Scottish acting icon James Cosmo, known for classics like Braveheart and Game of Thrones, is back and starring in the gripping new Netflix political thriller, Hostage – and he thinks actors might be better suited for politics than actual politicians.
The 77-year-old legend is one of the top names in the drama, playing Max Dalton, the seriously ill father of the British Prime Minister, Abigail (played by the superb Suranne Jones).
A Real-Life Political Nightmare
Hostage plunges into a sinister plot where PM Abigail’s husband is kidnapped, and the visiting French President, Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), is blackmailed. Dalton cuts a forlorn figure as he battles cancer while his daughter faces an impossible dilemma: resign immediately or risk her husband’s life.
Cosmo, who played Campbell in the Mel Gibson epic Braveheart, joked that his on-screen daughter, Suranne Jones, would give real-life politicians a run for their money.
“I think that it would be a good lesson for politicians to be more of themselves and not so much a politician,” he stated.
He believes the modern political landscape rewards communicators and people with presence—skills actors possess—over “philosophers and thinkers.”
“That Could Really Happen”
While the plot is fictional, James is convinced the high-pressure twists in Hostage could easily play out in the modern world.
“It’s a real high-pressure political thriller. I think with new access to the internet, politics is becoming outrageous,” he said. “You can look at a TV show or movie and think, ‘that could really happen’. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if this situation came up.”
The series forces the British PM and the French President to set aside their differences and work together, with the world watching, as they decide whether to meet the terrorist demands or stand strong and risk lives.
Lying Down on the Job (Literally!)
Cosmo’s character, Max Dalton, spends much of his time in a hospital bed as he battles cancer—a welcome change for the action veteran.
“It’s terrific. The older I get, I have riders in my contracts now that say I’ve either got to be sitting or lying down,” he quipped.
The actor admits the drama made him glad his own sons steered clear of politics, a world he’s happy to observe from a distance. “I don’t think as an actor I should have influence. I’ve got one vote and everybody else has got one vote and I don’t wish to influence people because they know my face from the telly.”
Supporting the Arts in the Age of AI
Having featured in several big Netflix productions, James praised the streaming giant for providing a platform for “new directors, new actors and new writers.”
However, he voiced concern over the rise of AI and the challenge it poses for young performers.
“I don’t know where AI is going to take us but I don’t think it’s going to get any easier for actors,” he admitted, stressing the need for continued support for the arts. “It’s vital that we do as I believe AI can only go so far. We need content that challenges people to think.“
Don’t miss Scottish legend James Cosmo and Suranne Jones in the heart-pounding political thriller, Hostage, streaming now only on Netflix.