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James Nesbitt interview
ANOTHER LUCKY BREAK FOR JAMES
It's quite fitting that James Nesbitt's new film is called Lucky Break because if anyone's had a fortuitous career it's this 35-year old Northern Irish actor - and he's the first to admit it.
"Acting was never my vocation I sort of fell into it and there's not a day goes by that I don't feel privileged and thankful for what's happened to me," he says with a warm smile.
The star, who had planned to be a teacher, is not only in one of Britain's most successful ever TV series Cold Feet, but his first leading movie role is in a film that is almost guaranteed to fill cinemas.
Lucky Break, a jailbreak comedy, is the first film to be directed by Peter Cattaneo since his smash hit The Full Monty, and Nesbitt is still reeling from the shock of being picked for the lead.
"I never, ever thought I'd get it," he says modestly. "I read the script and thought it was a real page turner. I really, really wanted to do it, but I went along for a screen test and assumed I wouldn't get it because I know Peter was under a fair amount of pressure to get a big name for the lead, so I tried to put it to the back of my mind.
"When I got the part I wasn't just delighted, I'd say it was a defining point of my career, not because I wanted to be a film star, it's just that I felt genuinely privileged because I know how difficult it is to make that step to play a leading man."
Although Nesbitt is aware that all eyes are on him to see if Lucky Break will repeat The Full Monty's success, he says he doesn't feel under any pressure.
"Again, I think that comes back to the fact that acting was never my first vocation. I'm just euphoric to be a part of something like this," he says. "If there was any pressure, it was on Peter. It was his first film in four years, it was definitely more on him than me. I'd be more than happy if the film does for me what Full Monty did for Bobby Carlyle, but I'm so content with my career anyway because it was never planned."
In fact it was one of Nesbitt's eagle-eyed teachers back in his home town of Coleraine, who persuaded the youngster to go into acting. And since graduating from a London drama school he has never looked back.
He's worked solidly in theatre, TV and had some small movie roles prior to Lucky Break, but it was Cold Feet, the Manchester-based series about six friends, which made him a household name. But even that Nesbitt puts down to luck.
"When we did the pilot for that show it was on a budget of about £3.50," he quips. "We knew it was a wonderful script but none of us dreamed it would become such a massive hit.
Although Nesbitt says he's enjoying every moment of his newfound success, he says it's harder for his wife Sonya and their two year old daughter Peggy.
"They didn't ask for the fame thing so it's not really fair on them when strangers come up to me or stare at me in the street," he says. "My daughter is a bit baffled by it all, she says 'they know you but you don't know them'," he smiles.
It's for the sake of his family that Nesbitt says he has no ambition to make it big in Hollywood, even though Lucky Break is bound to get him noticed there.
In the film, which opens here this week, he plays Jimmy Hands, a prisoner who plans his escape while appearing in a musical staged by the inmates. The part not only called for a different look for Nesbitt - gone are the tight cropped curls, in favour of a sleeker haircut - it also shows his talent for singing.
"I actually started out on the stage as a singer," he explains, "In fact as a boy I had two ambitions, to play for Manchester United or to be a singer, but I've not really had much call for it in my TV career.
"I had a ball doing those scenes in Lucky Break but no, I won't be releasing a single or recording an album. I know the pressures involved with the music industry, besides I'd only want to be a crooner like Frank Sinatra and there's no beating him."
Nesbitt also had a first-hand experience of what it's like to be an inmate after spending a day with convicts in Wandsworth Prison.
"It was a sobering experience," he says of his research visit. "I couldn't go into a place like that long term. I knew I was getting out and driving away in my fancy car at the end of the day, I kept thinking what it was like for those guys who couldn't go anywhere.
"It certainly made me appreciate my liberty but then I always have, and I'm well aware I'm one lucky, lucky man," he adds with a broad smile.
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