Exclusive Interview with Anthony Boyle Discussing John Wilkes Booth, 'Masters of the Air' Fan Edits, and More

Anthony Boyle has been on a press tour since January, but the Irish actor is enjoying discussing his current projects.

"I'm always trying to play them as best as I can," Boyle, 29, told We exclusively. He reflected on the three distinct characters he's played this year, emphasizing that he never judges the characters when portraying them.

Boyle, 29, recently played Major Harry Crosby in the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air. The show, consisting of nine episodes, first aired on January 26. Boyle had the opportunity to work on this project just after the peak of the COVID pandemic. He was thrilled to meet Tom Hanks, the producer of the series, and enjoyed revisiting his role.

On March 15, the finale of Masters of the Air was released. Interestingly, this was also the same day that Boyle's second show, Manhunt, premiered on the same streaming platform. In Manhunt, a seven-episode series, Boyle portrayed John Wilkes Booth, the infamous assassin of Abraham Lincoln. The series followed the 12-day manhunt to capture Lincoln's killer.

Booth sees himself differently than we do. While we see him as a racist and awful person who deserves to be punished, he views himself as a hero. According to Boyle, Booth wrote many disturbing things in his letters. To portray the character accurately, you have to understand that he truly believes he is a hero.

Anthony Boyle Talks John Wilkes Booth Not Giving A Fk and Those Masters of the Air Fan Edits

In "Masters of The Air," Anthony Boyle plays the character Crosby. Crosby, a lead navigator in World War II, is portrayed as a hero, but he struggles with feeling like a villain. Boyle explained that Crosby is grappling with his own sense of morality, making his character complex and intriguing.

Since Masters of the Air started airing, TikTok users have been creating fan edits featuring Boyle (as Crosby).

Boyle mentioned, "My little sister showed me some fan edits where Nicki Minaj's music plays in the background. Crosby is depicted as a strong character, even throwing up in a bag in some edits. I've seen different versions of it, and I think it's really cool."

Boyle starred as Jack Barak in the Disney+ series Shardlake, based on the book series by C. J. Sansom. The series premiered on May 1, following his roles in Masters of the Air and Manhunt.

Looking back at each role individually, Boyle shared his experiences. He mentioned how Crosby was stressed out the whole time, while Booth didn't really care. Playing these characters brought different challenges and fun moments for the actor.

Boyle mentioned that Jack Barak was enjoyable to work with because he had a swashbuckling personality and seemed to be having a great time. Each character in the project was fun in their own way and also had their own challenges.

Anthony Boyle Talks John Wilkes Booth Not Giving A Fk and Those Masters of the Air Fan Edits

Anthony Boyle stars in the Apple TV+ series "Manhunt." In this show, Boyle's thick Irish accent is not the focus.

Boyle's real voice will be showcased in his next project called Say Nothing. This new project was filmed in his hometown of Belfast.

Boyle is excited to portray IRA member Brendan Hughes in an upcoming project. He shared that he used to walk past a mural of Hughes every day on his way to school, making it a surreal experience to play the character.

During his extensive press tour, Boyle has been noted for his involvement in numerous "period dramas." When asked if he would be interested in exploring a different genre, Boyle humorously mentioned that it would be fun to play a character with modern amenities like Uber Eats or internet access.

He even hopes a rom-com is in his future.

“Maybe a rom-com [or] sci-fi. Get me up [on] Mars, falling in love with an alien,” he said. “That could be interesting.”

Editor's P/S:

Anthony Boyle's versatility as an actor is evident in his portrayal of vastly different characters in recent projects. From the heroic Major Harry Crosby in "Masters of the Air" to the infamous assassin John Wilkes Booth in "Manhunt," Boyle's ability to embody characters with complex motivations and perspectives is remarkable. His thoughtful approach to his craft shines through as he emphasizes the importance of understanding the characters' inner worlds, even when they are deeply flawed or unlikeable.

Boyle's future projects, including the upcoming "Say Nothing" and his aspirations to explore different genres, demonstrate his range and ambition. His desire to bring his authentic Irish accent to the forefront in "Say Nothing" and his enthusiasm for portraying characters with modern sensibilities or in sci-fi settings hint at his willingness to push boundaries and continue to showcase his talent in diverse roles.