With a mischief maker's mug and a veteran's poise, he's making big noise

Following a two-and-a half-year run as the class instigator Dakin in The History Boys—which included a Tony-winning stint on Broadway, a Drama Desk nomination of his own, and finally a movie adaptation—

 

Dominic Cooper is putting the high school shenanigans behind him. In addition to appearing in the recent British collegiate comedy Starter for Ten, Cooper has completed filming on Brief Interviews With Hideous Men. The 28-year-old London native gives Cillian Murphy crib notes on his postgrad plans.

Cillian Murphy: Have you said good-bye to The History Boys now?

Dominic Cooper: Kind of. There's a poster in the West End with the new guys' faces. I'm not sure what's next for me. I'm kind of like, "Damn, maybe I should just do The History Boys as long as I can." But it was too long in the end.

CM: What did you do after History Boys?

DC: After filming the movie version, I went and did Starter for Ten, which is just out in America. Then I went to New York just before Christmas to do Brief Interviews With Hideous Men. It's a low budget film directed by John Krasinski, the guy on the American version of The Office.

CM: Interesting title. Did I read somewhere that the movie is based on a novel?

DC: Yeah, it apparently was a best seller, but every time I ask someone whether they've heard of it, I'm met with glazed eyes.

CM: Do you know who wrote it?

DC: David Foster Wallace.

CM: I have a book of his, it's a fucking big, thick tome. I've never read it. [Cooper laughs] He's a cult writer though, isn't he?

DC: I remember buying the book after I'd read the screenplay and knew I was doing the film. I found it quite difficult. But I got a few people to read it, and they've kind of fallen in love with it.

CM: I've always wanted to do a show on Broadway. That must have been pretty cool going to work in New York while you were doing History Boys there.

DC: It's so nice, it's ridiculous. I wouldn't want to be on Broadway if I weren't in a hit, but everyone was so welcoming.

CM: So would you hang out with actors who were in other shows?

DC: Yeah, sometimes in bars. Maybe it's me being really negative and horrible, but I can't ever imagine that happening in London.

CM: I've felt that in New York as well—the creative community over there is more open. Any aspirations of moving to America?

DC: It depends. London kind of offers you everything. I have started liking L.A. more. It's important to have friends there. Otherwise, you just wind up being carted around in a blacked-out car.