Hunger Games and Oxford based drama star Sam Clafin on The Quiet Ones

For film-goers, the creepy new Hammer horror flick The Quiet Ones promises to be a terrifying watch – but behind the scenes, the atmosphere was far from gloomy during filming.

Shot at the height of a blistering summer, in part at Merton College and the Bodleian Library in Oxford, leading man Sam Claflin, who is worshipped by teens the world over for his role in The Hunger Games, admits the tense scenes regularly reduced the cast to titters.

“It was just tough having to look at all the other guys’ scared faces all day every day,” says the 27-year-old actor, laughing. He plays Brian in the movie, a cameraman employed by Oxford University’s Professor Coupland (Jared Harris) to film a disturbed young woman called Jane Harper (Olivia Cooke), who appears to be haunted by a poltergeist.

“Every time you turned around, you’d catch someone else’s eye as they were pulling [their scared faces] and you try not to laugh,” he adds. “Then you’d have the director vocalising the sound effects, so that in itself was quite hilarious.”

It’s easy to imagine Claflin cracking up on set. He’s almost constantly smiling, and with the popularity of The Hunger Games, a clutch of coveted roles – including The Quiet Ones and upcoming British thriller Posh (also set in Oxford) – and a happy marriage to fellow actor Laura Haddock under his belt, who can blame him?

Although he only graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2009, the Norwich native is already making his stamp on both the small and silver screen, with roles in United, Any Human Heart and The Pillars Of The Earth, as well as parts in Snow White And The Huntsman with Charlize Theron and the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean movie with Johnny Depp.

But working with the great and good of Tinseltown and amassing a legion of fans isn’t about to go to his head any day soon.

“We had, not a tough upbringing and by no means should my parents take offence to this, but a very middle of the road [upbringing],” explains Claflin, who grew up one of four brothers born to his classroom assistant mum, Sue, and accountant dad, Mark.

“I had very average grades at school. It felt like we were blessed in many ways but at the same time we never had huge amounts of privilege or money, but it’s one of those things where now I feel very, very blessed. My parents keep bringing me back down to earth, in a good way.”

His parents even attend red carpet events with him.

“My mum always asks at every premiere I invite her to, ‘Are you sure you’re not going to be embarrassed by us? Shall I wear this?’” says the actor, who refers to his mum as “a good lass”.

“I say, ‘Mum, it doesn’t matter. Just be yourself’. They don’t know how proud I am of them, as much as they keep reminding me how proud they are of me.”

There’s good reason for his parents’ swell of pride though.

A friendly man, Claflin handles his fame with modesty and a good sense of humour, and he’s appreciative of the position he’s in.

On a personal level, there’s much to celebrate too. Last year, he married British actress Laura Haddock, best-known for her role in The Inbetweeners Movie.

Although their career paths haven’t crossed since they married, the newlyweds are hoping to be united on screen.

“I think we’re both desperate to work with one another,” says Claflin, who is still looking toned from his strict Hunger Games workouts (something which his wife reportedly enjoyed).

Although they “haven’t had much chance to enjoy married life” yet, because of work constraints, Claflin thinks marrying a fellow actor means they’ll have a good understanding of each other’s careers. “We’re huge supporters of each other’s work and we constantly help each other learn lines, and with auditions,” he explains. “Even if I’m across the world, we’ll go over lines on Skype. We’re hugely supportive and that’s our dream [to work together]. That’s how we met, at an audition room, and we’re trying to find the right thing."

The right thing may not have come along yet but for the time being, Claflin is overwhelmed by the success he’s had. “It’s still something I’m trying to let sink in,” he says. “Everything has happened so quickly, I haven’t had the chance to sit down and go, ‘Wow. What’s just happened?’”

With the third film in The Hunger Games trilogy to be getting on with, as well as Posh and romcom Love, Rosie, it seems there will be little time for that moment of quiet reflection. But he’s not complaining.

“It’s important to me that I do keep working. And luckily, so far, that has been the case,” he says. “I know that overnight that luck can change. Fingers crossed, let’s keep moving forward.”