With his first major role alongside Oscar-winner Halle Berry in the movie Dark Tide, only great things seem to be in the future for striking, blue-eyed Capetonian Luke Tyler.
But remarkable accolades have done nothing to alter the earthy, quirky and honest nature of the 23-year-old from Table View.
Tyler has dreamt of being an actor all his life:
“My high school didn’t have drama as a subject, so we created our own society - much to the school’s dismay.”
After matriculating, he went on a gap year which took him to Minnesota in the US. He was then accepted into the Screen Actors Studio, where he completed his studies and signed with his agency, APM.
But in spite of his international experience, he’s just like any other young Capetonian when it comes down to it; he enjoys the Long Street culture, eating pizza and, of course, watching movies.
“It sounds boring, but I love watching movies. It’s also like research for me.”
Of his rise to fame, Tyler says it was difficult to get signed up.
“I had to really convince them I could do it, because I was so young.”
Working on the Dark Tide set with Berry was an experience he describes as “surreal”.
But he says Berry is humble and gracious, with a good sense of humour. He recalled a moment with Berry when, during filming, he felt seasick on one of the boats.
“I was so scared to throw up in front of Halle Berry, but when I did throw up, I looked and she had just puked beside me. She looked up and high-fived me.”
Tyler also had an opportunity to work closely with Berry’s fiancé, Olivier Martinez. “He’s very funny, he danced around on set.”
The Dark Tide set worked with real sharks, and 60 percent of the scenes shot over storm waters were real, said Tyler.
“Working on Dark Tide has given me a new-found respect for sharks. They are very intelligent.”
The young actor is on a break enjoying time with family and friends.
“Hopefully, the upcoming international season will bring something new,” he said.
Tyler is also looking forward to the local release of another of his international productions, Dredd 3D, which is due to hit SA screens on September 28.
- Sunday Argus