BWW Exclusive: Ramin Karimloo Eager to Bring LES MISERABLES Home to Toronto

Ramin Karimloo is a household name in the UK, where he has played some of the most recognizable and challenging roles in musical theatre (including the role of Phantom in both Love Never Dies and The Phantom of the Opera).  He recently stepped into his most challenging role yet, Jean Valjean in the new 25th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables.

While Ramin has enjoyed commercial and critical success in the UK, what a lot of people don't know is that he is first and foremost a Toronto boy at heart.  Born in Iran but raised in Richmond Hill, Ramin's musical theatre career took off after he moved to the UK and landed a role in Pirates of Penzance.  He has had consistent work on the other side of the pond, and as a result has never graced a Toronto stage. 

When news broke last fall that Toronto would be mounting a production of the new 25th Anniversary Les Miserables, fans went wild, demonstrating just how much love this city still has for Cameron Mackintosh's mega-musical.  Sadly, that particular production was postponed indefinitely, leaving many fans clamouring for news as to when it might be revived.  One interesting thing that came from the announcement was the response in social media, with many fans pleading to casting directors to consider having Ramin play the lead role here in Toronto.  There was even a dedicated hashtag on Twitter: #BringRaminHome. 

Ramin of course has a very busy schedule in the UK, playing Jean Valjean and preparing for the launch of his album this March.  In addition he's filming two feature films this year and working on upcoming projects.  So the pressing question became: "Would he even want to come back to Toronto?"  BWW jumped at the chance to have a conversation with Ramin and discuss not only his feelings about Les Miserables, but also his career so far and what he hopes the future holds for him.  And we are pleased to report that he does indeed want to come home:

First off, congratulations on taking on the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.  How are you enjoying the experience so far?

I’m loving it.  I love what I’m experiencing with my craft and I’m having a ball.  On paper the role was a lot more challenging when Cameron (Mackintosh) first approached me to do it, but once I read the novel and started piecing together the character and the story that I wanted to tell it became a lot easier.  I didn’t want it to be an exercise of ‘young actor plays old guy’ so I tapped into his journey with God and Jesus.  What leapt off the page for me was his connections, failures and journey with faith - it was something I related to.  That's when things started to really connect with me and the character. 

What has the response been like so far and how do you handle all the critics who feel the need to voice their opinion on you taking on the role at such a young age?

The response has been great, people seem to love what I’m doing and I’m grateful for that.  But you really can’t worry about other people’s opinions because you will never please everyone.  You just can’t.  I compare it to an artist who paints.  He’ll paint whether people buy it or not.  As long as I keep getting hired and producers and casting directors keep coming to me with work then I’ve got to keep following my instincts.  The only people you really have to listen to are your director and producer.

So do you read your reviews?

Not really.  For example, a bad review will be like a punch in the gut which isn’t helpful because I can’t really change what I’m doing at that point.  And if it’s a good review then you are simply feeding your ego.  Once you start feeding your ego you as might as well go and punch yourself in the gut because it’s a vicious cycle.  That’s something I try and keep very aware of – on Twitter for example you get a lot of praise which is lovely and I’m grateful for it, but you have to be careful that you don’t start going to it as a fix.

Speaking of Twitter, you do a great job of interacting with your followers and engaging on Twitter.  How do you keep up?

Generally if I have some downtime I will try and send out some thank yous to show that I’m grateful for all the support I'm getting.  But I’m conscious to find that balance between being polite and being overly engaged.  I don’t want people to think that because I’m interacting on Twitter they have a personal relationship with me, because that’s where lines star to get blurred.  That being said, I love the UFC and I know how amazing it would feel if a UFC fighter or someone else I looked up to responded to me, so I want to give that same experience.

So you don’t read reviews, have you watched the work you’ve done that’s been released on the big screen?

I reluctantly sat through the Phantom of the Opera 25^th performance, but I still haven’t seen the Les Miserables 25^th.  It’s like how I feel about reviews, once it’s done it’s done so I’m not sure I want to see it because I will be constantly criticizing it if I do.  That being said, with Phantom once I got over the fact that I was watching myself I really enjoyed it.  It’s a real testament to the guys who filmed it because I really felt like I was watching a film and not a concert.  I even caught myself tearing up at a scene between myself, Hadley and Sierra.  A good production can do that, it brings back memories and stirs up the emotions that I went through to get to that point in my life and career. 

Speaking of your career, a lot has been said in the press about how you are this “un-trained” singer – can you elaborate on that a little? In light of all your recent successes do you see yourself as “un-trained”?

Not really.  I never had formal vocal training and people in the media seem to latch onto that, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t studied and honed my craft very seriously.  In fact, when I was cast as Valjean I did have a vocal lesson and I’m so glad I did! I also took formal acting lessons and what my coach taught me  helped me get through shows when I was struggling and helped me dig deeper than ever before.  That's the reason I stayed on Love Never Dies for six more months, because I wanted to be able to put into practice what I had learned. 

Also, I’ve worked with very accomplished actors and singers over the years and been able to pick their brains, so I’ve learned on the job.  You can pick up so much from studying other people and their craft.  On Phantom there was always at least one bona fide opera singer so I could ask them questions and try and learn what worked and what didn’t. 

The role of Jean Valjean is known for its difficulty, how are you approaching it and making it work for you?

Well first, I never settle.  I’m always finding new things and trying new approaches to continue making my performances even better.  With Valjean it’s all been instinctive.  I started with the novel and grew from there.  The training I've received from my acting coach helped as well, because it helped me to see that what I’ve been doing instinctively was the right thing, but now I’m more conscious of those instincts and that has freed me up to take more risks. 

Then there’s Cameron.  He’s been wonderful and I’ve got a great relationship with him.  He’s been so supportive and he’s given me the chance to put to practice what I’ve been learning which I’m so grateful for.  Essentially he’s given me a blessed apprenticeship with my first few roles in lieu of formal training.

You’ve certainly had the opportunity to play some phenomenal roles.  What are the odds that we can get you home to Toronto and on stage there sometime soon?

I would love to come home to Toronto! In fact, I’ve been pushing  Cameron to let me do Jean Valjean in a Toronto production of Les Miserables.  I think that would be a fantastic homecoming. I miss Toronto so much as I’ve been here in the UK for a decade now, and I would love to be able to show the city what I can do.  I know there was a lot of excitement when it was announced that Les Miserables would have a Toronto production, and then it subsequently fell through.  So here’s hoping that I will end up with the chance to do the role in Toronto after all. 

In the meantime you’ve got an album coming out?

Yep! My new album comes out in March and then I’m touring it in May.  I’m also shooting two films this year and I hope there will be further touring of the album.  I was also involved in a musical adaptation of Houdini, but I don’t think I will be doing that anymore because I simply don’t have the time.  And I see now there’s a production planned with Hugh Jackman at the helm. I think with the creatives and the team they have in place they will do a really good job.

What’s your album like? Is it musical theatre based or more of a pop type album?

I think it’s a modern cross-over album.  I’ve always said that if I were going to do an album it would have to be like a musical diary, things I’ve lived and experienced.  Same with if I cover a song, it has to be a song where I understand and relate to the lyrics.  I don’t think this album sounds like anyone or anything that’s already out there, and I hope that people buy it because they like what I’m doing and they like the music.

Finally, other than hopefully coming to Toronto to do Les Miserables, what else do you hope to do in the future?

I would like the chance to take on some roles in smaller productions.  There’s been a great surge in Fringe productions over here and they are doing wonderful stuff.  I saw a production of Parade at the Southwark Playhouse and it was fantastic.  So maybe something like that?

For now though I can honestly say I’m doing what I want to do, and I’m very lucky. I’m not just taking any job, I get to turn down as much as I accept.  And Cameron has been offering me great roles – the fact that they also come with a great paycheque doesn’t hurt because I have a family to support.  This way I can balance my family life with my work and creative life.  I absolutely want to do new roles, and I want to do quirky things.  But I don’t want to be in a production just because it’s new, it has to be a good match.  That’s what happened with Valjean.  It was a fantastic offer because it presented a huge challenge – and it turned out to be the best thing I’ve done so far.

For more information on Ramin's upcoming album and UK tour, please visit his website at www.raminofficial.com

For more information on Les Miserables, please visit the official website at www.lesmiserables.com