PAUSE MEETS:
Sean Sagar
Breaks down his journey so far, evolving, and London style influences.
“Don’t let those no’s make you feel like you’re not good enough because when you get that one yes, it’s all going to be worth it.”
London born and raised, Sean Sagar’s rise to the top is one embedded in the rich culture of the English capital. Heralding from East London’s Forest Gate, Sagar’s entry point into the acting scene arrived with his breakout role in hit show ’Top Boy’, setting him well on his way to stardom. Boasting the likes of ‘Blue Story’ and ‘The Gentlemen’ on his extensive list of acting credits, the 33-year-old refuses to slow the pace as he sits down with PAUSE to discuss everything from identity, the challenges of the acting world, and role models to fashion sense, confidence, and evolving personal style.
As a rising star in the acting industry, what inspired you to pursue a career in acting, and who are some of your role models in the industry?
What inspired me to become an actor is a singer called Plan B. I was his p.a. at the age of 19 and he basically was like, “look, I’m making a film, I’d love for you to audition for it.” So I went up for the audition, I managed to get the part. God knows how at that time, because I hadn’t trained or done anything before I managed to get that part. And from that, whilst we were filming, he kind of just said to me “I really think you’ve got a career in this and a future.” My brother wanted to be an actor as well. They all just got behind me and said, “look, this is something I think you’d be great at.” So yeah, that just inspired me to keep on going with it: family and friends.
Role models…. right so one has to be my brother for one, Nicholas Sagar. Also, my good friend Grant, who all three of us actually did our first ever film together, which was a dream come true. Two days, yeah. Which was crazy. So that was my first ever job together. And obviously, all of us now have gone off and done our own things.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson, I love what he stands for. I’ve loved him from his wrestling days. I love what he’s done. I love how he’s changed his life around in terms of from coming into the industry where he didn’t think he’d be respected within the acting industry because of his previous career choice. But as of now, you know, he ended up being the highest paid actor you can think of within the industry itself. I just love what he stands for. And yeah, man, I think that’s who my role models are.
Your acting career took off with your role in the hit series ‘Top Boy’ back in 2011. How did that experience shape your passion for acting and pave the way for your future success?
Bro, I’ve never even really told anyone this, but after Top Boy, I nearly made the decision to not go ahead with even carrying on with acting just because I felt like I had the biggest impostor syndrome, I had issues within myself that I was dealing with, insecurities that I didn’t even realise I had that shaped after filming. Because, you know, going from how I grew up to then just being on camera all the time was a massive difference. So you notice things about yourself that you wouldn’t necessarily notice as a person that’s not taking that view or career path, for instance. So when I finished filming, I didn’t know if this was what I wanted to do. I was questioning myself. And then again, all the people behind me were like “there’s clearly a reason why you’re here, so don’t give up and keep pushing.” So yeah, that’s kind of what shaped me. Then after that, I signed with an agency and they were just kind of like, “look, we think you’re incredible, don’t give up!” Obviously, I expressed my worries and my concerns when I first signed with them. They saw something in me, and believed I could take my career to the next level. So it was definitely a mixture of management, family, friends too who keep me inspired to constantly keep on pursuing this crazy industry.
You’ve appeared in various television programs and feature films, showcasing your versatility as an actor. Can you tell us about the challenges and rewards of transitioning between different roles and genres?
Again, the challenge for me was coming from films like Ill Manners to Top Boy, but at the same time it was very close to home. I felt a lot of the time, I didn’t really need to tap into an acting perspective, because it was all coming from experiences that I’ve been around growing up. What really shaped me was when I did a show called Our Girl, which was when I was playing a soldier. I feel like I was lucky enough to have that blessing of being able to jump away from the urban scene and jump into a more mainstream platform at that time, and allow him to showcase myself in a completely different life. As much as the character I played was a monk, it was a bit of me, but a lot of it wasn’t because I wasn’t a soldier. I didn’t know what it was like to have a rocket shot at you or grenades thrown at you, after that I realised it was more of an internal lesson for me to feel reassured in my skillset. Now I feel like I can put myself in shoes that I’ve never been in before which allows me to just have fun and play around.
From there to playing American roles, taking dialect lessons which I needed to work on daily, I realised how much of an incredible feeling and proud moment for me it would be to just pat myself on the back and be reminded that if you want to achieve something you can, it’s just about the work that you put in to get to those places. I feel like a lot of people such as myself, hit that brick wall where we’re like, there isn’t any further to go from here… but for me, it was about being able to understand myself and understand my own journey that I can accomplish.
Jacket – AMI, Top – YOOX, Trousers – Fiorucci, Necklace – Ouie, Shoes – Dr. Martens
You grew up in Forest Gate, London, that must have shaped your identity as an artist. How has your hometown influenced your craft, and are there any particular experiences or memories that still resonate with you today?
Growing up in Forest Gate most people wondered if I found it hard growing up in this area, because obviously growing up in that was area seemed rough. I always think, yeah, of course, you know, when no matter where you grew up, everyone has their days of struggle. If it wasn’t for me growing up in Forest Gate, and the people I was around I wouldn’t be where I am now. So I feel like experiences that I had led to opportunities like Top Boy.
It’s more of a thing for me now that I look back on it, cause now I’m grateful that I went through all of that, because it helped understand the beauty of being grateful for everything. I feel blessed because there are so many individuals out there that are within the same sort of circumstances where you don’t see a way out and you believe that this is it. That’s it, you become a product of your environment and the message I want to send off is to break through that ceil! There’s so much more to life than the circumstances we’re born into. If it wasn’t for me growing up there I wouldn’t be able to resonate with emotions I’ve had to portraying characters on screen.
Your fashion choices have been praised by many, both on and off-screen. What inspires your personal style, and how do you use fashion to express yourself?
What you wear has a massive impact on how you carry yourself and the energy you use to then go about your day. If you put on a suit, naturally, you don’t even realise it, but subconsciously you walk differently, your body language is even different. So for me, whatever you put on represents who you are and what message you’re trying to give off, so I’ll always try to wear things now that make me feel good. Even if you’re mentally in a place where you don’t feel good, you know, you might go and buy a new pair of trainers that will make you feel better. Similarly if you wear something that makes you feel good, naturally, your energy is already in a better place than where it was before you got dressed. Having said that my style now will always include what makes me feel good so it sets me up for what’s ahead of me!
Jacket – Avirex, Jeans – Samsøe Samsøe
How did your upbringing in London influence your sense of style?
The more I’ve travelled with work I’ve realised that there’s places that are a bit behind London. You don’t even realise how growing up in London shapes you, especially living in a city where a lot of the fashion drops first, so we will kind of get first dibs on what’s hot. At the same time a lot of my friends wonder why I don’t you go buy into more high end brands when in reality I’m cool with the plain jeans and a plain black T shirt.
As someone who has achieved so much at a young age, what advice do you have for aspiring actors and creatives who are just starting out in the industry?
Love this question, because obviously, everyone’s different, and I feel like mentally getting into this industry, everyone thinks they’re ready, and it doesn’t matter who you are. It takes a strong individual to be in this industry because you’re constantly being judged. You’re constantly judging your own skills because you want to make sure that what you’re doing is great. You can often become your own worst enemy. But I feel like the main advice I can give anyone is just stick with your gut, understand that you’re good enough, don’t let those no’s make you feel like you’re not good enough because when you get that one yes, it’s all going to be worth it. Just understanding that when it’s your time, know that’s your time.
In this industry a lot of it has to do with time; take time out of your day to work on your craft whether that be perfecting accents or doing acting classes, watching your favourite films, or just personally chipping away at becoming better. Man this industry is so crazy industry, advice I’d give is to not give up and just keep pushing them because it’s coming.
Jumper – GANT, Jeans – GANT
Which of your on-screen characters do you feel has the closest style to your own?
The closest to me now would be a character that I played in Sticks and Stones. It was an ITV drama that I did where I played a played a bully. And not not the character I mean costume, not that person at this point. But I mean, the style was the closest thing to mine because I grew up with my dad and when I reached about 21 I was quite into fashion designing because he used to make suits and always had us wearing suits because it showcases you in such a professional way. He just wanted us to be young, powerful black men. Growing up in an industry where we didn’t really get respected as much, he just wanted us to look good, and when we walked in people actually took us seriously. So I would say definitely the character played in Sticks and Stones had a massive, massive influence and the closest to the way I would dress I would say.
Who are your start icons and what elements from their fashion do you incorporate into your own personal wardrobe?
Do you know who I would have to say? Pharrell, love the way he dresses, I definitely own a whole bunch of stuff that’s similar to what he has, Chris Brown too. I feel like he’s the closest to my style personally cause he loves to dance so I know what it’s like when you want to wear something that makes you feel comfortable, especially if you want to break out into a little dance.
I would say definitely them two there for me, because also if you look at their style, a lot of the time they just mix and match in whatever they want. It’s not like they’re wearing all this designer pieces, they’re just comfortable! I’m not about wearing what I’m seeing all artists wear, the same Louis Vuitton pieces or whatever, they’re just the same as their listeners who rather mix and match a whole bunch of stuff, that’s what makes style unique to me. So I would definitely say them as having had a massive impact on my style.
How does feeling confident in your appearance influence your overall demeanour and performance?
This is like when we spoke about getting a haircut or wearing a new pair of trainers, jeans or a jacket; it’s an instant feel good factor. I feel like a lot of people are into retail therapy, and the reason behind that is because you’re just buying something that makes you feel good, or makes you look good. When wake up in the morning, and you have a fresh trim, or for the ladies, maybe when you wake up and do skincare you feel good, which then allows you to carry that energy throughout your day.
So I feel like for me, looking good has a massive impact on me because I have to make sure these things are my energy is high because if I’m filming, I need to make sure that I feel 100%. If I’m going to an interview I need to make sure I’m feeling good, if I’m going to a premiere and I’m gonna see friends, I want to make sure within myself that my energy is in the right place and I feel like fashion for me gives me that extra boost.
What are some key pieces you think every man should have in their wardrobe, regardless of their personal style?
Every man should have a suit. There’s always a time for a man to put on a suit. There’s always an event or occasion that you need to throw on a suit which makes you feel 10/10. Naturally, it brings out a completely different energy to when you wear jeans or a tracksuit. I also feel like a nice pair of black shoes or boots. I feel like every young man should own again, every man should own a nice pair of sneakers because they’re comfy. I keep saying sneakers because I’m filming American shows haha!
How do you keep up with the latest trends in fashion and streetwear?
A lot of my friends! They’re all massive fashion heads, so I always see them wearing the latest stuff. At the same time, I don’t really like to follow what everyone else is wearing. Because I don’t want to be a sheep. I’ll always try and mix in, like my own style with the new drops, which people might look and be like, “oh, where’d you get that from?” Because I’ve mixed it with something you wouldn’t think of, it just has his own identity. So yeah, I keep up with all my friends because they’re into the whole fashion scene.
How has your personal style evolved over the years?
Definitely evolved, I went from dressing like a young boy. I have to look back at pictures on Facebook to realise my style back then… I’ve gone “oh my god, how did I used to think I was okay with that?” But yeah, I definitely feel like my style has changed more now. From you know, growing from a boy to a man, I feel that my stories change just because I’m representing me. I’m a brand so I want to represent myself and carry my brand in the most professional way. I feel like that sort of stuff will mould me, it’s just making sure that I’m always represented in the best light that I can be.
Can you give us a sneak peek into the fashion choices for your upcoming Hollywood movie?
Again, all right, so without giving off too much, I’ll be dressing like a gentleman for my current role. I feel like he’s the partner that most women would like to see on their arm, in terms of how he looks after himself and treats someone so yeah, I would like to say his fashion choices are definitely along the lines of being a young gentleman.
Are there any specific designers or fashion collaborations that you would love to explore in the future?
BOSS! I’ve done some work with them in the past, but I’d love to have a more, you know, intimate relationship with them. I love their bits as well. There’s also a brand called “Theory” that I love. I did something with them and also wearing some of their bits in the new film that we just spoke about, which is nice. So I’m open, when that drops, we’ll be able to have a conversation taking it forward. But definitely those for me, I would love to, you know, see what the future holds.
What advice would you give to aspiring actors and models who are looking to make their mark in the entertainment industry? Are there any lessons or experiences from your own journey that you’d like to share?
I would say is to create your own content, because we live in a day and age now where content can be created so easily. There’s so many platforms to showcase what you want to see. You’ve got the beauty of social media now where you can create characters and scenarios that can now basically reach out to the whole world.
Don’t just give up. And I feel like a lot of people think it’s overnight thing but I’ve been doing this for 14 years and it’s only the past year that things have taken off. In terms of my career plan, I’d like to get to the next level. There were moments where I nearly gave up, there were moments of doubt, but you just got to see through those moments and be like, you know, this is where you’re meant to be, this is what you’re meant to be doing. And just trust in yourself with every judgement, with every decision that you make, that that was the right decision. If you’re reaching out, come with something physical like I said, if you want to reach out to agents don’t just send that typical email saying “hey, I want to be an actor”, you know, go and create a showreel of monologues so that they’ve actually got something physical. Be open to feedback, go back and work on your craft because when that yes comes, I’m telling you from experience, you’ll realise the journey was worth it.
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