Interview: Tom Varey

Talented actor, Tom Varey, first started out on the local amateur stage, performing with amateur societies in Rochdale, Mossley and Whitworth, before making a remarkable rise to fame.

In 2010, Tom headed to London to join the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), but before finishing his studies, he had already secured the role of Bert Middleton in the second series of popular BBC period drama "The Village, starring alongside John Simm and Maxine Peake.

He went on to star in popular series such as Game of Thrones, No Offence, Death in Paradise and Ackley Bridge before his most recent lead role as Jack Morris in BBC four-part drama Ridley Road (currently available on BBC iPlayer), alongside an award winning cast.

Style caught up with Tom to discuss Ridley Road, his Northern roots, his love for football and his dream role... oh, and penguins...

Style: You filmed Ridley Road during lockdown – what was that like?

Tom: Yeah, we filmed in Manchester when it was in the highest tier restrictions. But we were all properly grateful to be at work and to have something to do. I only really met the people I was in scenes with, so there were loads of the cast that I just never got to meet. I would have liked to meet Rita Tushingham. I met most people on the Zoom thing…!

The hotel they put us up in had a football pitch on the roof so I spent a lot of time up there, I was quite happy. It was like the apocalypse and I was on my own on the roof kicking a ball about.

Incase readers haven’t seen Ridley Road yet, how would you describe the story? And is your character Jack Morris based on a real person?

So there never was a Jack Morris or a Vivien Epstein but they’re based on real people who were in part of a group called the 62 group; an anti-fascist group that would disrupt the far-right movement. It’s a thriller set in the swinging sixties and it’s a piece of history that’s not really been told at all. I had no idea about it.

It feels like a really important show…

Yeah, I think it’s something that never really goes away; anti-Semitism and discrimination in all forms is still very apparent in today’s society. Sarah Solemani who wrote it didn’t want the characters to use any language that was just specific to that time period. She wanted the language to be stuff that you could still hear nowadays. And it is. You still have those voices around now and those voices still have a platform as well, which is kind of crazy.

Photo: Ridley Road, BBC Pictures / Red Productions

Who first inspired you to take up acting?

My drama teachers at college, Wynn and Rob, were brilliant. Wynn was the one who really nudged me towards drama school and then I was like, “oh right blimey, maybe I’ll actually think about this”. I learnt so much from her classes.

We’ve heard that you had to be a penguin when you first started at RADA, please tell us more?!

Haha yeah! So, we had to study an animal and then be that animal for many hours. So we did penguins, pigeons, monkeys… You study their weight and how fast they move, what direction they move, everything. I mean, once you’ve been a penguin your inhibitions are down and you’re up for doing anything; you’re not embarrassed anymore. So that’s good.

Do you still live in London?

Yeah I’m actually living in London with Aggi who played Viv and Hannah who played Elise in Ridley Road. We were all looking for a place at the same time so that was good. I’ve been really lucky throughout all my jobs because I’ve always made really good friends with people - they’ve all been really nice people so I hope that continues.

What do you miss about the North?

I miss my family and friends and going to United games with my brother. I miss Am Dram and all the various societies I did shows with – I look back on it with a lot of fondness.

Do you think amateur groups are important in developing future talent?

Yes 100%, they’re so important. I owe a lot to the Am Dram world. I was dragged to a drama club at 12 years old by my mate Lee! If he hadn’t dragged me to that I don’t think I would ever have pursued a career in it. I was rubbish at first; I was just laughing at everything. I couldn’t be serious. But then I just gradually grew to love it. I stayed with it until I left for drama school at 19! And then I got very serious… with my penguins and my pigeons!

What would be your dream role?

I could say Doctor Who or something but that’s too obvious isn’t it. I’m well into new writing, so something really interesting and new and cool! I’d like to play a boxer or something where I have to learn a skill. Or a real person, that would be fun.

Have you ever been starstruck?

My first role in The Village was alongside John Simm, Maxine Peake and Juliet Stevenson so I definitely felt really lucky to be working with them. But drama school had set me up for that kind of life because we always had actors in to talk to us. So I tend not to get starstruck by actors, but I really do get starstruck by footballers or musicians.

Do you watch yourself on TV?

Yeah I do. Not obsessively! I’ve only watched Ridley Road once. It’s weird, I’m not at the stage where I’m fully comfortable with it - I don’t know if that will ever happen - but I feel like I have to watch it otherwise I ain’t gonna learn anything. So I watch it but all the while I’m always thinking, “oh god, is that what my face was doing then?!”.

Do you have any advice for aspiring actors?

Enjoyment is a big part of it and a very underrated part. Always remember why you got into it and never lose that passion even when times are hard.

What do you do in your spare time?

I paint portraits! My style’s not very realistic - it’s quite cartoony but I like it. So I do that - it helps me to relax but also it’s very messy, so there’s some heart-stopping moments painting when you’re living in rented accomodation! I’ve started learning French, that’s fun. I’m learning how to say ‘your’ - ‘votre’. J’ai mal à la tête - I’ve hurt my head. All the phrases you need really! Haha, it’s very early on in the process! I play football a lot too. I’m playing tonight actually with my team – we’re called MatesLadsFC!

Who would be on your dream 5 a side team?

Oh right… in goal I’m having David Seaman ‘cause he seems nice. But like, prime David Seaman. He had lovely hair. And then, oh blimey, Rashford’s in there ‘cause I love him, and David Beckham. That’s four of us ‘cause I’m gonna be in there as well. Right, ok, probably need a defender… who’s at the back… Rio! Yeah, that sounds nice doesn’t it.

Ruth Parkinson