LIAM JAMES [DEADLY CLASS] — A BOOK OF MAGAZINE

Having several acting credits under his belt at the young age of 22, Canadian actor Liam James is an actor to watch out for.

Liam plays the character of Billy Bennett in the SYFY TV Series Deadly Class alongside a bunch of kickass assassins in King’s Dominion. Deadly Class is a coming-of-age story set against the late 1980’s counterculture backdrop.

In this exclusive interview with the actor, discover his journey through acting, memorable set experiences, his character Billy and his newfound love for comic books.

Hi, Liam! Thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about your story and how you got into acting.

I grew up in Vancouver where the film industry has always been strong. There is always great stuff being filmed here and from very young I have always had a great love for movies and meeting people. When I was first asked if I would like to try acting, I had no idea at the age of 9 that it would eventually become my life's passion. There was no pressure, I never had to travel far for a part and the acting was nothing but fun and fulfilling.

Can you give us a brief summary of Deadly Class and your character, Billy?

Deadly Class is about a secret academy where the world’s most cut-throat youth are sent to hone their skills in manipulation and killing. Billy is a young man who grew up in a rough family and was sent to The Kings Dominion Academy against his will. Despite being in such a brutal environment where he is constantly attacked, Billy tries to use humour and a connection with his friends to enjoy his youth as much as possible.

Are there any similarities between you and Billy?

Billy and I both like to have fun. Even while working, it is important to enjoy ourselves and make sure the people around us are enjoying themselves as well.

Since Deadly Class is based off the comic book series, did you read the comic books to better understand your role prior to filming?

I did read the comic books, not knowing it would open a door that couldn’t be shut. I had no idea the level of deep and beautiful story telling that could be told through this medium and ever since I have been devouring a ton of creative, wonderful stories. Comic books are very similar to movies and everyone should check them out. Start with Rick Remender’s "Deadly Class!"

Considering that the characters on the show are training to become the next generation of assassins, we’re expecting to see a lot of action and violence. What kind of training and preparation do you have to do for the show if any?

We wanted to make sure our moves were authentic, so there was a lot of choreography and fight training in addition to strength and conditioning workouts to avoid getting injured. We had a fantastic stunt team that kept us very safe, but they also loved to have fun and enjoyed teaching us some of the ridiculously funny stunts this show has to offer.

What’s the most memorable or craziest thing that you experienced on set?

There are too many to choose a favorite. From watching someone get pummeled by a four-foot dildo, to leading a grown man on a leash all around my native town of Vancouver while concerned onlookers watching aghast, it would be too hard to choose. There is definitely a special bond that formed between our cast and crew by having to pretend that it was all normal.
It was like being in Willy Wonka’s Kickass factory every day!

When it comes to acting, what is your favorite part about playing someone else?

Acting gives you a chance to explore sides of yourself that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to uncover. In a world that moves so fast acting allows you to visit some of the more intimate aspects of life that we usually shy away from, in a safe and revealing way. And it's just a helluva lot of fun!

What’s your favorite type of role to play?

It's a hard question for me to answer because there are so many unique characters to play. I would like to play any character that’s part of a great story.

What’s your dream role or project?

My dream role or project would be to have something that I wrote, directed or produced get made. That would be such a huge accomplishment to create on such a macro level.

If you were a book, what type of book would you be and why?

I might be a comic book. I like “show don’t tell", and I would prefer to never have a dull moment!

If you could help any charity or organization, which one would it be and why?

Something that promotes kindness and education, we can always use more of that. I am also a big fan of animals, rehabilitation programs for them and I would love to be involved with that field one day.

See Liam as Billy in Syfy’s Deadly Class!