Joe Simpson

Tucked away at the back of a warren of corridors in a South London studio complex, Joe Simpson’s workspace is not the sort of place one might expect to stand face-to-face with the cream of British acting talent. Yet on the walls sit a remarkable collection of portraits, five years in the making.

is a series of 10 pictures of leading actors, portrayed in their dream roles. His cast includes established mainstream stars such as Michael Sheen, Paddy Considine and Oscar-winning national treasure Olivia Colman, as well as rising stars such as Eleanor Tomlinson and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Rather than being a piece of fan art, however, Joe secured sittings with each of the high-profile stars and discussed the roles in depth with them, just as a director might have done on a film or TV set. This has resulted