Dom Bryant on Ambition, Acting and Going Full Steam Ahead

Words: Luke Brown

Photography: Jack Lai

Dom Bryant loves his craft. That much is obvious. A man who relishes the stage and camera, harbours grand ambitions, and holds a lifelong affection for the cinema, Dom lives and breathes his thespian roots.

Sometimes, interviewees downplay their passion or love for their craft, but not Dom. His enthusiasm for acting is as loud and clear as his presence on stage. “This is what I want to do with my life, because I genuinely love it,” he tells me with unabashed pride.

It’s genuinely refreshing to hear someone so unapologetically passionate.

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A Passion for Performance, Undiluted

Dom wears: Rubato - Coat, £1,675, atemrubato.com; Rubato - Roll Neck, £505, atemrubato.com; Rubato - Trousers, £505, atemrubato.com; Jimmy Fairly - Sunglasses, £135, jimmyfairly.com

Having been immersed in the performing arts since the age of five, it could’ve gone one of two ways: a quick burnout or, like Dom, an even deeper dedication to his work.

Fortunately, it’s the latter. Starting with dance lessons at five, Dom explains, “Things quickly escalated - I joined a dedicated dance school, which then opened the door to performance and eventually led me to a kids’ agency run by my dance teacher”.

Next came a major break at age 10: performing in Gypsy alongside acting royalty Imelda Staunton at the Chichester Festival Theatre, which later transitioned to the West End.

The Irreplaceable Pull of the Stage

Dom wears: Rubato - Roll Neck, £505, atemrubato.com; Rubato - Trousers, £505, atemrubato.com; Jimmy Fairly - Sunglasses, £135, jimmyfairly.com

Perhaps it was here that Dom first developed his deep connection to the stage - a sentiment he refers to throughout our conversation.

“The stage is raw. It’s live. You’re feeding off the audience, and there’s no retake. You’re completely in the moment becoming the character,” he explains, reflecting on his years in the theatre.

“Film and TV offer different kinds of storytelling, and there’s something satisfying about capturing the subtlety on camera..."

But it’s not just the stage that draws him in - television and film still very much feature in Dom’s sights.

“Film and TV offer different kinds of storytelling, and there’s something satisfying about capturing the subtlety on camera,” underscoring his ambition to ensure all three mediums have a place in his career.

Thrillers, Comedy and Creative Range

Dom wears: Rubato - Coat, £1,675, atemrubato.com;

Right now, the stage is where Dom’s heart - and schedule - lies. His upcoming role in Grafters, at the King’s Head Theatre, written by James Goodall, is a gripping crime-thriller set against the gritty backdrop of the drug trade, and promises to be a scintillating performance.

Dom is quick to express his affection for thrillers, saying, “There’s something irresistible about the intensity and pace - stories that keep you on the edge of your seat”. Yet, comedy is never far from his mind.

“It’s always high on my list,” he admits with a grin. “The energy in a comedy rehearsal room is unmatched. I recently did a dark comedy turned farcical thriller at the Corbett Theatre called Are You There, Moriarty?, which was written by Samantha Begeman and the madness on stage was absolutely infectious”.

Understanding the Craft from Every Angle

Dom wears: Rubato - Roll Neck, £505, atemrubato.com

He’s also dabbled in directing, having explored it during his time at the renowned BRIT School and throughout his training at the esteemed East 15 Acting School, where he’ll graduate from this June. “I really enjoy it - it’s like seeing the whole process from a different perspective, and I think it’s made me a better actor. I now understand what directors are looking for and how to contribute to the collaborative vision”.

Dom is committed to understanding every facet of the acting world, ensuring his foundation is rock solid while also allowing him the flexibility to explore different avenues. This dedication extends beyond the stage and screen, feeding into his enthusiasm for cinema trips.

“We’re so used to streaming and fast content that the idea of sitting in a room, phones off, watching people tell a story live feels special again...”

“I love going to the cinema, especially seeing films shot on 35mm - the grain, the imperfections, the texture. It’s the same with vinyl or print - there’s something timeless about physical media,” he says, recalling a recent trip to watch Mulholland Drive at the Prince Charles Cinema, just north of Leicester Square. Here, Dom touches on a broader cultural shift that is influencing his own creative output.

“I think people are craving something more tangible, more real,” he reflects. “We’re so used to streaming and fast content that the idea of sitting in a room, phones off, watching people tell a story live feels special again”.

Ambition, Nerves and the Work

Dom wears: Rubato - Shirt, £275, atemrubato.com; Rubato - Trousers, £355, atemrubato.com; Jimmy Fairly - Sunglasses, £135, jimmyfairly.com

Yet, despite his wealth of experience, there are still moments where nerves make an appearance. Whether in front of the camera or as the curtain rises, there’s a flicker of that familiar energy.

“Even mid-performance, I’ll sometimes have a moment of doubt,” Dom admits. “But that’s part of it - learning to work through that and stay present. The nerves mean you care”. Similarly, after a performance, Dom tries to avoid over-analysing or critiquing himself too harshly.

“You can get stuck in your head, judging every little thing,” he notes. “The goal isn’t absolute perfection; it’s about whether I told the story honestly. Did I connect with the audience? That’s what really matters,” he says with conviction.

Naming the Ambition

Dom wears: Rubato - Long Sleeve Polo, £320, atemrubato.com

This conviction becomes most evident when I ask him the age-old question of where he sees himself in 5 to 10 years.

His answer is direct and unapologetic: “I have big aspirations. I want to win an Oscar, perform at the National Theatre, and work with the directors and actors I grew up admiring. There’s no point in sugar-coating it - that’s the vision I have”.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t just wait for the phone to ring; you have to make it happen...”

His words are as clear-cut as his ambition, leaving no room for doubt. It’s interesting, as I mention to him, how many emerging talents often downplay their ambition.

Yet Dom’s unflinching clarity about where he wants to go marks a refreshing departure from the more reserved answers. It speaks volumes - not just about his intent, but about his belief in his journey. There’s no hesitation, no room for ambiguity. It’s a straightforward statement of purpose.

Momentum, Not Waiting

Dom wears: Rubato - Roll Neck, £275, atemrubato.com; Rubato - Trousers, £335, atemrubato.com; Jimmy Fairly - Sunglasses, £135, jimmyfairly.com

As his time at acting school draws to a close and with his role in Grafters on the horizon, Dom is clear about his next steps: “Full steam ahead from now on - no room for letting up,” he says. “I’m actively pushing my own work, inviting casting directors and agents to Grafters”.

His approach is proactive. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can’t just wait for the phone to ring; you have to make it happen”. It’s a statement that leaves no doubt about Dom’s determination and his refusal to wait for opportunities to come to him.

"If anything, persistence is his ally, and with that kind of determination, he won’t be waiting long to make his mark..."

With an acting pedigree that runs deep, Dom has already crafted a multi-faceted resume brimming with promise. He’s not one for a Plan B - he knows his worth, his ambition, and most importantly, he has an unrelenting passion for his craft.

There’s little doubt that the upper echelons of the silver screen will be well within his grasp. If anything, persistence is his ally, and with that kind of determination, he won’t be waiting long to make his mark.