This Is England legend talks his new Sheridan Smith drama: “I worked my arse off for The Cage”

Auditions usually last just fifteen to thirty minutes, if you’re fortunate. However, because I’d worked with the director, Al McKay, on ‘This Is England’ previously, we’d already discussed the character, which gave me a head start in understanding who Matty was. I always prepare thoroughly for auditions – I memorize my lines and fully grasp the character – but I really pushed myself for ‘The Cage.’ As a result, the audition felt relaxed and creative; I was able to experiment and try different approaches. It was the best audition experience I’ve ever had, and I left feeling confident that I’d given it my all.

British TV legend Ross Kemp: “Nothing I’ve done fills me with fear more than EastEnders”

The stories don’t end there. There was the time armed rebels in Papua New Guinea ordered him to kneel, but he boldly grabbed for one of their guns and declared he wouldn’t be killed. And those who read his 2023 memoir, Take Nothing for Granted, might remember the tale of him swimming while drunk in Australia, where he apparently challenged any crocodiles he encountered to fight him – though he barely remembered the incident himself.