A former Emmerdale star has shared where fans can expect to see him next.
Alexander Lincoln, best known for his portrayal of Jamie Tate on the ITV show, is starring in 'In From The Side', an LGBTQ+ film which is available to watch today in cinemas and focuses on two gay rugby players who find themselves in a risky love affair despite both being unavailable.
Viewers of the Yorkshire-based soap will remember Alexander’s character, Jamie, was involved in a dramatic exit as he drove his car recklessly out of town and accidentally drove off a cliff edge into a lake. Now, not playing the villain, Alexander portrays Mark, a rugby player who embarks on a six-month affair with another player behind their partners’ backs. As the couples’ secret begins to unravel team spirit, loyalties and camaraderie are tested.
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Alexander told the ECHO : “It’s a very human story about lust, love and choices. The overarching thing with the movie is that it is refreshing to have a gay film which doesn’t explore the trials and tribulations of coming out, but more so just characters who happen to be gay.”
The 28-year-old, who played rugby in his teens, added: “There is a fair difference between the characters (Jamie Tate and Mark). My character on Emmerdale evolved quite a lot from a mummy's boy and a wet blanket to a bad boy villain. Whereas In from The Side, it’s a much more realistic portrayal of a guy struggling with a lack of affection in his own relationship. The only similarity is the accent, except I am a little bit posher in Emmerdale if I remember correctly.”
Starring alongside Alexander is Liverpool’s own Carl Loughlin. The 40-year-old from Eastham takes on the role of Gareth, the bully of the rugby team, and said his role gave him the chance to explore a subject that was close to his heart. To bring his character to life, Carl remembered when he would be “belittled, threatened and patronised.”
He previously told the ECHO : "The bullying was really quite bad, my mum had to be brought in at one point. Every day I got called names, a few times I got spat at in the corridors, every week someone would peel the skin of the milk cartons so they were thin, and use them like water balloons and throw them at me."
Carl said it was a strange coincidence he came across the role but knew he had to portray the character once he saw it. He added: “I saw it as a great opportunity, not only did it give me the chance to relive something that I knew so well and was so close to home but also allowed me to explore why someone would bully. I gave my character a backstory which many bullies seem to have with their own insecurities or jealousy. It felt like a big coincidence but it made me want to do the role even more.”
In From The Side comes to UK cinemas, including Liverpool’s Picturehouse and Showcase today, Friday, September 16. Having premiered in March 2022 at the British Film Institute Festival, the movie is also due to be available on Netflix later this year.
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