Have you have come across an actor that seems as if they were built to be a villain? You know what I am talking about – that actor that if you were to see them playing anything other than the antagonist in a film, the entire film would be ruined. Richie Stephens is making a very successful career out of being the villain you love to hate. The Irish-born actor has carved himself a nice little space in the Hollywood landscape and although he is relatively unknown, his ability to take on the role of the villain is uncanny. Whether it is wise guy films or darker cult films, this kid has the goods. As he prepares to star in the upcoming Hulu series RocketJump, we believe it is the ideal time to introduce you to this remarkably talented film star. Here are five things that you did not know about Richie Stephens.
1. He is a Master of Accents
I have already mentioned that Stephens is from Ireland, and where most Americans would declare that he has a very heavy Irish accent, he would reply that we all have heavy Western accents. Fortunately for him, he has no problem mastering accents, opening up an entire world of possibilities in which he can showcase his talents. Whether American or foreign, the ability to master accents is a valuable talent, and Richie Stephens is a genius at it.
2. He Worked in Construction Before Pursuing His Acting Career
When Stephens first came to the United States, he found work in the construction industry, but fate would have none of it. He had a very bad accident that ultimately ended his career in construction. While no one wants to be seriously injured, this twist of fate would prove fortuitous. He signed a modeling contract and went on a few bookings, and it was through this exposure that he landed his first acting role, and he has not looked back.
3. Made to Be a Bad Guy
It seems that whenever a casting director sees an image of Richie, they automatically think bad guy. Richie believes it is because he has a mean face. He says that he is either casts as a bad guy, a soldier or in rare occasions, a police officer. He believes the combination of his facial makeup, which was nice enough to land him a modeling gig, and his physique – which is very fit – he is always cast in one of these three roles. His first role was as a German hitman and the bad guy roles just keep on coming.
4. His Interest in Accents Can be Traced to His Childhood
Although Richie’s mastery of almost any accent has served him well in Hollywood, it was not his acting career that spawned an interest in accent mastery. In fact, he recently revealed that he has been fascinated with accents since he was a kid. He said that every time he met someone who sounded different, he was forced to attempt to replicate the sound and diction. He has done it for so long, it has become second nature.
5. He is at Peace with Being the Villain
When questioned about what his dream role would be, he responded by saying that he actually loves being the villain and he is good with the roles he has been getting. He is not against playing roles outside of his typecast, but there are so many possibilities when it comes to how a villain can be presented in film that he could literally play the villain through the remainder of his career and never play the same type, and actually likes that.
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