"Ray Winstone"

Early Life and Boxing Roots [00:00:00]

• Born near the docks, boxing was a primary sport and a way to learn survival.
• Boxing taught him to avoid conflict and conduct himself wisely.
• Boxing clubs brought together diverse individuals, fostering unity.

  "and you know how to conduct yourself you know how to maneuver yourself away from those situations you know"

Transition to Acting [00:00:00]

• A school play at 14, motivated by a crush, sparked his interest in acting.
• Fond childhood memories of going to the cinema with his father.
• Initial hesitation about pursuing the arts due to his background.

  "and i think my mum and dad saw that because i was a bit of a kid on the streets you know and they thought this you know it's got something here this kid you know"

Developing an Authentic Style [00:00:00]

• Felt out of place with classically trained actors discussing theater.
• Preferred talking about football matches over artistic critiques.
• Developed his own ideas and broke traditional acting rules.

  "i just had my own ideas you know and uh yeah i remember doing that um you might have heard this story i don't know but i don't mean to bore you right but no no"

The Lambda Exam and "Scum" [00:00:00]

• Questioned the value of exams like Lambda for acting.
• Believed acting should be tested by performance on camera.
• Played a king in a TV adaptation of Macbeth, setting it in a pub.

  "and i got zero right i can't see i'm not saying i've done it well but i didn't even get one for imagination you know just trying to change it you know"

"Sexy Beast" and Director Jonathan Glazer [00:00:00]

• Initially considered for the role of Don, but wanted to play Gary.
• Ben Kingsley's casting as Don created a challenge and raised the stakes.
• Glazer's directorial style was visually stunning and artistically driven.

  "and then he turns up and you know the rest phenomenal absolutely what he done with that character there"

Working with Martin Scorsese [00:00:00]

• A lifelong fan of Scorsese's gangster films.
• Was offered a role as a policeman but insisted on playing a gangster.
• Negotiated to play Mr. French, a character with minimal dialogue.

  "and i said can't i play mr french and he said but mr french don't say anything i said well that's how you find out about the guy the gangster"

Personal Health and Lifestyle [00:00:00]

• Quit drinking and smoking, leading to weight loss and fitness.
• Suffered from shingles, describing the pain as a "red-hot poker."
• Discussed the challenges of flying and the discomfort of air travel.

  "and then i fell out with shingles well if you've ever had it it's the worst oh yeah"

Views on Modern Football [00:00:00]

• A dedicated West Ham supporter, acknowledging their recent relegation.
• Sees parallels between West Ham and Liverpool due to their working-class, dockland roots.
• Believes modern football has shifted from local support to player-based fandom.

  "and that's why i support west ham for me you know you come out of liverpool you support liverpool"

"The Gentlemen" Series [00:00:00]

• Reprising his role from Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen" for Netflix.
• Praises the show's writing and the collaborative atmosphere.
• Believes season two is even better than the first season.

  "and work with guy you know it changes every day the scripts change so you'll get a four four page dialogue scene you know"

Early Career Influences [00:00:00]

• Influenced by "kitchen sink dramas" like "Look Back in Anger" and "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning."
• These films depicted working-class life, making them relatable.
• Films like "Nil by Mouth" and "Scum" resonated with his social background.

  "they were really stories about people from where we came from all of a sudden we weren't just watching american movies we all are movies about the aristocracy"

"Raging Bull" and Cinematic Impact [00:00:00]

• Watched boxing films like "Raging Bull" with friends.
• Recognized it as more than a boxing film, but a study of human life.
• Appreciated the cinematic quality and storytelling.

  "and you realize it's not just a foot it's not a film about boxing actually it's about for it's a film about the way people live you know"

Working with Gary Oldman [00:00:00]

• Considers Gary Oldman one of the best directors he's worked with.
• Oldman's direction was insightful and manipulative in a positive way.
• Learned to understand directors' methods from his experience with Oldman.

  "the other one i think the best the best director for an actor i've ever worked with is gary oldman really"

The Craft of Acting [00:00:00]

• Authenticity is key; he never feels like he's "acting."
• Believes in trusting instincts and breaking rules to create originality.
• Acknowledges that not all experiments work, but successful ones are powerful.

  "i'm a great believer if you don't know the rules then you break them and that's when you invent something"

Early Jobs and Survival [00:00:00]

• Worked in Spitalfields Market at 14, pulling barrows.
• Family background in markets ensured they never went hungry.
• Learned to "graft" and survive from a young age.

  "and so i've always been a good grafter you know i've always been up them when i worked in you know spitfield's market when i was 14 you know pulling barrows"

Education Through Travel and Scripts [00:00:00]

• Could not read well at age 11 but learned through reading scripts.
• Travel for work provided a global education and broadened his perspective.
• Values the life experiences gained from working in different countries.

  "i couldn't read when i was 11 you know wow but through reading scripts i can read that just about you know i can read now you know"

Friendship and Authenticity [00:00:00]

• Maintains friendships with people from his old neighborhood.
• Friends from working-class backgrounds provide a grounding influence.
• Enjoys conversations with friends that don't revolve around the film industry.

  "and the beauty of that is when i finish work and i'm eating for a drink no one fucking talks about this business yeah yeah"