Interview with Ali Ariaie (DC Will Akbari)

Will Akbari is who Bea and Jake turn to for all the boring procedural work. If they need someone to sift through hours of CCTV, Will is their man. But Will doesn’t mind this role as he is fiercely ambitious and hard-working, determined to prove himself to his team. Will has long been grafting to impress Bea and Jake; but with the arrival of Patience, he is relegated to fourth place. He will need to up his game if he wants to solidify his place in this formidable team.

Interview

Ali Ariaie - Will Akbari

 

What attracted you to this project?

I think at the route of it was the story. The idea of acceptance and being part of something runs through the story and that is such a solid foundation for compelling drama.

Tell us a little about Will?

Will, is not long in the tooth when it comes to being a detective. He is the youngest and most inexperienced guy in that team but he’s good at what he does. He’s smart and has a good eye for detail. He sort of looks up to Bea as this mentor and throughout the story her approval means so much to him and it drives him as a detective.

Tell us about how he views Patience as a colleague?

When he first meets Patience I think like the rest of the police officers there’s suspicion and little bit of arrogance in regard to her. This notion that someone seemingly coming out of nowhere and has better instincts than officers that have been doing the job for years, feels threatening. 

What would you say about Patience as a drama series?

This is a good one, cos it reminds me of your classic British police drama, where you sit around the TV with your family and experience it together and then talk about it after its finished.

And what about your cast mates?

I’ve hated all of them - kidding. Honestly, one of the nicest group of people I’ve ever worked with. It makes it so much easier when you like the people you work with

How important is it to you that neurodiverse actors play neurodiverse roles?

Representation is so important. It is so important for people to feel seen, and not only that but to also be inspired. And as story tellers we all have a responsibility to make sure we do our best to empower everyone.

Any funny stories?

Pretty funny cast in all honesty although Mark too funny. In-between takes I was always in stitches, and occasionally during a take.