Marvel and Bond actor never takes job for granted

An actor who has played supporting roles in Marvel, James Bond and Star Wars films says he never takes his career for granted.

Clem So, from Ashburton in Devon, is celebrating the release of the 65th film he has worked on - Masters of the Universe.

The actor said he was a fan of big film franchises, including ones he had worked on which he felt privileged to be involved with.

So has had supporting roles in five Marvel films, three James Bond movies, 11 episodes of Dr Who and three Star Wars films.

"I think when I first worked on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you could feel the importance of that project and the prestige of that. I felt honoured and privileged to work on that.

"The next Star Wars film, I was maybe a little more blasé. I don't take these things for granted though, it's always a privilege to work on a big movie."

So played a resistance fighter in Force Awakens and filmed interior scenes at Pinewood Studios alongside characters like C3P0.

"It was crazy, like the biggest cosplay event but real - there were so many droids and creatures walking around and all the classic X-wing fighter costumes," he said.

"You had to pinch yourself to be there, I couldn't believe I was in the film."

Masters of the Universe is a live action version of the popular 80s He-Man cartoon and Beer Quarry Caves in east Devon was one of its filming locations.

So played a supporting role as an advisor to He-Man's father the king of Eternia, alongside stars Idris Elba and James Purefoy.

He said he was one of the first people at the cinema when the film was released on 5 June and was "so excited" to see what the director had done.

So filmed three scenes - two at Elstree studios in London and a night shoot in Wells Cathedral in Somerset.

He said he had filmed with Elba before and enjoyed working alongside him again.

"I did give Idris a nod - he probably wouldn't remember me but I did work on an episode of Luther with him a long time ago," he continued.

So said it was his brother Tom - who had a role in James Bond film Casino Royale - who first got him into work as a supporting actor.

"He said to me, 'you have a similar look, you should give it ago'.

"So I joined a few agencies, got a few jobs, and then it grew from there."

He said although he now classified himself as a veteran actor, there were still some series he would love to work on.

"I'd love to be in Star Trek, or if they ever remade Thunderbirds - I'd love to be a puppet on that and do the voice for it," he said.

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