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CALVIN CRAWLEY IN VIEWTIES: TALKS TRUST, TRANSFORMATION
In the latest issue of VIEWTIES Magazine, actor Calvin Crawley reflects on the transformative experience of portraying Larry in the award-winning indie film Happy as Larry.
Known for his classical training at RADA and a stage career spanning Shakespeare to contemporary drama, Crawley brings a grounded, emotionally intelligent presence to the screen—qualities that shine in this intimate profile by Vanesa Miraglia.
Crawley credits his Meisner training and theatre background for shaping his approach to the film’s nuanced storytelling. “When you do a fair amount of theatre work, the thing that you start with is always the text,” he explains. “You want to make sure you pay respect to the story that is being told.” That respect extended to his collaboration with writer-director Hugo Andre, whose dual role as filmmaker and co-star fostered a deep sense of mutual trust. “Hugo acts in the film as well, which is such a testament to him… as an actor you’re assured knowing that the director won’t ask anything of you that he wouldn’t be willing to do himself.”
The film, shot entirely on the Isle of Skye using natural light, demanded a subtle, internal performance style. “You don’t have to ‘act’ the emotional weight,” Crawley says. “You just have to carry it with you.” That quiet restraint resonated with audiences: Happy as Larry won the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the Dallas International Film Festival.
For Crawley, the project marked a turning point. “I feel like there is a ‘before’ when I did the film, and an ‘after’… it all clicked and was an incredible experience, which stemmed from the script Hugo wrote, and the people that he brought together.” He describes the shoot as a rare moment of creative immersion—free from distractions, anchored by camaraderie, and shaped by the raw beauty of the Scottish landscape. “Larry as a character picked Skye because of its natural beauty, and there was constant confirmation that he was right about it.”
The chemistry between Crawley and co-star Kevin Walls has been widely praised as “magically awkward” and “utterly believable.” That authenticity, Crawley says, came naturally. “We shared a cottage together for the first couple of weeks… when you get on together it’s almost easier to be awkward, because you can just be the opposite of how you’ve been otherwise.”
Asked about courage in his career, Crawley points to the timing of the role. “The time that I did the film and played Larry was, in retrospect, fairly courageous… the role came at a time in my life where I sort of didn’t know what I was doing… but the support from everyone made it feel very special.”
Happy as Larry continues to screen at festivals worldwide, and Crawley’s performance stands as a testament to the power of restraint, collaboration, and emotional truth. As he puts it, “People can and want to engage, think and feel deeply about something—and this film allows that.”
To read the full feature on Calvin and his work in Happy as Larry, check out the latest issue of VIEWTIES Magazine, available now in digital format via this link: https://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/documents/VIEWTIES-Magazine-Calvin-Crawley.Solo-Profile).pdf
As Calvin notes, it was in the stillness of Skye that a story found its soul ….
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To view a list of some of Lucas's other projects, click here: https://linktr.ee/lucasaferrara
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