Aaron Taylor-Johnson

From Kick-Ass and Godzilla to Christopher Nolan’s next movie, British star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is firmly in Hollywood’s crosshairs. But after shepherding searing addiction drama A Million Little Pieces to fruition, he wants more than just a career on screen. Total Film meets the 29-year-old who can’t help getting creative.

- James Mottram

The last time Total Film met Aaron TaylorJohnson, the actor was caked in mud and blood in a field outside of Glasgow. The set was for the “relentless” Outlaw King, David Mackenzie’s historical drama that saw Taylor-Johnson roar across the screen as Sir James Douglas, an ally to Scottish freedom fighter Robert the Bruce. Today, TaylorJohnson is less gunk-splattered but still dreaming of Scotland. “In a couple of weeks, I’m going to go back to the Highlands,” he sighs. “I miss it.”

Before he can plan his holidays, though, he’s got the little matter of A Million Little Pieces to contend with. Based on James Frey’s controversial memoir (he admitted it was part-fabricated), TaylorJohnson plays Frey in what is a harrowing look at addiction, rehab, and sobriety. While Frey’s journey is anything but easy to watch, for Taylor-Johnson it’s been a “beautiful joy”, co-scripting and producing with the film’s director, his own spouse, Sam Taylor-Johnson.

While they’ve been together for the past decade – and had two daughters – the Taylor-Johnsons haven’t worked on a movie project since 2009’s John Lennon bio Nowhere Boy. By that point, Johnson – as he was then before they coupled up – had already spent over a decade in showbiz. Born in High Wycombe, the son of a civil engineer, early small roles included Shanghai Knights (as the young Charlie Chaplin) and The Illusionist (as, er, the young Edward Norton).