Why did you want to get involved in Jawbone?
Well, number one was Johnny. He had such a passion for this idea, and I said yes. Then you think, ‘here we go, I gotta read this script now, what’s it going to be like?’ And I fell in love with it. I’d already said yes anyway, but it’s a bonus to get such a great emotional script, such an honest script.
What aspects of it could you relate to?
It was close to Johnny’s heart for different reasons than it was to mine, because Johnny was fighting some demons, I guess. When I was younger I’ve tried to get on council accommodation and I know what that process is. Having a wife and child and one on the way, trying to get a council place was fucking horrendous. It’s all about points and I don’t know who gives you points, who takes them away. My character is based on four different men, the two prominent ones were Johnny’s trainer Mick Carney and my trainer Tony Burns. Playing these men I really respect, I was in my element. It gave me a buzz to be in the business again.
Were aspects of your personality formed in a boxing gym?
I have very strong morals about certain things, about family, about friends. I have a great smell when it comes to trust. I can be unforgiving, for the right reasons I think, but most of all I have respect for others. Until they cross the line. You stand in a ring with someone and look into their eyes… I had 88 fights and there was one man I boxed out of 88 that I disliked. I had the upmost respect and friendships with the other 87.
