“It’s making me feel panicky and thin-skinned."
It will be a historic moment for Hiran Abeysekera as he becomes the first Asian actor to play Hamlet at the National Theatre.
Originally from Sri Lanka, his first steps in acting were in Colombo’s local theatre before joining a British Council production of Romeo and Juliet. Its director, Willi Richards, encouraged him to apply for drama school.
Unaware that such schools even existed, he applied to Rada and won a scholarship at 22.
Abeysekera said: “As a boy, getting on a plane was a dream. But becoming an actor in England was not. It wasn’t even beyond dreams, because I never imagined it could be possible.”
Arriving in England was both confusing and liberating, and for the past 15 years, he has lived with Richards and his partner at an 18th-century house in Deptford.
Despite his success, life in Britain has not been easy.
Abeysekera told The Telegraph: “I still feel I don’t fully belong here.”
His residency status is a constant reminder and work has complicated his immigration status.
He explained: “I haven’t been able to apply for permanent residency because, within a five-year period, you can’t be out of the country for more than 180 days, and each time I have been so, it’s been because of work.
“So even though I’ve been representing Britain abroad, working in France with Peter Brook, or starring on Broadway [he went in 2023 with Life of Pi] counts [against claiming permanent residency].”
As he prepares for Hamlet, he admitted that the role has affected him:
“It’s making me feel panicky and thin-skinned.
“I’m thinking about Hamlet’s relationship with Ophelia, or how he can’t trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and I’m making parallels in my own life.”
This role has influenced his behaviour:
“A friend asked me the other day why I had become so melodramatic, and why I was making so many wild decisions. I’ve even messed up a recent relationship because of it.”
Robert Hastie’s production, staged at the Lyttelton, is described by Abeysekera as “Saltburn meets country manor house”.
But playing Hamlet carries another weight.
“There’s so much going on in Britain these days to make minorities feel more included.”
However, he said “some of it can feel almost forced”.
Hiran Abeysekera has appeared in a few productions but he is best known for his stage role in Life of Pi, which earned him an Olivier award.
But his first experience with Shakespeare was disastrous.
He recalled: “Our English teacher had entered us for a Shakespeare competition.
“But it was only intended for the posh schools. We hadn’t realised. But of course, only the wealthy had access to Shakespeare in Sri Lanka.”
He and his classmates were booed off stage.
Even without understanding the words, he felt the rhythm:
“There’s something instinctive about the iambic pentameter: it’s like a heartbeat.
“We would recite Macbeth as we walked down the streets, stray dogs barking at us in the yellow lamp light.”
Abeysekera’s life in Sri Lanka was shaped by war.
Despite the danger, family life offered warmth.
Abeysekera continues to return to Sri Lanka each year. He spends time with his family and works on his theatre company in Colombo:
“I set it up with a friend in my dad’s old garage. We have a rehearsal space and an open-air theatre; my friend and I even built the toilets. Although I need to figure out a way to get it to make money.”
For now, his focus is Hamlet, which premieres on September 25, 2025.
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