career where she never watches her work. It’s an interesting psychological thing,” he says, before pointing to a scene he had with Christina Hendricks. “I remember finding it fascinating watching her and seeing  how slight the differences were in each take. But when I watched it back, I could see it.”

In The Buccaneers, Remmers brought his empathy, own relationship with his friends, and life as an only child into the English aristocrat, bringing to life a character with depth and layers who sparked emotional investment and intrigue. “I created two Theos subconsciously. It was the same person, but it was more about how he presents himself in one environment — when he is with his mother and attends balls, and then there is the side where he is swimming, painting, and with Nan.” For Remmers, it’s a character who is a nice person, despite his “rocky path” after he intercepts a telegram where his childhood best friend declares his love to his fiancé in episode four. “Then he acts a bit out of character in episode five, but I’ve always wanted to play someone who is a bit mean. I read a really interesting comment which broke down why someone might do that — burying this information he’s learned instead of probably doing the right thing and confronting it.” On that front, the actor hasn’t been overwhelmed by the sudden rush of attention and audience opinions. “Me and [Matthew] Broome, who plays Guy, have loved it because it’s created a discussion and debate, which means people are watching the show as a whole and connecting with all three of those characters. I love being a part of something that is alive and people connect to, whether it brings them laughter, happiness, or sadness.”

“I’m intrigued as to what’s next and I hope things keep going in the same direction. But to be completely honest, I’m more in the present,” he says when we have a chat a day before the announcement that The Buccaneers would return for a second season. “I looked at some of my self-tapes from a few years ago and I’ve evolved and grown drastically just from a couple of years ago. But then I think I still have the same love, passion, and eagerness to tell stories as I did when I was in secondary school and fell in love with it.” As his career inevitably builds momentum, he looks back on his decade-long journey trying to make it as an actor. “It showed me that if you have persistence, resilience, belief, and hope, or a few of those things, you will end up in a position where you get to do the thing you love.” 

The Buccaneers is now streaming on Apple TV+

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