Brooklyn-born Lucas Hedges, 26, began his acting career in his teens with a supporting role in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom. His breakthrough was Manchester By the Sea, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Subsequent film credits include Lady Bird, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Boy Erased. Hedges now makes his West End debut in the stage adaptation of Annie Proulx’s Brokeback Mountain.
The world premiere of Brokeback Mountain is rooted in Annie Proulx’s original novella, but what’s your relationship with the 2005 film?
I saw it when I was young and thought it was great. Certain moments stuck in my mind but I’m trying to forget those now that I’m doing this play! I’m just seeing it as playing Ennis Del Mar from the book. I can’t compare it to Heath Ledger’s performance. He was just the best actor.
