‘Diehard Football Fan’ Will Antenbring On Transforming Into Harry Kane For Dear England

Football season is well and truly here – both on and off the pitch. Millions of Arsenal fans paraded through London last weekend to celebrate the North London club’s Premier League win, while the World Cup is just on the horizon. Back at home, there has been a new drama to binge: Dear England, flashing back to Gareth Southgate‘s tenure as England manager from 2016–2024.

Based on James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning play of the same name, the drama focusses on Southgate’s groundbreaking work with psychologist Pippa Grange to transform the team’s mental approach to international tournaments. Bringing the story to life are a series of doppelganger actors: Joseph Fiennes as Southgate, Jodie Whittaker as Grange, and breakout star Will Antenbring as England captain Harry Kane.

For Antenbring – a diehard football fan who graduated from the National Youth Theatre and Italia Conti Academy – this is the role of a lifetime. With the four-part series now streaming in full on BBC iPlayer, C&TH sits down with Will to talk embodying Kane beyond the media narrative, the joy of on-set camaraderie, and the dream roles still to come.

Will Antenbring: ‘Dear England really reminds you of why we love football.’ (Yellowbelly Photo)

Q&A: Will Antenbring On Dear England

How’s life going at the moment?

Life is pretty good. Arsenal have just won the league, and Dear England is finally out. That’s about as good as it gets. Feeling very blessed.

Can you give us an elevator pitch for the show?

Dear England follows Gareth Southgate [Joseph Fiennes] during his tenure as England manager, and more specifically, the work he did with psychologist Pippa Grange [Jodie Whittaker]. Together they brought in new methods that allowed the team to be more vulnerable with each other and diagnose the fear that grips us as a nation when we go under the spotlight of these national tournaments.

Did you watch it at the National Theatre?

Yes. I got a chance to watch it right after my last audition for the TV show. After listening to Kane’s voice in my head for months, I thought if I don’t get the part now, I may as well have seen it. It was fantastic. There’s such a sense of togetherness in the audience by the end of the play – everyone smiling and dancing to ‘Sweet Caroline’. It really reminds you of why we love football and how it unites us as a nation and, of course, how it tears us apart.

Dear England’s stars attended a two week bootcamp to transform into football players. (BBC)

You play Harry Kane, who we all know well. How would you describe him in the TV series?

I would say that my version of Kane is different to how he generally comes across in media. I think people have a preconceived idea of who he is that isn’t necessarily fair. I watched so many interviews with players talking about their time with him on the pitch and under his captaincy, and the overarching idea was that when he speaks, you listen.

Kane in the show is stoic and doesn’t always know what to say, but when he does, he says what everyone needs to hear. It helps that this is also a fictionalised version of real events, so we were all able to take these people that the public knows so well and either dial up parts of their personalities or bring them closer to ourselves.

What was it like playing him, especially since he is a real, living person?

The last episode of the show takes place during the Euros in Germany and was being written as it was happening, so it feels extremely current. There aren’t many stories being put to screen where the characters represented are all very much still in the public eye and performing at the highest level. Especially not in this genre.

There is a real scrutiny that those who represent our country receive, which is covered in the show, and we were all painfully aware of how the media represents the England team, so we never wanted to add on to that pile-on.

For me personally, I wanted to get as close to Harry as possible, but also press past the media-trained version of him we are so familiar with.

Will Antenbring: ‘When Harry Kane speaks, you listen.’ (BBC)

How did you get into character?

A lot of my work was on getting the voice right. His voice is so iconic and often imitated. The last thing I wanted was it to come across as an impression. He is also a natural leader and holds himself in a certain way. There is a certain level of pride and confidence that you have to embody when playing a footballer at that level.

Did you do anything special to prepare for the role?

We had two weeks of bootcamp that were essential in helping us to look the part. Mostly, it was to help us look like we knew how to train. They have this muscle memory for certain drills that can’t be replicated in a short amount of time, but we tried our best.

Bootcamp was also a huge part of why we became so close. There was a real camaraderie and brotherhood that formed once we started filming that informed our relationships on camera.

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming?

There was one day where we were shooting a changing room scene on a studio set. We were shooting the same scene for the entire day with no natural light, and we were all going a bit loopy. I remember a group of us got told off because we couldn’t get through the scene because we were laughing so much. We weren’t even on camera, which was even worse. Super unprofessional. It was like being at school and being told not to laugh.

I am the worst for corpsing. When doing a play once, I would try so hard to come on stage and make people break. For the most part, I would get two steps onto stage and make myself laugh just thinking about it.

The last shot of the day was my close-up, and I was begging everyone to not look at me.

Will Antenbring (centre): ‘It was such a huge ensemble, and we spent so much time with each other that we became super close.’ (BBC)

What was the cast dynamic on set?

It was like being in a play. It was such a huge ensemble, and we spent so much time with each other that we became super close. When we weren’t on camera, we were playing two-touch or chatting rubbish. We must’ve been a nightmare to wrangle.

There was one day where we were shooting scenes in a pool from episode 2, and we were in that pool all day, playing volleyball and jumping on inflatables. Around the edges of the pool was the crew trying to do the actual work. Suffice to say, we were probably very annoying.

Who was your favourite person to work with?

Jodie Whittaker is maybe the nicest person in the world. She’s an incredible person and actor, and I’m chuffed I get to call her a mate.

Any standout moments you’re excited for viewers to see?

I think the scenes set around the Slovakia game in episode 4 are going to be exciting. Specifically, Southgate’s speech to the players at halftime. You can’t help but want to go into battle. Also, that bicycle kick. I mean come on. Being on set when Jacob was doing it was so much fun. When we got the shot there was this collective nod from everyone. A peach!

What has been your favourite project to date?

I think it’s got to be this. As a young kid who was a diehard football fan and wanted more than anything to be in this business, a show like this is the stuff of dreams. Getting to be on set, which isn’t always the case, and playing football with my mates. Doesn’t get better, really.

Any roles in the pipeline that you’re excited about? (If you’re allowed to tell us!)

Nothing to announce yet. Looking forward to what’s next.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

In my first ever job, I had a small part in Mr Loverman with Lennie James. I got to do a scene with him, which was such a pleasure. You learn so much just by watching people like Lennie and Joseph on set. They have so much on their plate but they’re constant professionals and so supportive of younger actors. They both have this ability to reinvent as a scene evolves. That’s something I aspire to.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

I saw the second run of the show at the National with Josh Barrow on stage, where he is exceptional as Pickford. The way that he managed to keep that energy from the stage and cater it towards the screen was so interesting and well thought out. He’s also the most eloquent person. I think I learned a lot from him as an actor and person, especially with this side of the industry, which is completely new to me.

What’s your dream role?

I’d love to do something in the vein of Industry or Succession. That fast-talking Kendall Roy type who is also deeply human and troubled.

Will Antenbring: ‘As a young kid who was a diehard football fan and wanted more than anything to be in this business, a show like Dear England is the stuff of dreams.’ (Yellowbelly Photo)

What’s a genre you’d like to do more of?

Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, drama, comedy. Any and all. I’m just getting started, and I want to keep creating.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

I’d love to work with Derek Cianfrance. I watched The Place Beyond the Pines when I was a teen and it’s incredible. Something about films involving fathers and sons and generational trauma does something to me. To work on one of his sets would be a dream come true.

Do you get to spend much time at home?

Not as much as I’d like to. I’m a homebody.

Do you live in the town or the country? Which do you prefer?

I live in London currently, but I grew up in Kent in a tiny village. Right now, I prefer the hustle and bustle, but sometimes getting back home to the quiet is like an antidote. Plus, we have a pond that’s also a roundabout. Pretty rad.

What’s your interior design style?

Organised chaos.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

God, wouldn’t it be great if I knew that. What a life I would lead.

How can we all live a little bit better?

Southgate’s ethos was to implement kindness and empathy at all times. As an actor you must try your hardest to empathise, and if more people felt that need, I think the world would be a better place.

Anything fun in the pipeline – professionally or personally?

I’m feeling a holiday deep in my bones.

Will Antenbring: ‘Something about films involving fathers and sons and generational trauma does something to me.’ (Yellowbelly Photo)

What Will Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Hacks

What I’m reading… Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna, and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Industry

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… The Odyssey or Dune Part 3

Favourite film of all time… The Iron Giant (1999)

Favourite song of all time… ‘Vienna’ by Billy Joel

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Geese

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Grub in Tooting Market

Cultural guilty pleasure… The Traitors

Will Antenbring stars as Harry Kane in Dear England. All episodes are streaming now on BBC iPlayer.