"It's Always Burberry Weather: London In Love", a chat with Micheal Ward

In Burberry's new campaign, the actor shares his relationship with the iconic British brand and his journey in cinema. Ward recalls his earliest memories with Burberry, talks about the excitement of filming scenes, and his admiration for Daniel Lee's work and his partnership with actress Amy Lou Wood. Furthermore, he reflects on his career, reminiscing about the valuable advice from his mentor to always focus on the craft and maintain a passion for acting.

The interview highlights his professional growth, his references, and the importance of never losing one's essence along the way. Check it out:

When I think of Burberry, the first thing that comes to mind is the trench coats. When I think of Burberry, I think of something always impeccable. Impeccable style. Impeccable cut. A vibe that goes with anything. I also think about staying warm, and Burberry provides that for you.

One of my earliest memories of Burberry is of a polo my friend had back in school. Having something like that at school was a big hype. Also, in the song Ringtone by Mover and Timbo, there's a line that goes: "Burberry sitting on my collarbone, that’s just how it’s gotta go". I remember when I was filming the campaign, I played that song a few times – it was a special moment for me. Having that childhood memory and then doing a campaign of this level was surreal.

I was really drawn to the campaign, besides the fact that I love Burberry and everything they are doing in current culture. When I think of British luxury brands, Burberry is the first one that comes to mind. Being from the UK and wanting to achieve great things, I want to collaborate with iconic brands and talented people like Daniel Lee and the whole team involved. The theme was also exciting because I love a good romantic comedy.

One of my favorite moments from the campaign was filming the scene with the artificial rain. I didn't know what it would feel like and had never had that experience before, so it was something quite unique. Also, spending the day with Amy Lou Wood was just fun. We are both kind of silly, so the day flew by and, honestly, I would do it all over again.

The Burberry piece I value the most is my trench coat – the one I wore in my first show for the brand back in 2019. Although I don’t have it anymore... my mom kind of took it for herself, to be honest. Whenever I see her wearing it, I think: "That trench is really nice." If I can't have it, at least she can – and that’s very special.

My favorite thing to do in the summer is to travel, but if I'm in London, I like to enjoy the sun with my friends, whether in the park or at a rooftop bar. If I'm with my friends and my family, I'm happy.

My most special memory from the summer was landing in Jamaica for the first time in 2022. It was so emotional. Going back there for the first time since childhood – I left when I was 4 years old and returned when I was 24. It was a great summer for me, a memorable summer, so I will never forget that moment, how I felt, and how exciting it was.

One of the most valuable pieces of advice I received in my career was to focus on my craft. I’ve heard that from various people, but the first memory I have of that advice came from Zates Atour, my mentor when I began acting, through my agency. He always told me to focus on my path and that the rest would come naturally. It’s easy to get carried away by the hype and lose yourself in the middle of it all, but if you stay focused, things fall into place.

It feels like a long time since I won the BAFTA. I think the advice I would give to younger people is to never lose the childlike spirit in acting. I kind of lost that after a few years – I started taking everything too seriously. Maintaining that lightness would help a lot because you would continue to have fun, and your imagination would remain more open. After all, it’s a job. Though it’s something difficult, I love what I do – it’s a blessing.

When I read a script, the story needs to resonate with me. Regarding the character, I look for nuances that I can highlight. I try to find differences between the characters I have portrayed, so that each role is exciting and innovative. I never want anyone to guess what my next character will be – I like to keep the audience in suspense.

I would love to play a soldier a few times, like Brad Pitt in Inglourious Basterds and Fury. They are different characters with different portrayals, but both set in a war context. I have always been interested in playing a young soldier, as well as a war veteran. I love war movies. And for me, it's important to portray that perspective from the experience of a Black man – those stories still don't have the visibility they deserve.