Aiden Connell: Paisley’s rising actor talks to Claire Elliott

In her first interview for Mill, Claire Elliot sits down with rising actor Aiden Connell to discuss early roles, Rebus and the mark he wishes to leave on not just his industry, but the town he calls home

Paisley has nurtured many a budding talent over the years. Among its latest rising stars is young actor Aiden Connell, whose journey from the classrooms of St. Andrew’s High School to the world of acting is not only inspirational, but speaks to what can be achieved by following your passions.

For most people, school is where we first start to explore different hobbies. For Aiden, a chance audition for his school play earned him his first leading role and ignited a passion for the world of acting. 

“I wasn’t really a theatre type of guy,” he admits, reflecting on his early years. It wasn’t until the school staged a production of Divided City that something clicked.

The play, based on Theresa Breslin’s novel about friendship across sectarian divides, offered him a chance to step into the role of Joe, a young Celtic fan navigating the complex social landscape of Glasgow. 

“I was only 11 years old, and I was quite nervous about the whole thing,” he recalls. “But it just worked. I realised I had a bit of a knack for it, so I decided to go for it from there.” 

The success of that first performance sparked something in Aiden. It wasn’t just the applause or the thrill of being on stage, but a deeper connection to the craft of acting that made him want to explore it further. 

“Growing up, my parents made me watch a lot of films,” Aiden Connell muses. “My dad made me watch a lot of Jim Carey and Robin Williams, and even from a young age I realised that making people laugh and just sit for a few hours and forget things was what I wanted to do.” 

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However, Aiden’s biggest and most recent role to date has been starring as Michael Rebus Junior in Rebus, a modern and grittier take on Ian Rankin’s beloved novels. “It’s darker,” Aidan says of the original 2000s series, “it was completely reshaped but works off of all the same original material.” 

All too aware of the juxtaposition between the seriousness of his role in Rebus and the comedic styles of his greatest influences Jim Carey and Robin Williams, Aiden doesn’t rule out a future in comedy, however asserts that he feels more at home in serious roles. It’s due to this that he admires the range that his idols are able to display in their performances. 

“People don’t pay attention to the serious stuff they’ve done,” he asserts, “I think that’s quite unfair. They’ve both done so many movies that are just raw. Iconic movies that cement your thinking in life.” 

Aiden starring in Rebus with Terrence Rae ©BBC/Graeme Hunter

As Aiden continues to build his career, he remains keenly aware of the importance of continuous learning and growth. This extends not just to honing his craft, but also about understanding the industry and where he wants to position himself within it. 

“I definitely prefer film and television to theatre,” he states. “But I studied Creative Industries for two years at college. In that time I was learning to direct, and to edit and control lighting.

“I did all that so I could become a better actor, because if I can get ahead of what a director wants and what the crew want, I’d be a better actor myself.” 

His interest in the broader scope of filmmaking reflects a mature understanding of the industry, one that many young actors don’t develop until much later in their careers.

It’s with this same maturity and astonishing humility that Aiden discusses the elements of criticism and collaboration as being his favourite things about being on a bigger set. 

“I learned so much,” he says, awe still apparent in his eyes as he recalls the set. “The insights the directors had to help to make their character into yours was just incredible.

“Working with so many people who are so good at what they do, it illuminates you, and you become a better actor for it. I learned to work with other people really well and communicate with them behind the scenes to be able to bring what we wanted on set.” 

Aiden’s preference for working on projects he’s truly passionate about shines through in everything he says. As a young actor, it would be easy to be so overcome with ambition that only the biggest and best roles would do. However, Aiden is driven by love of the craft rather than money and fame. 

“I don’t like when people say they’re not in it for the money, because everyone needs money to live, but I’m truly at a stage where I do it because I love it,” he says. This is evidenced by Aiden’s eagerness to take even the smallest role in one of the franchises he grew up loving. 

“I used to love The Hunger Games and The Maze Runner series. I love dystopian stuff,” he says with a grin wide across his face, “I would take even some silly role where I just die in The Hunger Games. I think if you love something you just want to be involved in it however you can.” 

Aiden filming episode three of A True Mismatch ©John Mackie Photography

Aiden’s first breakout role was as Paul Shaw in A True Mismatch, a crime thriller partially filmed in Paisley which could be classed as the dictionary definition of a passion project.

The show is crowdfunded by a collection of die-hard fans from across the globe who want to play a part in furthering the success of the beloved series. 

“We started filming when I had just turned 16 and now I’ve just turned 20 and episode three is about to come out,” he says, “it’s been a very long process. But it’s been worth it because you can see the progression from episode one to episode two. It’s getting better and better.” 

When speaking about his future aspirations, Aiden Connell could so easily begin gushing about wanting the biggest and best roles that the film and TV industry have to offer.

But, true to the humility and sentiment that seems to underpin everything that Aiden does in his career, he instead speaks of how he wants to become another inspirational story of what a young guy from Paisley can accomplish. 

“I grew up watching so many things that became special to me and that meant a lot to me, and I wondered if I could do that in the future.

“Now I’m doing it and there might be other kids watching me and wondering if they can do that in the future,” he muses. “I want to be someone down the line that people can tell their kids or family ‘did you know he’s from Paisley?’

“Hopefully I can show people that you don’t need to be defined by where you’re from. You just need to give the things you love the best shot you can and don’t let people push you to the side.” 

Q&A with Aiden Connell

Favourite film? Lord of the Rings.

Favourite actor? Jim Carey or Robin Williams, I couldn’t choose between them.

Guilty pleasure? My caffeine intake.

Favourite place in Paisley? De Beers or Roasters.

Follow Aiden Connell on Instagram