IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL FOX

interview by JANA LETONJA
photography by JAMIE FERGUSON

Michael Fox is stepping into a new creative era. Best known for his beloved role as Andrew Parker in the global phenomenon ‘Downton Abbey’, and most recently seen in ‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’, which remains the No.1 film at the UK and Irish box office, he is now channeling his storytelling instincts into music. This November, he’ll release his highly anticipated solo EP, a collection of deeply personal, soul-stirring songs that mark his evolution from actor to artist. Balancing stage work at London’s National Theatre, where he stars opposite Juliet Stevenson in ‘The Land of the Living’, and his musical pursuits, Michael is redefining what it means to be a modern multi-hyphenate — blending craft, vulnerability, and artistry in every form.

Your debut solo EP is such an exciting milestone. How would you describe the sound and mood of this new project? 

I’m so excited to share this EP. It’s been a long time in the making. It’s as honest a group of songs as I’ve ever made. It’s personal. It’s about connecting to the parts of my life that are really important to me. I hope it feels open, and intimate. 

You previously collaborated with your ‘Downton Abbey’ co-star Michelle Dockery on ‘The Watching Silence’. How did stepping out solo change your creative process? 

I love making music with Michelle, I hope we will do it again very soon. Writing by yourself is a very different thing, these are the songs that are just truly personal to me. For better or worse, they are more like journal entries. Ideas that I kept true to my own individual sound. 

Where did the songwriting begin for this record? Was there a moment or feeling that sparked it? 

I spend a lot of time at home just experimenting with ideas. Endless voice notes on my phone of mumbles, of half ideas. Songs that get stitched together or thrown out completely. And when ‘Bones’ started to emerge, I felt like I had a theme for the whole EP. I felt like I had something to build upon.

The songs feel very intimate. Were there personal experiences or themes that shaped the music?

The songs are about connection. Leaning on someone you love when you’re not ok. Being brave enough to say when you’re struggling. And trying to offer a shoulder to a friend if they need it.

Do you see any parallels between storytelling through acting and storytelling through music? 

I think it’s all one of the same thing, it’s about having a collective experience through stories. I go to gigs and watch theatre to try and understand better what it is to be alive. When you hear a song for the first time and you feel like the person is speaking directly to you, it’s the same as a play. Like the writer is inside your head. 

How does it feel sharing something so personal, your own words and sound, compared to performing someone else’s script? 

I love it. So much of being an actor is about conveying someone else’s imagination, stepping into someone else’s shoes. There’s something very unique and exposing about sharing personal songs, but that makes it all the more rewarding. 

How do you balance your time and energy between acting and music, especially while performing live theatre at the National? 

I play music in every spare moment I have. It’s a compulsion. The amount of trains I run for because I look at my watch and I think I have a spare 2 mins to sit at the piano. It’s a problem to be honest. I don’t know if it’s a balance, but it’s something I just need to do.

You’ve been part of ‘Downton Abbey’ since 2014, and the series has become a cultural touchstone. What does being part of that legacy mean to you now? 

It’s been an incredible decade. A part of my life that I’m so so grateful for. For so many reasons, personal and professional. From a musical point of view, it led to making music with Michelle, which has been magic.

You’re also currently performing opposite Juliet Stevenson in ‘The Land of the Living’ at the National Theatre. How has returning to the stage influenced your craft? 

Oh boy, theatre at its best is like a gig. It’s so alive, the feeling of just being out there with your cast and the audience is awesome. I love it. The laughs and camaraderie with the company is what it’s all about.

Between your acting career and music, how do you stay grounded and connected to what first inspired you to create? 

They are both very humbling careers. There are a lot of setbacks, a lot of knocks to your confidence, so staying grounded and trusting your own instincts is a huge challenge. But I just try to come back to the simple feeling of does it feel fun and exciting to me, and then I just try to chase that feeling.

As you look ahead to this next chapter, musically and professionally, what do you hope audiences take away from this new side of you? 

I just hope audiences connect with it. It’s the beginning of something really special to me and I would love for as many as possible to join me on the journey.