A school play changed the career path of a local actor whose face has been seen on both the small and silver screen
HE STARTED his own company at the tender age of 21 and up to the age of 16 thought he would be a lawyer until fate knocked on his door and threw him a ticket to stardom. Patrick Myles is 25 and has managed to climb his way onto the small screen and the stage all because of one school play. He has played in the film Kokkini Pempti (Red Thursday), as well as TV’s The Bill, Secret Smile and more, even taking part in Troy.
“I had no intention of becoming an actor,” Patrick explained sipping a frappe, “I honestly thought I was going to become a lawyer because I was very good at convincing people and making them believe me,” he said laughing. Patrick was born in Cyprus to an Irish father and Greek Cypriot mother spent the early years of his life in Ireland. “That was until I was ten when my parents decided to come back,” Patrick said, “so, basically I grew up in Cyprus.” Patrick attended the English School in Nicosia, which was where acting came into the picture. “We were putting on a play at school and I was about 16, when I realised I enjoyed it more than the others,” Patrick explained. A Small Family Business by Alan Ayckbourn was the school play that got everything moving. “I even met Alan and told him that he was the reason I got involved with this business and he apologised.”
So rather than a law degree, Patrick went on to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but Cyprus is still part of his agenda. “I love Cyprus and I feel lucky that I can return here every now and then but the truth is there wasn’t anyway I would be able to make a career here,” said Patrick. One thing lead to another and now Patrick has made a few films and got hit by a van. “Well, I didn’t exactly get hit by a van but that was the scene I was playing,” he said. “I was playing a villain in The Bill, who forged passports and I ended up doing some stunts as well. It was, to be honest, scary but fun.”
Patrick is currently in Cyprus, staging a Shakespeare play. “I thought it would be a good idea to put on a funny and silly play like the Merry Wives of Windsor and I’ve got a cast of 20 people coming from the UK,” he said, “ and they are all from the Theatre School as we put on the play when I was studying.” However, Patrick will not be playing in this particular one. “I will be co-producing with Andreas Tselepos”. So, which part of the industry has won Patrick’s heart? “Although they are completely different, I love both acting and producing,” he said, “theatre gives you the opportunity to prove yourself and that’s why so many movie stars have gone back to theatre.”
l You can still catch Merry Wives of Windsor tonight and Monday night at the Odeon Paphos. For bookings call: 99-081508
SEVEN QUESTIONS
What car do you drive?
A Renault Clio
What did you have for breakfast?
A bowl of cereal. I love Crunchy Nut cornflakes
What is your greatest fear?
Death by shark attack
What is your earliest memory?
I remember when I was about one or two years old and we lived in Cyprus. I loved the skating arena in Macedonitissa, I thought it was great.
Assuming you believe in reincarnation, who or what would you come back as?
I would definitely come back as a lion
Describe your perfect weekend
It would start off on a Friday night with dinner and drinks, then on Saturday at the beach followed by a good fish meze. On Sunday a walk in the mountains would be great and later on a big kleftiko. And for Sunday night, a bottle of wine and a good DVD sounds brilliant.
What was the last item of clothing you bought?
I bought a pair of Pepe Jeans cause I needed them so badly
