Johnny Harris

Name 
Johnny Harris

Why you love what you do?
I guess in many ways, acting has been a kind of religion to me over the years. I gave myself over to it in my early twenties when my life wasn't really heading in any direction at all. All I ever really wanted in that moment was to somehow master this mysterious craft... to understand it…. and to become a great actor.

Now, I might never achieve that, but the pursuit of that dream over the last two decades has given me a life that I could only ever have dreamed of. It's driven me mad, and at times challenged and tested me to the point of breaking. But it's also given me an education. It's fed me, clothed me, and given me a home. It's counselled me and allowed me to explore myself, and learn about the lives of others.

It's introduced me to beautiful literature and shown me how to enjoy it. It's taken me around the world to places I wouldn't have known existed, let alone had the chance to explore. It's introduced me to my heroes and allowed me to see them work up close, and it's introduced me to some of the dearest friends I have in my life. However hard I work, or however much I put into this, I'll never be able to pay back what it's given me. That's why I take it seriously. It's a privilege to do what I do. 

Describe your style in three words?
Scrubs up ok.

Which British film do you most admire?
This is England. Shane Meadows is for me one of the finest directors this country has ever had. This is England was released around the same time as London to Brighton, and so I was still kind of buzzing on that whole experience when I popped along to my local cinema to see the film. It just burst off the screen like no other film before, and it blew my mind. I'd never seen anything like it. 

Stephen Graham's performance is one of the greatest on film, and Thomas Turgoose was a revelation. Every character in that gang was just so beautifully played and as they all walk in slo-mo to 'Louis Louis' by Toots and The Maytals it just demands that you feel good and you want to be a part of it all, and them. 

It's also the first time I'd ever heard Gavin Clark's music. He was a beautiful artist, and 'Never Seen the Sea' is a heartbreakingly poignant song.

People often ask if I was nervous about playing Mick in 'This is England '86'. The truth is the only thing I was ever really nervous about was damaging the legacy of that film in some way. Luckily, Shane Meadows is a law unto himself, and knew exactly what he wanted, and what he was doing... and the rest is history. It changed everything for me that project. The friendship I've had with Vicky McClure ever since remains one of the great joys in my life too... a true friend!

If you could spend an hour with any actor from history?
Charlie Chaplin. He was born and raised in the same area of South London as myself, Lambeth. I was always fascinated by the fact that despite his extremely humble beginnings, he somehow went on to become one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and one of the most powerful men in Hollywood... That's some journey! 

He was an incredible performer, a great socialist, and I imagine he'd have been fascinating company. His speech in 'The Great Dictator' still stands strong, and I'd love to have sat and chatted with him about his life, and what our area was like back in the day. 

There's a blue plaque in honour of him at the bottom of East Street Market, and it simply says "Charlie Chaplin - Comic Genius"... I love that! 

The song that most reminds me of home, and where I'm from is Waterloo Sunset by the Kinks.

British musician who has had the most influence on you?
Paul Weller.

I made a playlist of 23 songs to listen to while I was writing Jawbone. I knew there was a spirit of the piece that I was trying to find, so I just wanted to listen to songs that had moved me deeply in some way over the years and contained that same spirit or feeling that I was looking for in the film. Six of the songs on that playlist were by Paul Weller. 

So, the truth is Paul's always been a massive influence on me creatively. Stanley Road is arguably my favourite album, and I just love the fact that he's always done exactly what he wants. Complete freedom.

Nobody was more surprised than me when I was told Paul had read the script for Jawbone and wanted to meet me to talk about coming on board the film. There was no budget in place at that stage and no actors on board. At the time all we really had was a script. We met for a coffee and had a long chat about it all... and that was that. He shook my hand and within weeks the demos started coming through. 

I've never known a work ethic or creativity like it. You'd get text messages at 3 am... "Johnny, I'm in the studio and I've got a new idea. Gonna record it now. I'll send you the demos in the morning. Tell me what you think." It was the most beautiful way of working. Paul would send me demos and compositions through, I'd send him new drafts or ideas as I was re-writing... each feeding the other. 
  
He has an insatiable appetite to create and the other thing is his generosity. Always helping younger artists coming through. I love that. I just feel very blessed to have experienced it so closely, and it's without a doubt been one of the most influential experiences of my life. If I had to pick a song it would be "The Ballad of Jimmy McCabe" from our film for obvious reasons, but I'll save that for later as my record to keep forever... and say 'Brand New Start" instead. 

Which British subculture means the most to you?
In my early teens, my best friend Paul McCabe and I would sit around his mum's house listening to his older brother Bernie's record collection. That's where I first heard Dylan, The Beatles, The Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Jam, The Smiths.. it was magical.

At the time it felt like it was just the same old shit pop song, after shit pop song coming out of the radio, so I'd prefer to listen to The Smiths instead, on full blare, singing along to Panic... "The music they constantly play, says nothing to me about my life."

Then it happened! I was 17 years of age in 1990 when The Stone Roses, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene and so many great bands exploded onto the scene, and that was it... Our own revolution. All of a sudden, it was cool to come from a council estate. I read that Noel Gallagher had written 'Definitely Maybe' while working on a building site. I was working on building sites myself at the time, and that was all I needed to hear. Someone saying that it was alright, that you can be anything you want to be. I felt like I'd found my tribe. That I wasn't alone, and that anything was possible. I wouldn't be an actor, or a writer today if it wasn't for those bands. I really do believe that.

Best Gig you have ever been too?
The Stone Roses - Underground gig in Shoreditch.

The Stone Roses played in a tiny warehouse in Shoreditch. Shane Meadows was making the documentary about the band's comeback at the time and invited a few of us along. Like everyone else, that first album had felt so important to me, and I've never been so excited about seeing a band before. 

There was a magical feeling in the air that night. We were in the bar beforehand, and it was surreal... Like a strange dream. There'd be people squeezing past you like in any other bar, but it would be Paul Weller, Jimmy Page, Mick Jones, or Bobby Gillespie... I remember someone texting me from backstage to say that the band had kicked off and that they might not come on... and then another text saying 'It's on, it's happening!'

It felt like there was sweat dripping down the walls and everyone was singing along to The Supremes - 'Stone Love' as the band walked on... and the place just erupted! 

Ian Brown was hypnotic. They had us in the palm of their hands that night and there was so much love for the band. I can remember vivid details of it all like it was playing out in slow motion... being in mid-air with Vicky McClure and Jonny Owen during 'Fools Gold'. The whole night was like a strange and surreal dream.

What was the first track you played on repeat?
'You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby' by The Smiths.

One record you would keep forever?
'The Ballad of Jimmy McCabe' by Paul Weller. 

During the writing process, Paul and I had a conversation one afternoon about the lead character in the script and how I was thinking of playing him. Paul said he had an idea for a song about him. A few weeks later it came through, and I couldn't believe it. I don't mind saying it was emotional hearing it. It's a truly beautiful song. It's still a bit surreal to listen to it, to be honest.  

Song you wish you had written?
'Get Blown Away' by Ocean Colour Scene. 

Pure Storytelling. Steve Cradock is one of the finest guitarists ever, and I've never heard Simon Fowler sing a song and not completely believed in him. His voice is in a league of its own and I could have picked The Circle, July, or any one of their songs to be honest, as they're all so beautifully crafted, but I just find this particular song so poignant. 

It was another song on the playlist I used to listen to while I was writing 'Jawbone' as again the lyrics contained the same spirit that I was trying to capture within the film too. "Where men are being little boys again." or "You may know what I am, but who I am you don't know."

I mentioned to Steve Cradock how much of an influence the song had been, and he dedicated it to me at The Hammersmith Apollo gig. That was another mind blowing night too, and they're one of the best live bands of our times. I've been lucky enough to see them play many times now over the years.
 
Song that defines the teenage you?
'Rockin' Chair' by Oasis.

Song lyric that inspires you?
"Went out walkin' through the wood the other day,
And the world was a carpet laid before me,
The buds were bursting and the air smelled sweet and strange,
And it seemed about a hundred years ago."

'100 Years Ago' by The Rolling Stones. 

Or 'Come On / Let's Go' by Paul Weller
"Sing you little f*ckers, sing like you've got no choice"

Five songs you can’t stop listening to right now?

'You're not Alone' by Cathal Smyth.  
'Pushing Your Love' by Stone Foundation.
'Morning Skies' by Steve Pilgrim.
'How Long' by The Moons.
'Come On Over, Come On By' by JJ Appleton.