Nick Robinson
What do you do and why do you do it?
I tell stories that hopefully people want to hear. I do it because I like it.
Describe yourself in five words.
Stumbling with my best foot forward (that’s six).
How did you start your career?
I started in theater.
What was your big break?
The Kings of Summer, directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts.
What advice would you give young people wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Find what’s important to you.
We’re celebrating the 35th Birthday Issue of i-D, when did you last celebrate and what was the occasion?
Last night, for a new role.
What excites you most about tomorrow?
Fresh starts and new challenges.
Tell us one thing that no one knows about you.
If I told you, people would know!
What’s your party trick?
Back flips.
Finish this sentence: 35 is the new…
25?
Photography Alasdair McLellan. Styling Max Clark. Hair Diego Da Silva at Tim Howard Management. Make-up Maki Ryoke at Tim Howard Management using Tom Ford Beauty. Nick wears Top and trousers Prada.
Asa Butterfield
What do you do and why do you do it?
I’m an actor. I enjoy meeting amazing people and doing incredible things.
Describe yourself in five words.
Tall, blue-eyed, brown-haired, British, player.
How did you start your career?
I went to Young Actors Theatre drama club, where I was spotted and [asked to] audition for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
What are you working on at the moment?
Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.
What advice would you give young people wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t give up at the first hurdle.
Tell us one thing that no one knows about you.
I am part of an alien species, sent to spy on humans and record their brainwaves through subliminal messages in my movies.
What’s your party trick?
Typing the alphabet in under two seconds.
Photography Alasdair McLellan. Styling Max Clark. Hair Chi Wong at Julian Watson Agency. Make-up Lotten Holmqvist at Julian Watson Agency using Estée Lauder. Asa wears coat Raf Simons.
Joe Cole
What do you do and why do you do it?
I’m an actor. I like to transform.
How did you start your career?
I did a course at the National Youth Theater where I met a director called Rikki Beadle-Blair, who made me believe that I could actually make a career out of acting.
What was your big break?
I emailed Rikki every week asking to be in one of his plays. Eventually the right one came up and I got my first agent.
What are you working on at the moment?
I just finished working opposite Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor. I’m the bad guy.
What advice would you give young people wishing to follow in your footsteps?
Keep knocking.
What excites you most about tomorrow?
Football.
Tell us one thing that no one knows about you.
I’m a pretty open book.
What’s your party trick?
I do a great impression of Stevie Wonder.
Photography Alasdair McLellan. Styling Max Clark. Hair Pierpaolo Lai at Julian Watson Agency. Make-up Lotten Holmqvist at Julian Watson Agency using Estée Lauder. Joe wears vest Sunspel.