DANIEL MAYS: I've Worked with Hollywood’s Biggest Stars But I Still Sometimes Feel Like an Imposter
6/2/20261 hr 9 min
Daniel Mays has been in our living rooms for decades. From EastEnders and Line of Duty to Mrs Biggs and Thursday Murder Club, he’s become one of the most familiar and loved faces in British TV and film.
But long before he shared the screen with the likes of Michael Douglas and Stephen Graham, Daniel was the middle child in a working-class Essex family, desperate to be seen and heard. He found his voice through performing and never looked back.
In this conversation, Danny shares:
- Growing up in Essex with dreams of becoming an actor
- Why he nearly didn't go to stage school
- The unforgettable advice Michael Douglas gave him
- Taking on the role of the 'Black Cab R*pist' John Worboys and how it affected him
- What it was like performing in front of Daniel Day Lewis
Daniel was a joy to talk to and he’s a reminder of what's possible when you back yourself and never let go of the dream.
Daniel Mays is Great Company.
Watch ‘Believe Me’ on ITV HERE
Check out Daniel’s new podcast ‘Gangster Presents: The Story of Ronnie Biggs’ HERE
If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:
Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast
TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast
Jamie - @jamielaing
And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk
THE CREDITS
Producer: Helen Burke
Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins
Video: Jake Ji
Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan
Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti
Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister
Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDaniel Mays· Guest0:00
Going from being an Essex boy with your brothers playing football to suddenly going doing jazz and wearing a leotard. [laughs] That's a, those are, those are two separate worlds colliding.
Speaker 10:08
Literally head on.
Daniel Mays· Guest0:09
Yeah.
Speaker 10:09
[laughs] Literally.
Daniel Mays· Guest0:10
It felt like I was leaving that life that I'd known.
Speaker 10:13
How old were you at that point?
Daniel Mays· Guest0:14
I was, like, 13.
Speaker 10:15
That's young, isn't it?
Daniel Mays· Guest0:16
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was terrified when I first went to RADA.
Speaker 10:18
Really?
Daniel Mays· Guest0:19
Honest to God, I was like, I just sort of clammed up and I thought, "I'm way out of my depth here." Feel- feeling just so inferior and that imposter syndrome was kicking in and... Hi, I'm Danny Mays, and I'm in great company.
Speaker 10:32
[audience cheering] Danny Mays.
Daniel Mays· Guest0:35
I got nominated for a BAFTA for Line of Duty. When they say someone [laughs] else's name, there's a camera pointed at you right at that moment. [laughs] You're like, "How, where do I look?" [laughs] Like, what do... And then, and then you just have to go, "Well done, Tom."
Speaker 10:48
[clapping] [laughs] And what's one role you missed out on?
Daniel Mays· Guest0:52
Oh, the casting director walked me down the corridor to the lift. I remember the door shutting like that. She went, "You were wonderful." [laughs] "Just really great." I didn't end up getting it. It's a harrowing story.
Speaker 11:03
It's a heavy role.
Daniel Mays· Guest1:05
It's a heavy role. One of Britain's worst ever sexual predators, nicknamed the Black Cab Rapist. I underestimated it.
Speaker 11:13
And I heard that you had to take some counseling afterwards.
Daniel Mays· Guest1:15
Yeah. And it was just very isolating. And again, I was like, "I don't need to talk to a counselor." And, um, but I ended up talking to the counselor and it was really invaluable. 'Cause I tell you what it was, Jamie. Our daughter is 13 now. As a parent, it absolutely