Don’t break your neck sucking your own cock”. It’s a remark delivered with cutting humour by Stephen Graham’s character – an exuberant music publisher – in the Elton John biopic Rocketman. The recipient? A young Ray Williams, the man who discovered Elton, played by Charlie Rowe.

The British actor doesn’t appear as though he’d fall victim to such an accident. With eye-catching TV roles in the bank and his name linked with characters as big as Spider-Man, Charlie is ready for stardom, and looks it in our ‘70s-inspired photoshoot. He is Roger Moore levels of smooth, at ease with his clothes and his surroundings. His leading man jaw demands your trust, and big brown eyes let you know he’s got your back.

His character in Rocketman is not so reliable. You wouldn’t trust him, for example, to nurture and manage one of the greatest musical talents of the 20th century, which, as a producer, was his job. This is why his boss, Dick James (Graham), warns him about phallic related mishaps.

OUTFIT CREDITS | Jacket: Hamilton and Hare, Shirt: Norse Projects, Trousers: Mr. P @ Mr Porter, Watch: Lacoste

“He’s a little bit of a joke in the movie”, Charlie admits of his character. “You’re made to feel as if he isn’t up for the task, or he’s this posh kid surrounded by these music talents.” The eyebrows raise, “But I just wanted to portray him as this guy who was into Elton and into his job. I didn’t want Ray to feel like he was a joke.” Charlie’s role in the film isn’t huge, but Ray Williams plays a pivotal part in Elton’s career – he gave him his big break (in real life too, although the relationship “sort of ended quite badly”). The actor, who grew up in north London, was worried he wouldn’t be in the film at all though. “I had to go and see it the day before the premiere, because I was so nervous. I didn’t know how much of my part was going to be in it. I hadn’t spoken to Dexter Fletcher (the director) as to whether I was still in it [at all].”