Signed, sealed and delivered: Josh Heuston still loves to put pen to paper
The 'Dune: Prophecy' actor shares how writing keeps him grounded
By 
THEY SAY THAT the pen is mightier than the sword. Josh Heuston may know this better than most. When he’s not diligently practising his literal sword craft for his role as an illegitimate prince in Dune: Prophecy, or breaking hearts of high school girls as Dusty in Heartbreak High, the Australian actor is marking his time with pen on paper. It is, he remarks, an integral part of his journey getting into the head of his character before a role. It also helps with remembering what groceries he may need. Practical and philosophical.
This month, the 29-year-old actor was back in his native Sydney to celebrate the opening of the city’s new Montblanc flagship store on the corners of King and George Street as a Montblanc Mark Maker. The two-story boutique is a sanctum for the arts of writing, something that Heuston says he connects with on a daily basis.
Keep scrolling to see our exclusive interview with the actor and his passion for the written word.
ESQUIRE: How often do you try to find the time to write?
JOSH HEUSTON: I write every day. It’s a massive part of my life, from positive notes and little reminders to taking notes for a character, to journaling my thoughts on the page. Every character I build, I start by writing in my journal a backstory, from their earliest memory up until when the script starts. I find this helps me put on their shoes before production begins. I have kept a journal for the past 5 years, logging the good, the bad and the weird so I don’t forget anything that’s happened along the way.
Is writing something that comes effortlessly for you?
No writing isn’t something that comes naturally to me, but the process of taking my emotions and thoughts and putting them onto the page is extremely therapeutic. I often feel lighter or have more clarity once I’m done. For some reason, putting pen to paper makes it feel a lot more tangible than just punching it out on your phone.
In a highly digital world, the art of handwriting feels like a craft to be safeguarded. Do you practice yours?
For me, I’ve never stopped writing, so it isn’t a craft that’s left my body yet, it still lives there. My handwriting is as horrible as ever, but it still works. Recently, I have gotten into writing physical letters because I have been away from friends and family, shooting different projects. A handwritten letter kind of feels like a snapshot of what you’re going through in that moment. I feel that writing physically is more sentimental than just texting. A written physical note lives much longer than a text message sent – you might forget about the text message a day or a week from receiving it but you may find a physical note years from when it was received and remember that moment vividly.
This may seem personal, but what kinds of things you write when you put pen to paper?
I write everything: notes, journals, love letters, reminders, script edits and grocery lists; it all just feels natural to me.
Montblanc is known for creating instruments that make writing an act of pleasure – which one is your personal favourite?
I’ve had the Meisterstück Gold-Coated Classique Ballpoint for over a year now and I’ve used it religiously on my past two projects. Typically, when I’m filming a project, I write every scene on a piece of paper and stick it all over my wall. Writing it physically helps me connect with each scene and I remember my character’s story more clearly than if I just highlight it. Having it written on the wall means i can’t help but look at it.
Related:
