Archie Renaux plays Leo Day
Archie Renaux was an out of work actor when he was cast in Gold Digger. He describes the elation of landing the role...
Published: 5 November 2019
Usually a series will follow one character, but with Gold Digger there are six characters whose point of view we get the chance to experience.
"I got to spend my birthday on set, which was a dream I had at the beginning of the year. I really hoped I would be a working actor on my 25th birthday and my wish came true. Everyone on set sang me Happy Birthday, it was a really special day for me.
"When I found out that I got this role I was over the moon. I have been waiting to sink my teeth into a character for longer than a few weeks and I got the chance to play Leo Day for a few months! For most actors that’s the best part, getting the chance to really delve into a character. And Leo is a great character to play because he is funny but is also very troubled, which was interesting to explore."
Archie reveals the reason he was specifically drawn to this drama.
"Gold Digger was exciting to me because the scripts felt different. Usually a series will follow one character, watching them go through all of the motions, but with Gold Digger there are six characters whose point of view we get the chance to experience. You never really think about how an event or action affects each person in a story until you get the chance to explore that.
"The drama follows Julia, who, after her divorce with our father, Ted, finds romance with a man who is a fair bit younger than her - and this new, mysterious man has a few secrets that start to come out and it gets very juicy. Her kids, including Leo, are worried about the situation and the story follows them reacting to it, dealing with it, and being made to accept it."
Archie discusses his character, Leo Day, and the drama that is in store for him.
"Leo is a lost soul who needs to grow up a little bit; for 25 he is very immature, a child in an adult body. He's quite lonely, he doesn’t have any real friends, any real ambitions or dreams; he just wants an easy life and is quite entitled, having been spoon-fed by his parents.
"Leo is his mother’s little prince. He loves her but he doesn’t appreciate her, she does a lot for him and he just expects it. It's pretty normal for him to have his mum running after him all of the time, despite him being 25 years old. That is what he thinks is normal."
Of the three children, Archie tells us that Leo has the strongest relationship with their father.
"Leo gets on with Ted more than the others because he has been left in the dark about things that have happened in the past, that are pretty serious. Most young boys’ heroes are their fathers and he idolises his dad. However as the drama progresses truths are uncovered and it is heartbreaking for Leo as he watches his hero fall."
Unsurprisingly, Archie explains that Leo does not react well when his mother brings home a rather young, new boyfriend.
"It would be a little weird for a son if their mother brought home a man closer to his age than to her own, so Leo is not pleased. He is very protective over his mum, as most sons are. Also he is not stupid, he knows that the family has money, so straight away alarm bells go off and he is questioning what this young, handsome guy wants from his mum and what his motives really are."
