Jim's Q&A
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Who or what makes you laugh until it hurts?
I have a few friends who make me laugh the second I see them for no reason whatsoever. Some of these people aren’t even my best friends, but I love seeing them because we just set each other off. It’s completely inexplicable but completely brilliant!
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What would your superpower be?Flight! Because it would be the ultimate freedom :)
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What's the nicest thing anyone ever said to you?Someone recently told me I was one of the most creative people she’d ever met. This was lovely because I spend a lot of time frustrated by not creating even a fraction of the many ideas rattling about in my head at any given time.
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What's the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?My Mum used to meow like a cat so that we’d know where she was whenever we got lost in supermarkets etc. And to be fair to her, it definitely worked. I just wish she’d stop doing it now I’m an adult.
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What's your mantra?F*ck ‘should’!
Originally hailing from Leeds, Jim now lives in Manchester, which is a huge disappointment for his parents, who have had to disown him sadly. But it’s been worth it because, unlike in London, where Jim spent the first decade of his professional life, he can now get from A to B in under 4 hours. Which has really improved his quality of life.
His London years were undeniably exciting, though. As a young actor fresh out of The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, whose illustrious alumni include Daniel Day-Lewis, Olivia Colman, and Jeremy Irons, to name a few (and Patrick Stewart, Naomi Harris and Pete Postlethwaite, to name a few more), Jim was lucky enough to work on some really good shows. And he auditioned for some really GREAT shows.
But as a restless soul, the amount of resting involved in being an actor never felt very restful to Jim, so he took to writing, directing, teaching and coaching. He’s had plays on at Hampton Court Palace and in The West End, and his teaching, facilitation and coaching career has seen him work with everyone from 6-year-olds struggling with literacy to stand-up comedians in LA to senior managers at some of the largest corporations in the world.
He also has a dream to open a bacon sandwich shop, which came very close to happening during the pandemic. That’s currently on ice, but bacon keeps well if cured.
