Christopher Eccleston: “Masculinity shouldn’t be contingent on other people’s oppression”

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Christopher Eccleston was born in Salford in 1964 and first became well-known for his roles in TV dramas like ‘Cracker’ and ‘Our Friends in the North’. He’s appeared in a variety of films, from ‘Shallow Grave’ to ‘GI Joe’, and more recently starred in the HBO series ‘The Leftovers’ and Peter Bowker’s ‘The A-Word’.

He’s best known for playing the ninth Doctor in Doctor Who, a role he generally avoids talking about except at fan conventions – a policy he calls his ‘no Blue Box’ rule.

Next up is his role as a cult leader in the new Netflix drama Unchosen.

What was the appeal of playing a cult leader?

I was drawn to the character of Mr. Phillips because of the writer, Julia Geary. Many dramas currently feature unlikeable villains – often older, white men – but Julia gave Mr. Phillips depth by exploring a tragic backstory involving the loss of his son and his struggles with alcohol. It’s a fantastic role because it challenges the audience to think and feel in complex ways.

Do audiences want to understand villains and their dimensions?

I’ve often discussed with people in Hollywood how playing villains with no depth actually makes the heroes seem less intelligent. It comes across as silly, not heroic. Julia gets something many in the film and TV industry, in their pride, refuse to acknowledge: audiences are far more perceptive than we give them credit for.

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Is TV being dumbed down?

Growing up, some TV shows felt condescending, like ‘Love Thy Neighbour,’ but many others, such as ‘Plays for Today’ and ‘The Naked Civil Servant,’ treated viewers with respect. However, I’ve heard that today, with writing often done by groups rather than individuals, some people in television make incredibly foolish – and sometimes offensive – assumptions about how smart the audience is. It seems many in the industry underestimate viewers’ intelligence.

Why do cults appeal?

Humans naturally crave certainty, but life’s true essence lies in its unpredictable nature. Making movies or TV shows can be intense – you work closely with the same team for long hours, and everyone becomes completely focused on achieving perfection.

You once said you were insecure in your masculinity as you hoped all men were. What did you mean?

Choosing a creative path meant I had to rethink the ideas about what it means to be a man that I grew up with. It feels like there’s a lot of discussion about masculinity right now, and especially how young, white, working-class men are often overlooked or even exploited. As someone who comes from that background, I try to explore these issues when I can. I believe being a man shouldn’t depend on putting others down.

Honestly, when my character on Cracker finally died – bleeding out while giving this really powerful, last statement over the radio – it felt huge. It’s become this iconic moment in British TV, and people still talk about it! I always wonder how that whole thing came about. What was the process of deciding to go out like that?

I was initially offered a contract for three seasons of the show, but I only agreed to one, wanting to see how it went first. When it proved successful, I was willing to return, but I wasn’t prepared to commit to three seasons, especially to support Robbie Coltrane, who was a wonderful actor. This decision challenged Jimmy McGovern, the writer, to take a risk. Killing off major characters is common now, but in 1994, he was the first to do it. Neither of us anticipated the impact it would have – back then, with only four television channels, we were reaching 13 million viewers. Ultimately, any truly great performance comes down to the quality of the writing.

You’ve worked with Jimmy a lot.

You’re known for playing Nicky in the acclaimed TV series Our Friends in the North. Do you think we’ll ever see a similarly ambitious and large-scale drama on television again?

While ambitious, politically-charged dramas that capture the spirit of a nation – like the series Adolescence – used to be common, it feels like we’re lacking the creative talents needed to make them today. We need producers and visionaries similar to people like Michael Wearing (Boys from the Blackstuff, Our Friends in the North), Kenith Trodd (who worked with Dennis Potter), and Tony Garnett (This Life) to bring those kinds of shows back.

As an avid reader, do you worry that reading is in decline?

Coming from a family that loves to read – my mother is 94 and still reads! – I am concerned about the impact of technology on young people. Fortunately, my two children are enthusiastic readers, and we often visit bookstores together. I’m hopeful the government’s proposed restrictions on social media for children will be implemented, as I believe it would be a very good step.

Is there a question you wish you were asked more often in interviews?

Honestly, I really wish people focused more on failure. I had the chance to interview Alex Ferguson once, and the very first thing I asked him about was losing. It just seemed silly to ask about all his wins – everyone does that! The truth is, most of us spend far more time dealing with setbacks than with success, so it feels much more relevant to me.

Unchosen is released on Netflix on Tuesday 21 April.

Authors

Gareth McLean

For almost three decades, Gareth McLean has been a professional television writer. He’s reviewed countless shows as a critic and interviewed hundreds of celebrities, including Liza Minnelli and Jimmy Savile, as a feature writer. He’s also worked as a writer on television programs.

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2026-04-13 20:08