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Daisy Jones And The Six's Sam Claflin opens up on struggle of 'art/family' balance (exclusive)

The actor portrays singer Billy Dunne in the highly-anticipated series

WatchL Sam Claflin shares work-life balance problems

Daisy Jones And The Six's Sam Claflin has revealed he relates to his character Billy Dunne as he's also struggled with balancing his family and work life in the past.

The actor, who is a father-of-two, split from actress wife Laura Haddock in 2019 after six years of marriage, with the pair continuing to have a cordial relationship as they raise their children together.

While Claflin has never publicly spoken about the relationship, ahead of his new Prime Video series he admitted he related to elements of his character Billy through personal experience.

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Speaking to Yahoo UK, Claflin explained: "I think what was wonderful was kind of having the opportunity to explore two very different kinds of love. One's a very artistic kind of love and the other one is very wholesome, and, you know, it's home.

"You know, as a dad, I've definitely had that struggle of like, the art versus family, and kind of trying to do what I love, whilst being with the people that I love. I think that it's a very, very difficult thing."

Camila Morrone, Riley Keogh and Sam Claflin in Daisy Jones And The Six (Prime Video)
Camila Morrone, Riley Keogh and Sam Claflin in Daisy Jones And The Six (Prime Video)

The lead singer of the titular band, Billy finds himself torn between his wife Camila (Camila Morrone) and daughter at home, and the rock 'n' roll lifestyle as he grows closer to songwriter and co-lead, Daisy Jones (played by Riley Keough).

Read more: What the 'Daisy Jones & The Six' cast looks like in real life

"With Riley/Daisy kind of mixed into that, of course, you know, it's a really complex situation, and one where I think a lot of people look down on Billy for the decisions he makes at points in the story," he continued.

"But for me, I felt like I really understood him and felt very akin to his decision-making. I felt most of his behaviours were justified in a way, which is I think the right thing to do playing him but I don't know if everyone agrees with it!

Camila Morrone (Camila) and Sam Claflin (Billy) in Daisy Jones & The Six (Prime Video)
Camila Morrone (Camila) and Sam Claflin (Billy) in Daisy Jones & The Six (Prime Video)

"But I felt like I heard him, I saw him, and his love for not only his wife but for this other person who sort of sees the real him. It's real turmoil."

In the series, Daisy and Billy turn their tumultuous and fiery feelings for each other into songs for their band to perform, similar to that of Fleetwood Mac's creation of album Rumours, which the story is loosely based on.

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Daisy Jones and The Six's release, Aurora, ultimately proves to bring a smash hit to their hands, with emotions running high in the band to the point that they ultimately disband without explanation after a sell-out stadium performance.

But while Daisy and Billy try to keep their tensions at bay, Billy's husband, Camila, is forced to watch from the sidelines and hold down the fort as their daughter grows up back at home.

Sam Claflin as Billy Dunn in Daisy Jones and The Six
Sam Claflin as Billy Dunn in Daisy Jones and The Six (Prime Video)

In contrast to Daisy, who is the epitome of sex, drugs, and rock n roll, Camila provides a grounding force for Billy and the band, who all live in the same LA apartment as they make their name in the music business.

For fans of the book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this has proven a divide over whether to be Team Camila or Team Daisy, as Billy fights to figure out where his heart lies.

"Riley is obviously just a breath of fresh air. You know, she's just so wonderfully kind of charismatic and flighty in a way with her performance of Daisy, you can't help but kind of be mesmerised," Claflin explains.

"But then there were the scenes that me and Cami have to do which is so much more, at times, sort of grounded and dramatic and real and adult in a way. So it was really for me it was a dream, having the opportunity to portray both."

Daisy Jones and The Six launches Friday, 3 March, with new episodes every week through to 24 March on Prime Video. Watch a trailer below.