1. After the news broke out last week of NBC renewing ‘Chicago Kingdom’ for an
unprecedented 6th season, we met up with the working class boy from an estate in
Manchester who has made the Hollywood bigwigs sit up and take notice.
Sam Gale, the humble actor hailing from Salford, is making huge waves across the
pond with his fantastic portrayal of renowned 1930’s gangster, ‘Angry’ Al Luciano in
NBC’s biggest drama series since the likes of Law & Order, ER and The West Wing all
ended their long runs on the channel.
Starting out playing supporting roles in acclaimed British films, Gale is now
broadening his horizons, gradually earning more prominent roles in every
Hollywood movie he stars in, such as playing a spy with a secret in ‘Soldiers and
Spies’, a cross-dressing murderer in ‘The Defendant’ and the upcoming un-named
sci-fi project with none other than Spielberg himself.
Turning up 20 minutes early, in very casual clothing, we finally got the chance to talk
with the Little Brit riding high in Big America…
So, Sam, you’re back in Blighty! I know you must love L.A, but do you
ever feel like you miss home?
Oh yeah, of course I do. Don’t get me wrong, L.A is beautiful and America is
amazing but there’s nothing that can beat your Mum’s Sunday dinner or a nice cup
of English tea, is there? In all seriousness, I’m having a ball out there but there is
always going to be moments where you’d like to go for a kick about with your
mates or sit and watch Corrie with all the family in one living room – but I can’t
complain, I wouldn’t swap my job for anything.
For anyone who has been living under a rock for the last 5 or so years,
what’s Chicago Kingdom all about?
Well, it’s about a man named ‘Mucky’ Martin King trying to build his own empire –
his ‘kingdom’ – in 1930’s Chicago. At the beginning of the series, he was a fresh
faced youngster just released from prison but he wants to make a name for himself.
The cool thing about the show is how every series is set 5 years later, so he earns
more importance as every series passes.
Tell us about your character then…
I suppose the clue is in the name. Angry. Yeah (laughs), Al is what you’d call an
angry man. The character himself joined the series during the first season, as a
baby, and I came in series 4 as a 20 year old trying to impress his Dad. He has a
certain way with taking care of anyone who annoys him. A personal favourite, one
of my favourite scenes I have ever filmed, was back in series 4 when Al decided the
best way to take care of a man swearing near his wife was to follow him and
torture him. The end result onscreen was horrific but it was great fun to do!
What can we expect from season 6?
There are a lot of new characters. I'm focused on a lot strongly than previous
seasons. Al is developing, starting to learn the business. He's done his

2. apprenticeship and now he's starting to get his feet a little bit wet. It's going to be
great.
If you could bring back one thing from the set home to Manchester,
which would it be?
Well, most people would expect me to say the clothing. The 3 piece suits and the
Fedora’s and all that, and why not? They’re bloody cool. The 30’s were such a cool
time for fashion, man. The clothes, the style. Even the furniture, you know? The
absolute cream though is the cars. Especially Mucky’s. Mate, that is a proper motor.
Get my 3 piece suit on and drive that beauty down the streets of Salford, straight to
the pub. Or maybe turning up at Old Trafford like that? Amazing.
Have you ever been tempted to pinch anything from the set?
Funnily enough I have took something from every set I’ve ever been on. I always
like to take something as a little memento so when I’m in my 80’s, in my slippers
and dressing gown, I can have a nice look through everything I’ve done with proper
fondness. I’ve been lucky because everything I’ve been in has been well received, by
the critics and most importantly the public so I can think back to all these great
memories I’ve had by holding a pair of shoes or a jacket that I’ve swiped from a set.
I’ll even do it if I’m in anything s***e too!
I must admit, your portrayal of Angry Al is really quite scary at times.
Have you ever been intimidated by any of the great people you have
worked with?
I know it sounds cheesy, but the cast and crew on Kingdom are all like a big family.
We all really get on, as ridiculous as that might sound. ‘Everyone getting on? No
way!’ The thing is, no matter how huge some of my cast mates might be, we’re all
aware that there are w*****s in this business. We stick together, you know?
Everyone on set feels proud to be there and will always give 110%, as clichéd as that
sounds. To be honest, the only time I’ve ever been intimidated was when I met Roy
Keane!
So, Spielberg has come calling! What have you got to say about that?
(laughs) I really wish I could talk about that one, mate. Thing is, as much as actors
like to play it cool and it’s all ‘part of the job’ – I was ridiculously excited. I’m there,
visiting my Mum back home, staying in my old bedroom, 5 in the morning I get a
call. I nearly ignored it you know! I’m about to go mad when I hear this American
accent on the phone. (uncanny impression of Spielberg) ‘Sam, its Steven. Steven
Spielberg. How would you like to be in my new movie?’ I thought it was a wind-up,
as you would. He told me how he watches the show and thinks I’m doing a good job
there and gives me the job there and then. It was crazy, man. But yeah,
unfortunately I’m gonna have to stop because I’m getting excited thinking about it
and if I say anything more I’ll be in deep s**t!
Do you call him Stevie?
Yeah, all the time. Just not to his face.
Back to the show. It’s an incredibly powerful performance by you. As a
nice young kind lad where does all this rage come from when
performing?

3. To me, it’s just acting, just pretending. I used to play Cowboys & Indians as a kid –
if you were shot you had to believe that you were shot. That’s what it’s all about to
me. I love my job. There is no dark side to me. I’ve worked hard and grafted to get
to where I am now but the way I see it is I get to p**s about every day. I’m
extremely lucky.
Finally then, in what has up to now been a relatively short career, you
have worked with a whole host of incredible people. What’s the greatest
advice you have ever received?
Cliché’s at the ready, again. But I remember when Kingdom had an amazing guest
star a couple of years ago. Sir Ben, Ben Kingsley, another Salford lad at heart, once
told me ‘to always be true the character’. Sir Ben would turn up in character, full
costume and everything. He’d sit next to me and say, ‘So, Luciano, you see the
game? We f*****g lost. And I’d be like ‘what?’ And he’d be like, ‘yeah, we got beaten
by Portsmouth. F*****g Portsmouth. Beating United. B******s.’ So he’d be talking
about the footy with me in character. The man’s a one off, a true legend. (laughs) It
gets a bit surreal, this job.
Catch the latest series of ‘Chicago Kingdom’ every Wednesday, 10pm, Sky Atlantic.