Behind the Scenes: Andrew Scott Opens Up About His Challenging Experience in Band of Brothers

Summary

Andrew Scott found it difficult to be on the set of Band of Brothers due to the atmosphere and how other actors approached their roles.

Scott experienced a sense of alienation on set due to the close bond formed by the core cast during an arduous boot camp, leaving him feeling excluded.

Although he did not find pleasure in portraying a soldier, Scott has successfully showcased his talent in multiple war movies and shows within the genre.

Andrew Scott, best known for his roles as the "hot priest" in Fleabag and Moriarty in Sherlock, had a less enjoyable experience while appearing in the acclaimed war series Band of Brothers. Despite the show's widespread acclaim for its portrayal of the strong bonds between soldiers during World War II, Scott found his role in the new Netflix arrival to be particularly challenging. Band of Brothers, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, is a historically based drama that mirrors the ambition of their previous collaboration, Saving Private Ryan. The series required actors to undergo boot camp training and the creation of numerous detailed set pieces to authentically recreate the chaos of war in Europe. Scott's character, John "Cowboy" Hall, appears in just one episode, joining Easy Company as they battle on the European front before tragically being killed by a landmine. Despite his limited screen time, Scott's experience on set made it a less enjoyable endeavor for him.

What Andrew Scott Has Said About Filming Band Of Brothers

Irish actor Scott has spoken out about his struggles with the "atmosphere" on the set of Band of Brothers. During an interview with Vanity Fair, he openly shared that he found it challenging to adapt to the mindset and approach of his fellow actors. In his own words:

"Playing a soldier wasn't my favorite experience. Being part of the Band of Brothers production proved to be a difficult task for me. Establishing a sense of community on set is of utmost importance to me. However, I encountered some differences in the working methods of certain individuals. Personally, I didn't believe it was necessary to stay in character at all times... Whether it's an all-male or all-female cast, the overall atmosphere can be quite distinct... But yeah, I suppose I'm just not particularly passionate about weapons."

Scott evidently struggled to connect or form a bond with actors who fully immersed themselves in their roles. While it is unclear which actors specifically bothered him, The Telegraph reported that the main cast was encouraged to stay in character and endure a demanding boot camp. This included intense drills, runs, and strict rules such as no phones, contemporary books, or excuses. In a video diary, the cast can be observed interacting as their characters.

Considering Scott's status as a newcomer and a character who only appeared in one episode, it is not surprising that he felt isolated when compared to the close-knit core cast of Band of Brothers. The intentionally challenging environment of the show aimed to foster the type of camaraderie that the real members of Easy Company would have experienced. Unfortunately for Scott, this resulted in a lack of community. He also hinted at the presence of a distinct atmosphere due to the all-male cast. However, his primary concern seems to be the overall experience of portraying a soldier.

Andrew Scott Has Been In Multiple Great War Movies & Shows (Despite Not Liking Weapons)

Despite not having a fondness for weapons, Scott, the actor, has surprisingly made a name for himself in war movies, some of which have achieved acclaim as genre masterpieces. In one of these films, Saving Private Ryan, Scott had a minor role in the intense and groundbreaking opening sequence that revolutionized war movies. Not stopping there, he later took on the role of Lieutenant Smith in the Oscar-winning World War I film, 1917. Additionally, he wielded a gun in BBC's Killing Hitler. With such an impressive repertoire, it is clear that Scott, though not a fan of playing soldiers, has become exceptionally skilled in these roles, perhaps due to his involvement in Band of Brothers.