Behind Closed Doors with Christopher Prinsloo

Movie Marker Magazine went behind closed doors with British-born film and theatre actor to chat Hollywood and his role in the adventure TV show “Expedition Files” which also stars William Shatner (Star Trek) and Dale Dye (Mission: Impossible) now streaming on HBO Max.

Welcome to Movie Marker! I understand you were born in England but grew up in East Africa. What was it like growing up there?

I grew up in East Africa, with my dad being Kenyan and my mom English but raised in Kenya. They met in Uganda and got married there before I was born in the UK. After my birth, we returned to Uganda briefly, then moved to Tanzania, and back to Uganda. My early years were spent in remote areas on tea plantations in Tanzania and Uganda.

As my dad advanced in his career, we moved to Kampala, Uganda, where I spent most of my childhood. Growing up, I always felt different, as my appearance didn’t match the local population. This led to many situations where I was mistaken for a tourist, both in my everyday life and also with law enforcement where it felt like this swayed the way they interacted with me. This would usually turn into a 20-minute conversation of me convincing them I was a local before they let me go on my merry way. Despite this, my childhood had both incredible experiences, like traveling to national parks with my mom, who worked in wildlife conservation, going white water rafting on the river Nile, bungee jumping, the list goes on. We lived right next to Lake Victoria growing up, which is one of the largest lakes in the world, spanning between 3 different countries. I’d go to sleep at night watching the lighting strike the ground in the distance past the water.

Wow that sounds incredible! What got you into acting and made you realize that it was your chosen path?

That’s a challenging question to answer. Growing up, I was always pushed to succeed, and for various reasons, I developed a strong drive to achieve. However, I didn’t really know what success meant to me, so I focused on pursuing a life that would bring in the most money in the deluded hope that would bring me happiness. I went to university in the UK, changing my major from Chemistry to Neuropsychology as I searched for purpose. During this time, my life spiraled out of control, eventually leading me to seek help and in turn, work to better my life. This was the turning point for me, offering me a new perspective on life. I realized that for me to live a truly fulfilling life, I needed to pursue what I loved. Success, I came to understand, isn’t about external things like the car I drive or the size of my house, but about internal fulfillment—purpose and happiness. Acting had always been a passion of mine, but this shift in mindset made me realize that life is too short to chase a paycheck hoping for happiness. I stopped compulsively applying for investment banking jobs and moved to LA. I can honestly say I have no regrets. My goal is to be the best actor I can be and, hey, of course it would be nice to achieve some of the external rewards that come with it! But even if that doesn’t happen, being able to do what I love and get paid for it is already a dream come true.

Congratulations on your role in “Expedition Files” on HBO Max. For those unfamiliar what is the show about?

“Expedition Files” is a thrilling docuseries that delves into some of the most mysterious and perilous moments in history. Each episode Josh Gates uncovers real-life stories of explorers, scientists, and adventurers who ventured into the unknown, whether deep jungles, uncharted waters, or treacherous mountains often facing danger, disappearances, or unexplained phenomena. Through expert analysis, archival footage, and dramatic re-creations, Expedition Files pieces together the truth behind these daring journeys, blending adventure, history, and mystery.

Can you tell us about your role?

Yes, so I play the role of Allen Dalis who was a logger in Arizona 1975 and witnessed the alien abduction of another of the loggers, Travis Walton, on the way back from a long day at work. This was a fun character to play. Allen was a bit of a tough guy, driving the pickup they were all in on the way back from that day. Him and Travis weren’t best of friends, but it becomes obvious how an experience like this can bring people closer. He calls it in to the police after Travis goes missing and is part of the group that tries to explain the situation to them once they arrive on scene. This was an interesting experience, as you can imagine, you’ve just experienced something you can’t explain and, before really having time to process it, you’re trying to explain it to someone who definitely doesn’t believe you and the more you try and explain yourself, the crazier they think you are! A truly fun role to have.

Do you have any tea to spill with fun facts from the set?

Being a larger budget production, we were able to shoot a decent amount of it in the woods with the same car that they were in back in 1975. I love when this is possible for the realistic factor that’s added while shooting, I love not having to imagine what my surroundings are supposed to be and being able to really soak in the environment during takes. It adds a level of believability for not only the audience, but for the actor as well. I learned a lot from this production, with an incredible crew and great group of actors.

It’s a great show. What do you have coming up next?

I am working on several film projects, and actually a new play set in the 1950’s by Alice Childress “Trouble in Mind”, it tackles topics of race, identity, and the struggles of Black actors in American theater.

Exciting! How can people follow your journey?

My work can be found on IMDb and I share on Instagram