Bally made his RSC debut as part of The Other Place Mischief Festival in 2016; he will now play the iconic role of Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet press photos_2018_Photo by Paul Stuart _c_ RSC_236592
Bally Gill who will play Romeo, photo by Paul Stuart

Why did you want to play the part of Romeo?
Who wouldn't?! It’s one of the most iconic Shakespeare characters of all time. Also it was my first introduction to Shakespeare. I watched Baz Luhrmann's film with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Romeo when I was in year 9. I never thought I would get the chance to play him. 

Why did you want to become an actor?
To be honest all I wanted to be was an extra in Harry Potter, I just wanted to wear a cloak and have a wand. But mainly I wanted to be in the great feast scenes at the beginning of the films. But having no experience in acting or how the business worked, my dad suggested that I needed some sort of acting experience first so that's when I joined The Belgrade Theatre and it just snowballed from there.

What other roles in theatre would you like to play in the future?
Harry Potter! I'd love to play John Proctor in The Crucible, I love that character! 

What are your thoughts now about how you are going to play the role?
I've got my version of what I want to do with Romeo but what usually happens is when you go into the room with the rest of the company, everything you've prepared or thought about morphs and changes and I can't wait for that. That's what really excites me about acting, its malleable.

What’s been your favourite film recently?
The film - Get Out. I've watched it about six times already! By far one of the most influential films I've ever seen. There are literally pieces of dialogue from that film that I've had heard so many times in my own life.  

Who is your favourite musician/band?
A rapper by the name of J Cole. I listen to his music on repeat all the time, in particular his album 2014 Forest Hills Drive. His music has changed my life. 

Do you have any superstitions?
I don't really have many. Or I try not to think about them if they happen. I have a lot of bracelets for luck and protection. They've been working so far. But I've learnt to stop saying 'Macbeth' backstage. Some actors hate that!

What do you like to do when you are not in the theatre?
I like seeing my friends, especially catching up with people you haven't seen for years. I've been doing that recently. I love food! However I'm quite impulsive so I usually end up doing what's been suggested around me.

Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Of all time, it has to be James Dean.