‘There’s one sex scene that’s pretty gross!’ Matt Di Angelo bares all about his new role in Ordinary Lies
The former EastEnders star reveals he had to wear a sock to cover his modesty in some risque scenes
Most actors dread having to get naked on camera, but Matt Di Angelo actually had fun while filming steamy scenes for the new series of drama Ordinary Lies.
“All I was wearing was a sock covering my bits, so I took a photo of myself,” says the former EastEnders actor, 29, who has been dating wedding planner Sophia Perry since 2014.
“I sent the photo out to a number of people, just because it’s hilarious. And I also took the sock home with me – I still have it now.
“I actually had to do a couple of really hot, sexy scenes in Ordinary Lies… and a couple that aren’t so sexy. There is one that is pretty gross. I can’t tell you about it as it’s a big spoiler, but our Director of Photography was like: ‘They can’t air this on television!’ So I’m still not sure if it’s made the final cut.”
The second series of Ordinary Lies boasts an all-new cast (Matt’s co-stars include Angela Griffin, Con O’Neill, Kimberley Nixon, Jill Halfpenny, Joel Fry and Rebekah Staton) and focuses on a fresh set of secretive characters in a brand-new workplace – this time, the call centre and warehouse of a sports sales company in Wales.
Matt plays stockroom picker Fletch, whose marriage is thrown into jeopardy when he meets his estranged father Patrick (Griff Rhys Jones).
“Griff was awesome to work with,” smiles Matt. “He’s such a legend and he’s actually a really down-to-earth guy. We had to shoot this massive eight-page scene together, which was tough to undertake. He was really patient while I did my bit and didn’t grumble once.”
Unlike the characters in the show, Matt claims he “doesn’t lie very often”, but he does know what it’s like to work a nine-to-five job.
“When I was at college, I sold shoes in a shop,” he recalls. “I was quite good at it because the gift of the gab runs in my family. I’d be like: ‘I know these are a size six and you asked for an eight, but they will stretch!’”
Fortunately for Matt – who has enjoyed two stints playing Dean Wicks in EastEnders from 2006 to 2008 and 2014 to 2016 – when he left the soap for the second time earlier this year, he wasn’t out of the acting game for long.
“I had a couple of weeks being back on the market and then I got this role,” he reveals. “I didn’t expect to get something this quickly, but it’s just luck. Leaving EastEnders for the second time, I felt more prepared for what may or may not come along.”
Matt made his final appearance on screen in February, but his character was mentioned
in August when Dean was found not guilty of attempting to rape Roxy Mitchell – meaning he escaped justice for both that crime and his assault of sister-in-law Linda Carter.
Does that mean Matt might reprise his role?
“No one can tell the future,” he teases. “It could be right for me to go back one day, but with that last story, it is less likely. It took its toll on me, but it didn’t bleed into my private life. No one shouted at me in the street.”
And while he admits he would like to land some British comedy roles, one thing the 2007 Strictly Come Dancing contestant has definitely ruled out is doing any more reality shows.
“Strictly was a good choice for me at the time and I don’t really consider that a ‘reality show’, but I’m not interested in doing any other series at any point,” the actor insists.
“I don’t really dance these days apart from drunkenly in my living room. I stopped doing salsas when they stopped paying me!”
Ordinary Lies Tuesday 9pm BBC1