From Boy (Band) to King
Luke Goss was once part of a hugely popular boy band, but gave it all up and turned to acting instead. Now, he's playing King Xerxes in One Night with the King, a new film about the biblical story of Esther.
by Mark Moring | posted 10/11/2006
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In a previous life, Luke Goss was half of the immensely popular British boy band Bros (his twin brother Matt was the other half), which sold 15 million albums and toured the world numerous times before calling it quits in 1992.
Goss went on to try the theater, got hooked on acting, and has never turned back. He has since done a number of stage plays and 21 movies, including roles in Blade 2 (as Nomak) and in Frankenstein (as The Creature), a TV miniseries.
Luke Goss as King Xerxes
Vampires and monsters aside, Goss is now playing a biblical character—Xerxes, king of Persia—in the new film, One Night With the King, the story of the book of Esther, the courageous young Jewish woman who risked her life to ask Xerxes to spare the lives of her people. The film, adapted from Tommy Tenney's book of the same title, opens in almost 1,000 theaters this Friday.
Newcomer Tiffany Dupont plays Esther, while veteran stars Omar Sharif, Peter O'Toole, and John Rhys-Davies are also featured in the film. We caught up with the 38-year-old Goss to talk about the movie.
I hear you have an interesting story about landing this role?
Luke Goss: Yes. I loved Xerxes' role and I read for them. They liked what I did and invited me back for a screen test about a month later. But the night before, I was very, very sick. I had flown in from London, and picked up a virus on the plane or something. I spent the night in the hospital with IVs in my arm. It was crazy. I checked myself out of the hospital at five in the morning. The doctor said, "You're not well. You're dehydrated. You should stay." And I said no, I've got something to do.
So I went to the screen test, did what I could, and went back to the hotel. Later, the phone rang. And my agent said, "You're the king!" I went, "Really?" And then I just literally flopped into the lounger, but I felt very happy.
Were you familiar with the story of Esther before?
Goss: No. But when I read the script, I just thought it was quite remarkable, a beautiful story. I also read the ramifications of it today.
What ramifications?
Goss: It's interesting that this movie is coming out at a time when things are so dire around the world. When this story took place, they didn't have the diplomatic processes or as much hindsight as we have now. But people today are all ready to say what's not achievable. If you want to look at the odds being against something, look at this story. It was truly do or die, but they made it work. To me, this story is a reminder of what can be done. And the fact that such a wonderful outcome can happen through faith and belief and passion and love.
Goss says the film will appeal to many demographics
This story is well loved by Christians and Jews, but will it have appeal beyond that?
Goss: Yeah. It's a universal message—a story about being proud of human actions, being proud of faith and good things. There will be comfort for people who are familiar with the story, but for people who aren't, I think it gives hope.
What can you tell me about your own spiritual background?
Goss: I'm looking at a picture of Jesus in my home right now. I'm Christian in the sense of loving God and Jesus, but I don't go to church. And my love of God and Jesus doesn't limit me from seeing the beauty in other people's faith. I was raised to believe not to be too precious with my terminologies. People are so passionate about their terminologies, saying the word Jesus or Allah or whatever. But it's like, if we're all good and we treat each other well, we'll get up there and it will be cleared up, I'm sure.
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