It's not where you start...

by Paul Kelbie

Sitting in the conservatory of the Millennium Hotel in Glasgow, overlooking a rain-soaked George Square on a dreary Monday afternoon, it’s clear there are few things in the world capable of dampening the spirit of Scott Kyle.

He rattles away nineteen to the dozen, his conversation is full of the famous “Glasgow patter’ and his eyes light up as he talks about the three greatest loves of his life - his wife, his mother and the business of show.

Scott Kyle

The story of how this former latchkey kid from a working class housing estate in Rutherglen became an award winning actor, theatre producer and entrepreneur with almost one million social media followers is both highly amusing and incredibly inspirational. It’s going to make a great book someday!

“My mum used to be up and away to work before I even got up in the morning to get ready for school and she wouldn’t get home until after 10pm at night,” said Scott.

As the second son of a single parent mother working three jobs to keep her family fed, clothed and with a roof over their heads, he learned very early on how to be independent and always knew he would have to work for success.

“She would leave a couple pounds on the table for my brother and I to fend for ourselves. It made us quite self reliant and street smart.”

Always a natural performer and a bit of a joker Scott admits he wasn’t the most academic of students at school. He left at 16, following a row with a teacher over the wearing of a football shirt during a games lesson, and got a job in a supermarket stacking shelves.

However, at the age of 21, with the encouragement of his girlfriend and future wife Karen, he decided to go back to college and study drama. It was a decision that changed his life - but not as he expected.

“I was still living at home and contributing to the household bills so I couldn’t just stop working and become a full time student,” said Scott who continued to stack shelves at night while he studied by day.

“I would do four nights a week at the supermarket, from 10pm to 8am, and then get on my moped and travel to college, sometimes in my work uniform, to do my drama classes. Some days my classes didn’t start until 12 but I knew that if I went home I might miss my alarm so I’d go to college and find a corner to sleep in until one of my classmate woke me up when the lesson was about to start. I did that for three years.

“I think I get my work ethic from my mum. It’s amazing how a person can get by on just three hours sleep a night.”

The hard work paid off. Within 18 months he had launched his own theatre company and by the time he graduated at the top of his class he was already an award winning actor lauded for his outstanding achievements and enterprise.

Going it alone

Unable to find a suitable acting job straight from college he decided to produce his own show, the hilariously funny “Singin’ I’m No a Billy, He’s a Tim” by Des Dillion, after coming across the script by accident in his local library.

Despite limited professional experience and no financial backing Scott recruited three friends, pulled together a makeshift set, hand delivered flyers with his girlfriend Karen to promote the production and borrowed a clapped-out van to take the play on tour across the country to rave reviews. The show is now often cited as “Scottish theatre’s greatest success story of recent times.”

Such was the success of the play Scott was able to buy a house for his mum and invest in producing other plays and projects.

In 2010 at the Edinburgh Festival Scott was crowned ‘The Stage Best Actor’ for his portrayal of Billy and was soon spotted by BAFTA winning Director, Ken Loach, who cast him in the movie ‘The Angels Share’. That was followed by a starring role in the dramatic BAFTA nominated war movie ‘Kilo Two Bravo’ and a part as ‘Ross the Smith’ in the globally acclaimed Outlander television series.

Little did he realise how much playing Ross in the second season of the show would impact his life.

“I got a phone call while working at the Edinburgh Festival from my agent to go and audition for a small part in Outlander,” said Scott.

“Initially it was only three lines and, after getting the role I was booked for a couple of days but the character took on a life of his own. I ended up being on set for weeks.”

But it was off-screen that Outlander had the biggest influence as fans of the show began following Scott on social media and he started getting invited to gatherings.

Giving back

“I follow back everyone who follows me on social media. If people are kind enough to take an interest in what I do then why shouldn’t I be interested in them. I like engaging with people and Outlander fans in particular are fantastic.

“Outlander was a wonderful opportunity for me. I got to work alongside some great actors and I feel humble there are people all over the world who now know about the theatre work I’ve done and watched other films I’ve been in after getting to know me through Outlander. I feel very blessed.”

Behind the scenes Scott has continued his trailblazing career in the theatre industry as an artistic director and programme manager while still teaching masterclasses and workshops to schools and businesses throughout the world.

Scoot helps teach drama to school students

He has also put his global connections to good use organising a series of Highlander Flings to raise money for charity and help fund drama classes for students and youth organisations at home in Scotland and abroad.

“The support I’ve had from America, Canada and other parts of the world - whether that’s from people attending my events or supporting my theatre work has been incredible,” said Scott whose next Highlander Fling gathering takes place later this year.

“So far we’ve got several hundred people coming to Glasgow this September from all over the world to join us at the next Fling where we will have a young ceilidh band and a young Highland dance group performing, as well as a few surprises. It’s a great way to help promote Scottish talent.”

In 2017, Scott received a Pride of West Lothian Award for outstanding contribution to the local community and he was recently appointed lecturer at Edinburgh Acting School.

“When I was asked to join the team at Edinburgh Acting School I jumped at the chance,” said Scott.

“I have been working in the arts industry for almost two decades and teaching classes and delivering workshops has always been a huge part of my career.

“I love sharing my experiences of being on set and on stages throughout the world with other artists, and I always feel that I learn something in return from everyone who participates.”

Scott's looking forward to teaching at the Edinburgh Acting School

Teaming up with award-winning Edinburgh-based actor, playwright and director Jen McGregor, they will both lead the ATCL Speech and Drama Diploma over the next 12 months.

“We cannot wait for Scott to join the team,” said Stephen James Martin, Principal of Edinburgh Acting School which provides an extensive programme of part-time courses in acting and related performance skills.

“He has a great energy and passion, and experience across the board that is going to be exciting for him to share with our students.”

For Scott the opportunity to pass on lessons learned - many of them the hard way - over two decades in one of the toughest businesses in the world is another chance to give something back.

“When I first went to drama college I didn’t even know know what a monologue was. I turned up at my audition totally unprepared and completely naive but they took a chance and let me in - and it changed my life,” said Scott.

“Now it’s my turn to throw down the ladder and help somebody else up.”