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Kai Owen interview (Rhys Williams)
He may be Rhys the rant on screen, but in the real world, Kai Owen is “surprisingly laid back” – except when it comes to cantona or cockroaches.
WORDS: Simon Hugo
Courtesy of: The Official Torchwood Magazine
What is the full name on your birth certificate?
It’s just Kai Owen, pure and simple.
What is your nickname?
I’ve probably been called a few different swear words, but no real nicknames, as such. Eve [Myles] always calls me by my full name: ‘Hello, Kai Owen! How are you, Kai Owen?’ That sort of thing.
What is your earliest memory?
Manchester United winning the FA Cup final in 1983! I would have been eight at the time, and I’m still loyal now.
When was your first kiss?
I think it was at a school disco when I was about 12 or 13. It was a lovely kiss with a girl called Beverly Hughes!
What was the last dream you had?
I was back doing panto, which I finished recently. I was playing Prince Charming in real life, but I think I was playing Snow White in my dream!
Do you believe in the supernatural?
I do, yeah. I’ve never seen a ghost, but I have had a few weird things happen to me. Once, I was in a house and I felt the temperature drop suddenly, then I heard something go bang, bang, bang, on the floor above. There was definitely nobody up there. So I ran to the pub!
If you had a superpower what would it be?
I’d love to be invisible – but not in a dodgy way! I’d go to Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, and be on the pitch with Man United. I’d go in Joe Calzaghe’s corner when he’s boxing, and, oh, loads of other places I’d like to go!
What makes you happy?
Family, friends, food and football. Oh, and Wales, obviously!
What are you scared of?
Cockroaches! They’re horrible things and I really can’t stand them. When I was a kid, we lived in an old house in North Wales, and they used to get everywhere and make my mam scream. That image of her screaming at them has stayed with me for the rest of my life, and now I really don’t like them at all.
What drives you mad?
Sarcasm. It’s the lowest form of wit, isn’t it? That and late running trains, I suppose. I’ve heard so many excuses going between London and Cardiff! But I’m surprisingly laid back, really, and there’s not a lot that gets on my nerves.
It’s just Kai Owen, pure and simple.
What is your nickname?
I’ve probably been called a few different swear words, but no real nicknames, as such. Eve [Myles] always calls me by my full name: ‘Hello, Kai Owen! How are you, Kai Owen?’ That sort of thing.
What is your earliest memory?
Manchester United winning the FA Cup final in 1983! I would have been eight at the time, and I’m still loyal now.
When was your first kiss?
I think it was at a school disco when I was about 12 or 13. It was a lovely kiss with a girl called Beverly Hughes!
What was the last dream you had?
I was back doing panto, which I finished recently. I was playing Prince Charming in real life, but I think I was playing Snow White in my dream!
Do you believe in the supernatural?
I do, yeah. I’ve never seen a ghost, but I have had a few weird things happen to me. Once, I was in a house and I felt the temperature drop suddenly, then I heard something go bang, bang, bang, on the floor above. There was definitely nobody up there. So I ran to the pub!
If you had a superpower what would it be?
I’d love to be invisible – but not in a dodgy way! I’d go to Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, and be on the pitch with Man United. I’d go in Joe Calzaghe’s corner when he’s boxing, and, oh, loads of other places I’d like to go!
What makes you happy?
Family, friends, food and football. Oh, and Wales, obviously!
What are you scared of?
Cockroaches! They’re horrible things and I really can’t stand them. When I was a kid, we lived in an old house in North Wales, and they used to get everywhere and make my mam scream. That image of her screaming at them has stayed with me for the rest of my life, and now I really don’t like them at all.
What drives you mad?
Sarcasm. It’s the lowest form of wit, isn’t it? That and late running trains, I suppose. I’ve heard so many excuses going between London and Cardiff! But I’m surprisingly laid back, really, and there’s not a lot that gets on my nerves.
This extract was taken from a feature in issue #4 of The Official Torchwood Magazine.
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