Danny Mays

Name, where are you from?
Danny Mays, Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

Describe your style in three words?
Boy about town.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
The best gig/weekend was V Festival Chelmsford 2004 I think? I’d just split up with my first girlfriend of 7 years I needed to let rip. I remember N.E.R.D and Faithless being a highlight on the main stage. I think I spent the whole of Sunday in the dance tent with my best mate Matthew. The roof came off when Kelis sang 'Milkshake'. I then got chatting to a couple of girls and we ended up sumo wrestling together on the grass outside. Don’t ask!

If you could work with any film-maker in history?
I’ve always greatly admired the films of Martin Scorsese. As a teenager watching his films and especially the work of De Niro it inspired me to want to become an actor. Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas I mean the list and quality of the work is endless. I also love his encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of film whenever he’s interviewed. I imagine working with him would be a phenomenal experience. He truly is a master of his craft.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The Royal Court theatre represented a kind of subculture to me in my early career as an actor. I’ve performed a total of seven plays there. Not only did I feel like I’d found a space to grow and establish myself as a performer but I adored the whole subversive ethos of the place. First and foremost it’s a new writers theatre. That is the centre of the world there. To give a voice to the unheard from not only the UK but globally. For me, it always represented a place of risk, imagination, creativity and daring to challenge the establishment.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Muhammad Ali. Whenever I watch old footage of him being interviewed or giving a press conference before a huge fight I’m always glued to his every word. Hilarious, combative and always with that twinkle in his eye. He broke down cultural and political barriers and for my money was the greatest sportsman of all time.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Kate Tempest. I was fortunate enough to watch one of her gigs a few years back. She completely blew me away. Utterly raw, unique and one of the most important storytellers we have.

Daniel Mays is a British actor who has featured films such as 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' and Sam Mendes's WWI epic '1917'. He more recently starred alongside fellow 'Line Of Duty' alumni, Stephen Graham, in the buddy cop comedy 'Code 404' for Sky.

Daniel features as himself in a new BBC2 Mockumentary about Martin and Gary Kemp called 'The Kemps: All True' which goes out this Sunday, July 5^th.