BRENDAN PATRICKS: Sleight of Hand in Self Tapes

Today, we're joined by Brendan Patricks, the British actor and close-up magician whose 20-plus-year career has taken him from the West End to acclaimed series like Downton Abbey, Rivals, and Gentleman Jack. Brendan shares how picking up his first deck of cards at 21, after his father gave him a tiny book of tricks, sparked a lifelong obsession with magic and ultimately transformed the way he approaches acting.

In this episode, Brendan takes us behind the scenes of playing Evelyn Napier on Downton Abbey, including the nerve-wracking audition where he bluffed about knowing how to ride a horse. He also shares clever self-tape techniques he picked up while performing virtual magic shows over Zoom, stories from set with Toni Collette and Patrick Dempsey, and reveals how mastering sleight of hand, misdirection, and improvisation has shaped his work as an actor. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the surprising overlap between acting and illusion, and why sometimes the secret to a great performance is knowing exactly where you don't want the audience to look.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Brendan Patricks right here.

Credits:

Rivals Downton Abbey Gentleman Jack Outlander Doctor Who Bad Education Grace The Ghost Writer Traitors Resurrection Breeders Skins Guest Links:

IMDB: Brendan Patricks, actor, magician WEBSITE: BrendanPatricks.com THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:

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