Exclusive Interview with Tommy Jessop “I might be on a mission to break down barriers in my career— and hopefully break down even more barriers.” — Tommy Jessop, BAFTA-winning actor
BAFTA Award-winning actor Tommy Jessop – known for his roles in Line of Duty, Holby City, Doctors, and Coming Down the Mountain – sat down with students at St Martins School to share his inspiring journey into acting, his career highlights, and his advice for aspiring performers.
Tommy’s story began in a local teenage theatre group. That first step led to an audition for a touring play, and soon after, he was encouraged to apply for a BBC Talent Fund for disabled actors. That opened the door to his first major TV role in the powerful 90-minute BBC drama Coming Down the Mountain. From there, his career took off, with appearances in Holby City and beyond.
One of the biggest moments in Tommy’s career came when he joined the cast of Line of Duty. “It was like being on a James Bond set,” he told the students. “It was really dramatic and meant acting powerful emotions.” Being part of the cast also meant stepping on stage at the National Television Awards to receive not one, but two awards for the show – a true career highlight.
Tommy is open about the challenges he’s faced in the industry, but he’s also determined to make a difference: “I might be on a mission to break down barriers in my career—and hopefully break down even more barriers.”
When asked what advice he’d give to young people wanting to act, he kept it real: “Make sure you put in plenty of really hard work. You might have to work long hours and learn lines. Think about your character. Get plenty of sleep and eat healthy food so that you have enough energy every day.”
And his dream role? “Actually, my dream role is to play Bond!”
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