10 minutes with Maxim Baldry

You may know him from ‘Stepan’ in Mr Bean’s Holiday or perhaps even as the young cheeky charmer Liam Donovan in Hollyoaks, but Maxim Baldry is all grown up now. Taking on the lead role in the highly acclaimed Russell T Davies’ BBC and HBO drama YEARS AND YEARS, Maxim puts on a brilliant performance as Viktor, an asylum seeker escaping homophobic persecution in Ukraine for the relative safe haven of a shipping container in Manchester, circa 2024. We sat down with Maxim and he let us in on some of his secrets.

Who is your celebrity crush?

Weyes Blood. She’s finding hope in a world that’s going to hell.

What would you change your name to?

My alter ego, Melodie Saviour. I perform some shows under that name. Look it up and come see my band play.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve seen/read this week? 

I saw Liam Gallagher and Harry styles having Sunday lunch together. It looked a bit like a date. 

What’s the most useless talent you have? 

I can made bird noises. 

What would be a good theme song for your life and why?

NOBODY CAN LIVE FOREVER - Tim Maia. I always listen to that song whenever I’m in a good mood or a bad mood. 

Do you speak any other languages? Are you good at accents? 

My mum is from Russia so Russian was my first language. I actually grew up in Moscow for the first 5 years of my life.

What is your favourite place in the world ? 

London in the summer. You can’t beat London! 

3 things you can’t live without when you travel and why? 

Water...  Water….Wwater... We need to drink at least 2 litres of water a day. I always forget that when I’m on a plane or travelling. Stay hydrated kids 

What is the one thing that you wish you could do to look after the environment? 

STRAWS. No one needs them. We use so much plastic and throw it away daily. Quit  taking straws when you’re at McDonalds and just drink it and save the environment. 

Best advice you’ve been given?

If it was easy, anyone would do it. The more you put in the more you get out. Whenever I hit a rough patch and feel down I remind myself that  persistency and a positive mental attitude is key. 

If you weren’t scared what would you do?

Jump out of a plane with a parachute. It just makes no sense why people do  it. But I guess it’s the closest thing to flying you can get. That must feel pretty cool. 

What do you do to cope with stressful situations?

I try to compartmentalise things. If you can’t control something there’s  no point worrying about it. Focus your energy on things that only you can control and change. 

Go to fashion look?

My black doc martens, my Folk raised pin stripe trousers and a white T-shirt! 

Photographer: Eric Frideen 

Stylist: David Hawkins 

Grooming: Charley McEwen