William Moseley Interviewed; Finds Narnia in Greenwich Village

William Moseley is the 18-year-old Brit who plays the oldest brother Peter in the smash hit “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” the first story in C.S. Lewis’ “Chronicles of Narnia.” After garnering great reviews and an ardent following of teen screamers, Moseley took the autumn off from his life in England to explore acting classes and wander the streets of Greenwich Village.

Just like the Narnia story, Moseley’s energy makes one truly believe that he finds wonder behind every cupboard door. His excitement and joy colors everything he encounters here, from acting classes to cup cakes to Downtown street life. I recently spoke to the young actor about his enthusiasm for the Village, before he left for New Zealand to shoot the second Narnia film, Prince Caspian.

You did have a plan beyond breakfast, right?

I came to hone my craft a bit before I head off to New Zealand for the next installment of Narnia, “Prince Caspian.” I find the atmosphere here, in New York so motivating. It’s funny, I knew I would have one class to take with Sheila Gray, but I worried I wouldn’t be busy enough, and now I am constantly doing scenes with people from my classes, going to theater and the movies.

For me acting is so much about confidence. If you believe you are good enough you give that off and it makes you actually better. So studying with a teacher where I am being exposed to method and sensory work seems to have moved my acting to a different level.

What’s next after the Village?

Well, I leave for New Zealand at the end of January, and then we shoot there and in Prague, Slovenia and Poland. This role is going to be very physical, with lots of battles. I have been training in Gleason’s gym in Brooklyn. It is a place where they see me, as rather smallish boy with a funny accent, and they make me earn my respect there. I have been studying sword fighting as well, which is sort of a dream come true because when I was a boy my mum wouldn’t let me fight or kick box because she thought I’d just use it against my sister. Now I am getting to do it all.

[Read the rest at The Villager]

William Moseley’s favorite Village spots

Magnolia Café: “Yes, I would wait in line for a cupcake.”

Cowgirl Café: “I love that I get to have a taste of the south and still stay in New York.”

Fat Cat: “Pool tables and shuffle board— what could be bad about that?”

Bread and Pastry Café: “For the paninni. Need I say more?”

Cafe doma: “Decaf tea and a place to write or read or just look out the big window”