Center Stage with Joe Azzopardi
- 21 hours ago
- 5 min read
With a career spanning stage and screen, Joe Azzopardi has built an international body of work shaped by both classical training at London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and standout performances across film and television, including Jurassic World: Dominion, The Madam Blanc Mysteries, and the award-winning feature The Boat. Now stepping into one of his most high-profile roles yet in Netflix’s Enola Holmes 3, filmed in his native Malta, Joe finds himself at a meaningful point in a journey that bridges Malta, London, and major international productions. In this exclusive interview with Miami Living Magazine, Joe reflects on the experiences that have shaped his path and the work that continues to define his career.
Miami Living (ML): So nice to have you with us today Joe! You've portrayed Shakespearean characters, carried an entire feature film largely on your own shoulders with 'The Boat', and now find yourself appearing in a global Netflix franchise. What has this journey taught you about yourself that you never expected to learn when you first started acting?
Joe: I must say that's a really great question to kick this off. Well, I spent a lot of my early career working very hard — not just on acting but on networking and getting myself out there. You wouldn’t think that an acting career could be similar to an office job when you start out, but it kinda is. Then after you’ve spent a whole day at your laptop doing the backend of the job, you realise how much work actually needs to go into it. I would spend so many hours a day emailing different casting directors, directors, producers, and checking what opportunities are coming up on casting websites or any films that just got green lit. Yes, you have an agent doing all this work for you, but don’t forget your agent has about 20 other people on the books that he or she is working for. If you do it yourself, you can just make yourself your own full-time job. I’m at the stage now where I have a good team of people to do this for me, but you have to go through the process of doing this yourself so you can see the work that goes into it. Then letting go of that work and trusting another person to do it is the next step.
ML: You were reportedly scouted while performing in a production at Mountview. That's the kind of moment many actors dream about. How did that feel and were you aware of how important that opportunity would become?
Joe: I was actually discovered in an audition for the BBC TV film 'The Whale'. I hadn't graduated yet — in fact, I chose to take the job on 'The Whale' over doing my final year showcase. Which I was advised against, but I was so eager to get on set that I went for it. And it paid off as I learnt so much. Working with that cast (Jonas Armstrong, David Gyasi, and John Boyega) was a baptism of fire. Not just in terms of acting, but on-set etiquette too. It was an invaluable experience I couldn't have gotten anywhere else.
ML: You’ve worked alongside actors like Martin Sheen, Millie Bobby Brown, Helena Bonham Carter, and Henry Cavill throughout your career. Have there been any moments with them – whether something they said, or simply the way they approached their work – that has stayed with you and still influences how you work today?
Joe: Yes, you always pick up little bits along the way. Mille was a great inspiration on how to have a healthy discussion with the actors and director before a scene but then how to just have fun with it once you are in the swing. Helena was so wonderful to work with. She actually taught me a lot about keeping the momentum up between takes and not letting the energy die down.
ML: 'The Boat' was such a unique challenge because so much of the film rested on your shoulders. When you think back on that experience now, what did it teach you about yourself and your abilities as an actor?
Joe: It taught me how valuable it is to have other actors to play off. With a one-man film, inanimate objects suddenly become characters. You're not just memorising lines, you have to memorise every action to meticulous detail.
In the film, what he hears on the boat is what makes him believe someone is toying with him. But those sounds don't exist on the day of; they're all added in post-production. So, you have to create that entire psychological reality in your head. You're reacting to something that isn't there, which requires complete commitment and belief.
ML: You've built a successful screen career yet you continue to return to the stage whenever you can. What is it about live theatre that keeps calling you back?
Joe: I started in the theatre, so the stage will always be home to me. I try to do a Shakespeare play every year with 'WhatsTheirNames Theatre Company' and it is always the most fun I have. I’ve been acting with this same group of actors for ten years now, and you can just tell how tight knit we are as an ensemble. They are very special shows to watch. I just love the whole process. The rehearsals, what we discover through rehearsals, spending weeks finding and building the character. Despite having an audience, I feel it’s less pressure than acting on set. On set, you show up and show the director what you can do on your first day of filming.
ML: 'Enola Holmes 3' brings audiences to Malta, a place you've called home and represented throughout your career. Are there any things you are excited for viewers around the world to discover about Malta through this film?
Joe: I don’t think there has ever been a film that showed off Malta as much as 'Enola Holmes 3' does. It’s the best postcard Malta has ever got. It’s great that it shows off the island's stunning features while also showing the raw and rustic side.
ML: You've built a life that combines acting with a love of the outdoors and the sea. When you have a rare day completely to yourself, what does the ideal day look like?
Joe: Mostly in the sea. I’d start off by walking across the road and doing a 3 km swim along the Sliema front. Then, after some brekkie, either go out for a spin with the boat around the islands, find some new caves to check out, do a bit of free diving or go snorkeling. I might also head to the beach for some volleyball or frisbee. I love chilling on a beach and watching the sunset. There is a certain happiness I feel when I look out to sea that's quite unique.
ML: Looking back on your remarkable career thus far, what have been some of the most rewarding aspects of that journey so far?
Joe: I must say, playing Mikiel has already been quite a huge highlight. The immensely positive comments I’ve heard so far have been really heartwarming. It’s a bit hard to pinpoint exact moments that made the journey more fulfilling than others. I see it as one whole voyage I have been on, started in a small boat all by myself and now upgraded to a bigger boat with a few more crew members. Trying to cross that sea in the beginning with just me on my small boat seemed almost impossible. But as the boat and the team grow, the journey is more possible and most importantly, more enjoyable.
