Phoenix James talks here about acting, creativity, favourite films, art, big movies and computer-generated imagery in an interview by Jacob Smith.
When did you first act on screen?
My first on screen appearance was performing my poetry on a BBC television show in front of a live audience in 2004. I began acting for film in 2009. I appeared in my first lead acting role in a short independent movie in 2010.
When did you first know you wanted to become an actor?
I didn’t actually know I wanted to become an actor. I still don’t know if I do. I do it and can do it well and really enjoy it but I am kind of still deciding if I want to become an “actor” or not. I began performing on stage in 1998 as a full time poet and also modeling. I later fell into acting as a natural progression. Above all things, I’ve always enjoyed creativity and creating, and the entirety of the creative process and the expression of creativity and art in its endless forms so I guess, looking back, there was always a great possibility and a potential for acting to have happened at some point, I just didn’t know it consciously.
What was the first show/movie you ever did?
The first TV show I did was called Slam Poets produced by Baby Cow Productions for BBC Three television in 2004. The first movie I starred in was an independent short film called Baby Anne, written and directed by Andrew Soko in 2010.
What has been your favorite role so far?
My favorite acting role so far, that’s a tough one. I think Love Dog is still my favourite role thus far. I say that one mainly because it’s the most in depth, topical and layered acting role I’ve done. It’s a short 20 min independent movie I starred in along with actress Hussina Raja written and directed by Rohith S. Katbamna in 2011.
What is your favorite movie of all time?
I don’t actually have a favourite movie of all time. I’ve seen and love way too many to name just one, but among my thousand or so favourites are Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (an animation movie voiced by Matt Damon and others), Good Will Hunting, Rocky, Remember the Titans, Men of Honor, Shawshank Redemption, Love Jones, Heat, Scent of a Woman and Synecdoche, New York to name just a few. I mostly love films about the strength of the human spirit, the overcoming of adversity, triumph.
Some people think that CGI nowadays looks terrible, why is this the case do you think?
I think some people say that CGI looks terrible because sometimes it does and when it does, it takes the viewer out of what the movie experience is supposed to be for them. It takes the make-believe and false reality out of a moment and reminds them it’s not real. They lose that sense of escapism into some other world, which at that time they don’t want to lose but be encapsulated in. They don’t want to be reminded that it’s all been set up, that’s its all acting, or that there’s cameras in the room, that it’s all done on a computer afterwards and that the actors are not really in space or that the building didn’t really blow up or the plane didn’t really crash etc. CGI in a movie will either enhance the experience or take away from it depending on how well it is done or how effectively it is used.
With so many big movies coming out within the next 5 years, do you think movies will become better or will they be less good because of the attention on making as much money as possible?
I think with the event of more and more big movies being made and released, they will only become better. The more that great and compelling stories continue to develop that people want to tell and see on screen and technology advances that provides the ability to do that in the best way possible within the competitive industry that it is, I think that movies will only become bigger and better. I think consumer demands and expectations will continue to grow as this happens and movie makers and producers will continue to aim to satisfy the consumer along with attention on and an intention of making as much money as possible. It’s an art form, it’s a business, it’s all about progression, and as with all things there is both good and bad but all in all, productivity and growth happening presents the opportunity for the industry to produce far greater quality along with quantity than ever before.
Finally, can you tell me a little bit about your process on becoming a Stormtrooper in the upcoming Star Wars movie and what was it like arriving on set?
It was being a part of movies such as Skyfall that opened up the opportunity for me to be a part of Star Wars. Working well with all of the people I did there and on other movies and film projects and doing great work went a long way to forming that process for me becoming a Stormtrooper. I always enter every situation with the intention of doing and being the very best I can with every opportunity I am presented with. I grew up with Star Wars, the very first movie released 3 months before I was born, growing up I played with the toys, I loved the Star Wars movies, I’d always wanted to be a Stormtrooper as a kid. When the opportunity came to actually be one, it was a dream and a fantasy come true. Arriving on the film set of Star Wars was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had thus far working within film. The Star Wars sets are some of the very best I’ve ever been on.
Jacob Smith born on October 11th 1999 recently began his first year at Tumba Gymnasium/Xenter Film&TV School in Sweden. For the past 3 years, it has been his ambition to work in the film industry. He has chosen to interview Phoenix James as a part of one of his current projects at the school. Jacob lives in Stockholm, Sweden.
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THE POET PHOENIX JAMES
THE POET PHOENIX JAMES is a British-born, award-winning poet, author, spoken word recording artist, and multidisciplinary creator whose dynamic career spans literature, performance, film, fashion, music, and independent media. Widely recognised for fearless expression and genre-defying artistry, Phoenix James has built a powerful creative legacy that bridges page, stage, studio, screen, and digital platforms. He is a pioneer of live spoken word performance in the UK before the era of camera phones, and is known as a foundational figure in the UK and global spoken word movements. He is often mentioned alongside pioneering spoken word artists like Linton Kwesi Johnson, Benjamin Zephaniah, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Patience Agbabi, Lemn Sissay and Salena Godden for his foundational contributions to the UK’s live poetry and spoken word scene. MONIKER AND EARLY CAREER
Early in his career in 1998, Phoenix James performed and released work under the moniker Phenzwaan, a name associated with several of his earliest spoken word albums and recordings. This period marked the foundation of his evolving artistic voice and experimentation within the spoken word and poetry scene. WRITER & POET
Phoenix James is the author of 20 published books, exploring love, identity, vulnerability, power, masculinity, and spiritual and philosophical inquiry. His first limited edition printed poetry collection, To Whom It May Concern, was published in 2003. His work spans poetry, prose, philosophy, essays, and creative storytelling. His available book titles include, in order of publication: Love, Sex, Romance & Other Bad Things
Route to Destruction
Delirium of the Wise
Don’t Let the Daffodils Fool You
Call Me When You’re Free
Far from the Outside
The Ones We Didn't Kill
Lessons from Everywhere
Another One for Burning
A Long Bright Cold Dark Summer
Shame Point Zero
The Sandbag Theory
Soft, Sexy & Wet
Below Base Level
To Catch A Passing UFO
Now We're Truly Beautiful
We All Should Be Amazed
Before When It's Time
Amidst Time That Waits
Time As Always Was SPOKEN WORD RECORDING ARTIST
Phoenix James has released 18 spoken word albums, crafting sonic experiences that blend poetry, music, ambient textures, and emotion-driven performance. His current albums include, in order of release: Phenzwaan Now & Forever: The Definitive Collection
A Patchwork Remedy for A Broken Melody
FREE
Haven for the Tormented
With All That Said
Remixes Vol: 1
Remixes Vol: 2
Light Beams from the Void
The Love So Far Early CD Album Releases:
Phoenix James released a number of CD albums between 2000 and 2006 under his early moniker Phenzwaan. These include, in order of their release: The A.R.T.I.S.T. (debut album)
Meditations of A Cosmic Wordsmith
We Will Survive
Phenzwaan Live @ The Spitz
Inevitable Mystique
Like A Phoenix
Alchemy Fluid Vol: 1
Alchemy Fluid Vol: 2
Solidified These early works represent his foundational spoken word and musical expressions prior to the digital era, showcasing his pioneering contributions and artistic evolution. With over 1,000 videos on his YouTube channel and more than 70 spoken word singles available on streaming platforms including YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, Phoenix James' work continues to influence global audiences through digital distribution. FILM & TELEVISION
Phoenix James made his first BBC television appearance performing poetry in 2004, marking an important step in bringing spoken word poetry to broader audiences through mainstream media. Since then, he has appeared in and worked on several high-profile international film and television productions, including: Skyfall (James Bond)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Guardians of the Galaxy
Mission: Impossible
Cleanskin
Multiple BBC dramas and documentaries He has also written, directed, and produced independent films, such as the acclaimed mock-documentary Love Freely but Pay for Sex, which further solidifies his legacy in independent media. FASHION & MODELLING
Awarded Best Male Model by Fashion TV in 2007, Phoenix James has worked in editorial, runway, and brand campaigns that blend storytelling with style and presence. COMMUNITY, COMMENTARY & LEGACY
Phoenix James has produced live events, hosted spoken word showcases, and delivered workshops empowering creative voices. Beyond creation, Phoenix James nurtures emerging voices and preserves his artistic legacy for future generations. As a cultural commentator and philosopher, his work interrogates themes of intimacy, race, masculinity, freedom, and creative autonomy. ACADEMIC & EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCE
Phoenix James’ work is used in academic institutions and educational establishments around the world for teaching, research, and cultural study. His writng, philosophy, poetry, recordings and performances are referenced in courses on modern literature, race and identity, spoken word history, and performance art. His contributions continue to be studied for their originality, social commentary, and cultural significance. LASTING IMPACT
Phoenix James continues to champion self-publishing, ensuring full creative ownership and artistic freedom. His ongoing project, The Complete Works, is dedicated to archiving and preserving his vast creative output for future generations. His legacy is built not only on the impact of his words and work but on the pioneering spirit that made space for others to follow. Phoenix James is an unstoppable ecosystem of fearless creative expression, a living, breathing force, documenting the beauty, relentless struggle, and uncompromising raw humanity of a life unfiltered. Phoenix James lives in London, England and enjoys movies, music, plays, good food, long walks, and travelling. Sign up to his website Newsletter Mailing List to stay up to date with Phoenix James news and new releases. View all posts by THE POET PHOENIX JAMES
