Stephen Graham‘s entrance causes a noticeable change in the air, as his bulked-up physique from portraying Henry ‘Sugar’ Goodson in “A Thousand Blows” and his powerful on-screen presence displace it.
He expresses that his work isn’t just a job, but a calling, setting a tone of sincerity from the start of our chat. He feels incredibly grateful and humbled by being given the opportunity to carry out his profession.
We feel fortunate and privileged to observe him. If troubled individuals are a scourge of our times, then Graham is the master artist in depicting them. Characters like the distressed Joseph from the 2019 drama The Virtues or the scarred and desperate DS John Corbett from Line of Duty dominate popular culture. They are intense and disquieting, yet we find ourselves unable to avert our gaze.
Born in Kirkby, Merseyside, in 1973, Graham has openly discussed his personal battles with depression, including a past suicide attempt. His performances often seem to draw from his own experiences and have touched the hearts of many others.
At times, particularly with The Virtues, individuals have approached me in places like a grocery store or anywhere else, and they’ve shared that my work helped them recognize personal problems they hadn’t addressed before.”
How did that feel? “There’s no better feeling than knowing something I’ve contributed to creatively can guide someone towards self-discovery and potentially transform their life.
In a performance that was both delicate and intense, bordering on violent, Goodson once again captivated us with his acting skills. To prepare for this role, he underwent a significant transformation, adding approximately two stones to his frame. He collaborated closely with a team of trainers and a nutritionist, dedicating five days each week to training and consuming five meals daily.
A significant amount of protein was included in his diet: chicken, rice, and broccoli. On Fridays, he was permitted a little indulgence – either Nando’s or a burger without a bun. He could also enjoy some ice cream. The effectiveness of this regimen became apparent to him during the filming of the initial scene where he walks towards the ring. One of the crew members urged Graham to examine the playback monitors. “It was the shot of my back when the camera trailed me that left me astounded,” he reminisces, “I exclaimed, ‘Bloody hell, is that really me?’
Apart from developing the right muscle tone, he also needed to master the correct posture – a physical embodiment of the unique character traits often displayed by certain Londoners. As he explains, “I spent a lot of time observing Bob Hoskins and Ray Winstone. I was particularly drawn to Bob in The Long Good Friday and Ray in Nil by Mouth. From them, I learned not by imitating them but rather by being inspired by the way they portrayed their roles with such conviction.
In the heat of the battles, Goodson seems unfazed by the rules, often resorting to elbows and head butts. To even the odds, given my smaller stature, I’ve adopted a fighting style reminiscent of Mike Tyson – ducking, dodging, and landing body shots with my shoulder. Indeed, it’s me who’s dishing out the formidable blows in the ring, while others assume their roles as supporting characters.
Graham, having honed his fundamental boxing abilities during his teenage years, found himself needing to master the steps of each bout as if they were carefully planned dance routines, similar to Strictly Come Dancing. “Each move follows the other in a sequence,” he said. “I once broke a stuntman’s rib, and I felt awful about it, but he was pushing me, ‘Hit me hard.’ I replied, ‘No, I don’t want to do that. I’m an actor. We’re just acting.’ He retorted, ‘Are you kidding me, kid?’ He moved closer, and I delivered the blow. The sound he made was unlike anything I’d heard before. He exclaimed, ‘I think you’ve broken my rib!’
Similar to numerous characters before him, Goodson’s vulnerability lies in love – specifically for Mary Carr, portrayed by Erin Doherty, who leads the female crime syndicate known as the Forty Elephants. Graham, at 51 years old, and Doherty, at 32, have an age difference that he acknowledges.
He assures that he’ll carefully select his words to avoid coming off as inappropriate, “noncey”. He shares that Erin and he have discussed the intricacies of their relationship since Mary is significantly younger than Sugar. To prevent any awkwardness, they aim for a deep, complex love instead. Sugar has a self-doubting feeling that he’s not worthy of love. For him, Mary is like a stunning bird he feels he’s trapped, but it’s not what he desires.
He pauses and queries, “Is that coming off as too pompous?”, implying a concern about being ridiculed in Kirkby. But I doubt it. After all, Stephen Graham has more than proven his gravitas in his work.
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2025-02-18 04:14