Cwmbran Life caught up with an actor who has performed on stage with Dame Judi Dench and appeared in a record-grossing West End show.
Benjamin Brook, aged 24, was born in St Thomas’ hospital in London, but moved to Cwmbran within few days.
He said: “The hospital is opposite Big Ben and that was the first thing my mum saw looking out of the window after I was born so I was named Ben.”
He was a pupil at Croesyceiliog School and joined the Congress Youth Theatre as a teenager.
“I got to work with Ken Caswell at the Congress. He had worked with Sir Cameron Mackintosh as director of Les Miserables. It was then that I knew this was what I wanted to do.”
He was in the original West End cast of The Book Of Mormon. This had transferred from Broadway and is written and directed by the South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. While Ben was part of the cast the show won a What’s on Stage award and four Olivier awards.”
American Burger
Benjamin starred in ‘American Burger’, a movie which was released across Europe in cinemas and worldwide on video on demand.
“The movie was taken to major film events including Cannes Film festival, and the Norwegian film festival where I was flown to introduce the film as the main actor and promote the film. I played a preppy all-American nerd, which was a lot fun.
“There were great perks of playing the lead. I was flown to different places whilst not filming and got to meet lots of great people. We filmed in Sweden for three months which was a great back drop for a film that is essentially a comedy-horror of teenagers running through the woods for their lives.”
Benjamin’s other career highlights
His other career highlights include, performing alongside Dame Judi Dench at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert hall and playing Romeo in a National Theatre Wales production. At the Theatre Royal in Wakefield he played the title role in Aladdin and he had played Simon Bliss in the famous Noel Coward play, Hayfever.
“I’m so proud to say I’m from Wales. I’m also chuffed to be able to say I’m in the 3% of actors who are able to live off their acting work. My goal is to keep experiencing new things as an actor and to maintain what I have been so lucky to have in my career, success and constant employment.”
His dad is Clive Perry, the landlord of the Dorallt pub in Henllys.
Follow Ben on Twitter
You can follow Ben on Twitter @benjaminbrook