MINX episode 7 ~ out now on HBO Max
It was a fulfillment of a boyhood dream when Craig Johnson cast me in the role of David Hockney in the new show ‘Minx’ on HBO Max and Lionsgate TV. Hockney was a friend of my late father, and an iconic artist who has redefined what it means to be a painter in the modern day. His conceptual explorations of perspective and vibrant personality shine through the experience of his paintings. Preparing for the role and playing the part on set was a deep, yet lively, sensual experience.
Craig and I exchanged emails about Hockney in preparation, sharing references of documentary footage and interview clips of Hockney from that period in his life. Naturally, a point in the conversation arose where we discussed a particular connection: “What about this one with my late father?” Furthermore, Mason Fink and I spent countless hours delving into Hockney's work, sharing books about his recent exhibitions of iPad drawings and discussing his personal biography from the 70s.
When I arrived on set, the entire crew had done an incredible job bringing Hockney's painting to life in a cinematic setting. The gorgeous pool, the surrounding cast, and the costume design were all perfect; it truly felt like living out a "Bigger Splash." The attention to detail and the atmosphere encapsulated the essence of Hockney's art, immersing me in a world that felt both familiar and inspiring.
I had the opportunity to collaborate with an extraordinarily talented cast, featuring the exceptional Oscar Montoya and Ophelia Loviebond. Their support was invaluable in helping me secure my role, particularly due to my Yorkshire accent, which some suggested was my greatest asset in getting the part. The hilarious Jessica Lowe consistently kept the atmosphere light and enjoyable throughout the production.
Witnessing the performances of Jake Johnson, who delivered a standout leading man performance, alongside talented individuals like Idara Victor, Lennon Parham, Michael Angarano, Amy Landecker, Eric Jedelstein, and Sam Levine was a remarkable experience. Since the show’s premiere last month, I have been thoroughly engaged, appreciating the creative vision of showrunner Ellen Rapoport and producer Paul Feig as it came to life on screen.
This experience echoed a memorable encounter I had with Don Bachardy a few years back, where I found myself in the very living room that Hockney immortalized in his famous portrait of the couple. I had the privilege of sitting for a photo in the place of Don’s late husband, Christopher Isherwood.
Last night I got to meet for the first time my incredibly talented friend, the painter Tania Rivilis for dinner and she gifted me this incredible portrait of Hockney as a tribute:
The experience inspired me to write this poem, combining Hockney’s life with my own:
The colors of a swimming pool,
Glimmer like fragments of shattered love,
The surface like a curtain,
To the cool evenings of myself,
Falling through water for certain,
Where to put the pictures,
On the walls of my mind,
Or the image of you in the distance,
Left my awards on the top shelf,
Man of the people crying out for help,
A crisis in art,
Where to draw the line, elucidate color,
The Renaissance ended, yet we have just begun,
And the unsung heroes of imagination support one another,
For the same sensation that lifted up your generation,
There’s a blue guitar in the corner that nobody plays anymore,
And a wrinkled notebook of half finished poems on the floor,
Portraits of all the people I push towards,
Despite their shadows and protestations of never more,
Theories divide, but remember the most important things in life,
Art is the universal dimensions of beauty where we unify,
A portrait of identity,
My thoughts, my eyes, my friends on the wall more like my family
California’s the place for me
Below is an interview which gives some insight into the fascinating relationship Hockney had with my late father, the art critic Peter Fuller: