BBC David Morrissey’s life changed forever after split-second decision: ‘I suddenly panicked’

Despite David Always looking forward to the future and what he can do differently, the actor feels a deep connection and pride in his past. The father-of-three currently lives in London but returns to Liverpool as often as possible as most of his immediate family, including his two brothers and sister, are still on Merseyside.

The Sherwood star spoke out to show his support for the ECHO when he returned to his hometown last week. Everyman Theatre’s ‘Everyone Starts Somewhere’ campaignN. The fundraiser was launched to celebrate the famous venue’s 60th anniversary and hopes to raise £60,000 to contribute to the important role regional theaters play in making the arts accessible.

David’s first foray into the world of acting Everyone’s Youth Theater That’s why he was more than happy to lend his voice to the campaign and host An Evening With on 24 October to raise funds for the target. He said: “This is where I start.

“I wanted to be an actor. My school didn’t do anything like that, so I kept asking people I met ‘where can I go to be an actor’ and someone told me about Everyman Youth Theatre. I walked in there and my life changed.”

“I really suddenly felt like I was with my tribe. It was about asking questions about your life, the life you see around you, and turning that into drama. That’s where it all started for me and (when my acting career started to change) was taken seriously.”

David did not come from show business as he grew up in social housing. gnarly ashnot far from where the legendary Ken Dodd lived. He was 14 years old when he found out what the Everyman Youth Theater was all about and gained the courage to break the mold and follow his dream of acting.

David has vivid memories of the day he signed up and changed the course of his life forever. But when he stood at the entrance of the youth theater and felt a little frightened by the loud noise inside, he explained that this almost never happens.

He said: “It was like a children’s playground with all the screaming. I knew then that if I walked through that door my life would change. And I didn’t. I sat there and thought I wouldn’t pass.” “I don’t know if I want my life to change, I suddenly panic.”

But David soon changed his mind again on the spur of the moment, when his teenage self realized there were other social advantages to joining a theater group. He laughed: “This pretty sweet girl ran down the road and through the gates. I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll give it a try’. That was it. I never saw her again but once I went through there it was the gate.”

“It was an interesting moment when I knew things were going to change, when I really broke it down. I was about to enter a different world with different opportunities and different people. And I was a little nervous about it.”

The rest is history as the U-turn set David on the path to becoming one of the UK’s most respected actors. David thrived as part of Liverpool’s vibrant creative scene, where he could rely on advice from players such as Jim Broadbent, John Sessions and Tracey Ullman.

Being able to come together with successful stars in such a close environment gave David the belief that it was possible to make his dream a reality. He said: “I walked up to them and said, ‘I want to be an actor, how do you do that?’ And none of them told me to get lost. They were all really informative and kind and didn’t tell me about the drama school, the managers, The Stage newspaper and other regional theatres.

“What I learned more than anything was the inclusivity of the work. (The Everyman Theatre) demystified the profession and showed that acting is not all that rare in the world.” HollywoodYou’d have to go to London or Oxbridge to do it.”

David is incredibly proud of his Scouse roots and said growing up in the city made becoming an actor seem like a realistic career path. He said: “I always felt very grateful to grow up in Liverpool because the arts were taken seriously here and the desire to be an actor was a tangible feeling.

“The most important thing about the Beatles for me was knowing that they walked the same streets as me. Ordinary Bistro As a barmaid I was serving drinks to people like Ian McCulloch and Julian Cope and they were going to be on Top of the Pops the next night. “They were just talented people who worked hard, and that showed me that if you want it, it’s there.”

David eventually had to move to London to attend drama school, but he credited some of his Scouse traits with allowing him to stand out and succeed among his classmates. He said: “My job is about storytelling, communication and language. I think we’ve always appreciated that. We all love a good story, we all love a good joke. We all love to chat. That sort of thing has been something that’s really benefited me when I’m away from home.” .”

David is also instilled with the defiant Liverpudlian spirit that has been vital to his longevity in an industry notorious for its ruthlessness. He said: “I’m unapologetic about what I want to do. I feel like I can do it as well as anyone. Obviously you need talent and talent and you’ve got to do the job.”

“But I feel like what the city has given me is the feeling of ‘it’s yours if you want it’. Don’t let anyone belittle you, don’t let anyone tell you no. As a city, we punch above our weight, we’ve made an impact on the Earth in so many ways, and that was something I could really take away.”

David said his hand was forced when he had to move away from the city to attend drama school in the 1980s. But the actor is thrilled with the progress Liverpool has made throughout his career, with David’s hit now a leading attraction. BBC The show is one of many to use the Sherwood, Merseyside backdrop.

He said: “I wouldn’t leave Liverpool right now if I didn’t have to. I left because even if I got a job in Liverpool, I’d probably audition for it in London, so it made sense for me.” to move.

“There’s loads of jobs in the North West now so you don’t need to move to London. You can also do it from your phone with auditions. The world is getting smaller in a way but you still have to do it. (Find ways) to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.”

Stepping outside of his comfort zone is what David does best, as he continues to keep the promise he made 46 years ago when he faced his fears of walking through the doors of the Everyman Theater for the first time. He said: “I’ve had moments in my life where if I took this job or moved to this city, everything would change. And I’m not afraid of it anymore. I used to be really afraid of change, and now I really embrace it.”

David is now excited to see what the next chapter of his glittering career brings, as his list of current projects is a testament to his enduring versatility. The actor recently starred in his first comedy film, Daddy Issues, and is currently filming his new psychological thriller, The Woman in Cabin 10. netflixbefore turning his attention back to the third season of Sherwood.

It’s clear that the spark that drove him to walk through the doors of Everyman Youth Theater still burns brightly, and he’s determined to continue pushing the boundaries to see what the actor can truly do. He told the ECHO he still has a lot left in the tank before he starts thinking about what he’s achieved in his remarkable career since Willy Russell burst onto the big screen in A Summer.

He said: “I feel like I’ll look back in another 25/30 years. I’m more involved in my work now and I’m looking forward to the opportunities that come. But I’m grateful that I can look back. When I look back on my career so far, there’s a lot, if not all, of which I would stand up. “

You can learn more about the campaign launched in honor of the 60th birthday of Everyman’s Everyone Starts Somewhere campaign. Here