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A: So, do you find that fans relate more to you as Matt or as Slade?

M: Ummm, I think as Matt. You know, I mean, obviously this year has been very unique, having come back after last year. Where, last year where you know, not many people had seen Tribe 5. So in effect, I know a few people had, but in effect most people were like "That's Matt" and they knew me from the website, or from, you know, knew that I'd been in The Tribe but a lot of people hadn't seen, so I think in a way, when they met me, "this is the guy who played Slade" who they haven't seen. So they knew me as Matt first. Which is actually is really nice and you know, this year seeing a lot of people who were there last year of course, it was really nice to talk to them, really easy.


A: Do you get fan letters addressed to Matt or addressed to Slade?

M: Mainly to me, you know, back in England there's this thing called Spotlight, basically which is like the actor's bible and its got every actor if that’s your profession and it’s got your photo, and your agent and your contact details. So a lot of people write to Spotlight and Spotlight forwards it on. And most of them, you know, they, some of them tie in with you know Slade, you know the fact that people have watched it and it’s made a real impact - that character or Season 5. But most of the letters, most of the conversations I have had, especially here in the States have been more kinda personal level , you know, more like people getting to know me as me. Which has been, I dunno has been really nice, very friendly.

A: Well, we haven't forgotten about John yet.
K: Yeah, we're getting to you later-
A: Don't get too relaxed-
K: Don't worry-
M: Ha ha ha ha!
A: 'Cause one of our questions is, do you find that people relate to you more as John or as Sean Bean?
K: Hee hee!
A: Did you notice the similarity?
J: I've never heard that one before.
A: Really?
J: No-o, I've heard Ewan McGregor and the Naked Chef-
K: Bwah!
J: But no, Sean Bean's a new one. (unintelligible)
A: That's okay.
J: I haven’t got the accent to go with it.
M: Beany!

K: Well, what is the craziest thing that a fan has ever asked you or given you?

M: Umm, oh, I mean some of the gifts are... I mean they’re amazing but you know... like I’ve been given a massive book of fanfiction.

K: That’s where you’ve been reading it.

M: Yeah, yeah. And it’s amazing. It’s about 180 pages. It’s incredible. And it all focuses around Slade and Lex and Amber and Amber’s sister.

A: Amber/Lex. *shakes head* God!

M: So it’s very, yeah, you know when you read that and you read how much people have kind of taken say, the character of Slade and created a new world and new adventures and you kind of extended the (unintelligible) of the characters they’ve seen - that’s really... that’s crazy, you know. I think you know, sometimes some of the gifts, like some of the poems and stuff like that you know...

K: (Laughing)

M: They’re great. Some of them, they’re really lovely. But uh yeah, and it... I mean it is surreal by it’s very nature when someone gives you something. It’s like yesterday when we came in here - you know, all those gifts are incredible but it’s kind of embarrassing because it’s just so much you know. It’s incredible but it’s quite hard to know how to react to that - very surreal. So I mean, most of the presents we’ve got over here have just been great - nothing too weird or too kinky or...

A: Well, that’s disappointing.

M: So far! There’s still room!

K:There’s still a couple of days.

M: We’ve still got a couple of days.

K: Thongs to be removed...

M: Yeah, I haven’t been asked to sign any breasts yet since I’ve been over here. So, umm, yeah...

A: (Laughing) Yeah, she couldn't come! Bwah ha ha hah! , (aside to Kellygirl)

K: Bwah ha ha ha!

A: Ahem, you’ll have to edit that out

A: Umm, Ahem, okay, alright so that's going to go to our next question. People always talk about how people have been really friendly towards you and one of the things Kelly and I have noticed is how really friendly and easy you have been with the fans here. And we were wondering where do you get your energy from? Because it must be difficult to be nice, charming, complimentary. I mean, you're ON all the fuckin' time!

M to J: She's being like they’re big old flaws!
J: Yeah, ha ha
M: ha ha ha

M: You're refreshing because there's such a toughness to you, it's great. Right, you know. For us to come here for four or five days, to be flown over here, to have your room paid for you and be looked after and have expenses; it's not that hard, you know to find the energy. Little power kips now and then, but we both felt it's been really hard to kind of, really hard to sleep here because your brain is just ticking away the whole time. Like about the gig tomorrow and our fears. But umm, people are very open here and when people you know....are so friendly, it kinda sparks that off in you. And in a way it's not an act, you know it's not an act. I mean, yeah of course, sometimes you go back to your room and you're knackered you know and you just need to lie down or "power down", as the Wizard says. But when you're out there, it's a real buzz. Like say the Q&A yesterday. You know, for the first couple of minutes you get up there and you’re thinking ‘fuck’ and I've done a few of them before, but it's a bit, it's still a bit nerve-wracking. It's a bit odd. You know because just 'cause you're an actor, doesn't mean you're necessarily very confident or outgoing, a lot of actors aren't, it's the reason they do it. But after while, suddenly you pick up on people's energy. You know, and I'm quite, I've got quite high energy level anyway. Hmph, I live with John, he can vouch for me-

J: I can vouch for that
M: 7 years, you know-
K: Wow
M: Yeah
K: -And still friends after 7 years.
M: Our longest relationship isn't it darling.
J: Huh, yeah, we make it work.

M: But no, just you know, that energy’s kinda there. It's a dream. I just grad-, I've just been training at drama school for nine months and you know, to be able, a lot of people who have left, who... who trained with me who’ve now moved on from... you know, when I told them what I was doing here, they just can't get their heads around it. And it is really surreal and it's just an absolute dream. I've got to go to America. I've got, I mean I was able to go New Zealand. I've traveled all around the UK with this. It's opened so many doors. And I love it, you know? So it's not hard really to lift that up. And yeah if you have times when you're tired or if you’re pissed off or you know, and there are times when you're 'oh fuckin' hell' you really you know you just want to chill out or, you shelve that. ‘Cause that's, because some of the conversations that I've had with people here I know have had massive impact- on me- and likewise you know and when you realize that in a way, some people are looking up to you, you know? I'm not saying that I'm some kind of ambassador; I wouldn't - no, not at all. But you realize that there are some people out there- you're someone in their life who has done something or that they can attach meaning too. You know, I don't see why you would want to throw that away or resent it, you know?

A: Mmmhmm.

M: So...

A: Okay.

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