James Dougal is a 38 year old actor from Belfast. James began his entertainment career early on producing a rap album with artist Labrinth under the rap name Deablo. James studied Drama for many years and in late 2018 he got the role of Tommy in Christina Reid’s Joyriders (Directed by Pauline Carville) at the Grand Opera house in Belfast. Since then James has went on to star in several other plays including DNA by Dennis Kelly. James has also appeared in a few feature films including WW1 drama The Wipers Times by the BBC and Game of Thrones HBO.
What would you be best known for?
My Music and my Acting.
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
I had a number one in the club charts in 2010, but, I’m very proud of the theatre work I have done. The Theatre is a glorious place to bring art to life.
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
Sometimes in Drama less is more. Acting is more about reacting to what others are saying rather than performing your own lines. I’d say the lesson is keep it loose and each performance will always be a little different than the last.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
COViD19!! The lockdown has meant that the theatre industry has ground to a halt. More needs to be done to support the arts which were struggling to begin with. We need more funding from the government in order to survive. Let’s hope the pandemic is over soon.
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
I have two sons, James and Jacob and they are what I am most proud of in my life. They make me happier than I ever thought I could be. Hobbies for me would be gaming and jet skiing. I’m fairly decent at both.
Tell us about your most recent work?
The last major role I had was in Zombie Prom where I played Eddie Flagrante. It was the first musical I had ever been cast in. It turned out really well. I’m very proud of what we were able to achieve under the direction of Nathan Jones and Apollo Arts.
What would you like us to tell people about?
The 8 Track Tape by Deablo Still available on iTunes…..
Also I’m currently looking for more film roles so if you have a script that I fit. Please let me know.
Listen to The 8 Track Tape here>>https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-8-track-tape/337073457
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
Fun!! Theatre is a live animal. It depends on so many factors but you could see the same play two nights in a row and take something completely different each time. It’s organic and challenging but mostly it’s fun!
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
In my rap battle days in London I’ve seen things that you couldn’t even imagine. But I couldn’t possibly say…
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Set a goal. Set small goals and reach for them. Set the goal of putting together a showreel. Film yourself doing different scripts and learn what works best for you. Play with accents!! But don’t take yourself too seriously!! You can do anything you set your mind to!
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
I’m also on Twitter @Deablosantos and Tik Tok.
Who do you look up to and why?
Antony Hopkins… in my opinion the greatest actor I’ve ever seen. I could go on for days about him but the way in which he interprets a script is spell binding.