Asa Butterfield, famous for his portrayal of Otis in "Sex Education," shifts his focus from the classroom to the stage, making his theatrical debut in the one-man play "Second Best."
The 27-year-old stated he was finished playing at-that-age and "wanted to do something totally different".
He went through numerous theatre scripts and Second Best stood out to him.
"It's the perfect story that delves into how you navigate beyond that turning point in life," he told the Update News Info.
The show recounts the narrative of Martin, a former child actor who narrowly escaped playing Harry Potter when he was a youth.
The narrative revolves around Martin as he embarks on the journey of fatherhood and ponders what his life might have been like if he had secured the part.
"The play, based on David Foenkinos' novel, is funny, touching, and relatable, as everyone will have thought about what-ifs at some point in their life", Butterfield says.
As Butterfield chats in the designated corner of the stage, which will be his temporary home for the next four weeks, he appears unexpectedly calm and at ease.
I'm still basking in the excitement of being on stage, and to be honest, I haven't fully wrapped my head around what just happened yet, so my emotions are a bit unclear to me.
He appears composed but it's evident that he makes every effort to excel. Following the performance and prior to our conversation, he proceeds directly to the director to undergo a review of the show and to identify the areas in which he thinks he requires improvement.
At just 27 years old, Butterfield has spent nearly two decades honing his acting craft.
At the age of 10, Benedict Cumberbatch played Bruno in the Holocaust drama "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and later starred as the main character in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo".
He admits he had been "putting theatre off for a really long time", but decided to confront his fear head-on, eager to challenge himself. And challenge himself he did, as it requires great determination to take the stage alone for 90 minutes and deliver a continuous monologue.
He is completely satisfied with the decision he made, as he explains that being on stage makes him feel "totally exhilarating".
"I didn't get any sleep after the initial performance," he mentions.
There are several contenders for the role of Spider-Spider.
Like his character Martin, the actor has had to become accustomed to dealing with rejection and has been declined for parts "countless times".
A few years ago, he was a strong contender for the role of Spider-Man, ultimately won by Tom Holland.
I often reflect on the auditions I didn't receive, but another opportunity will likely arise. If I had landed the role of Spider-Man, it would have prevented me from being part of Sex Education.
I have come to realize that certain aspects of life are beyond our control and all we can do is give it our all in every effort.
His character Martin was a way for him to temporarily escape the pain of failing to land the Harry Potter role. However, Butterfield notes that it's more difficult to do so in reality, especially with the presence of social media.
He advises being cautious with social media usage as excessive exposure can have a significant impact on your mental well-being.
I make an effort to not use it too frequently since I don't want to measure myself against others.