THE ACCIDENTAL ACTOR

Dominic Brunt has played the part of Paddy Kirk (aka Paddy the vet), since 1997 and is one of the most popular characters in the long-running soap that is Emmerdale, but his acting career might never have happened but for a chance meeting. More of that later, though.

Dominic was born in Macclesfield in 1970, but remembers little about the town. He explains:

“I didn’t grow up there. I have no memory of the place at all. My parents moved around a lot as they were nurses working in different hospitals for varying lengths of time. I attended 3 separate primary schools and 2 secondary schools.”

Dominic told me that the longest he ever lived in one place growing up was Accrington, where he attended Moorhead from the age of 12, and where he stayed until the age of 20 when the family moved again to Bristol. His first year was a bit of a challenge, as he relates:

“I arrived at Moorhead at the end of the first year and didn’t know anyone in the town at all, apart from a new neighbour who was a couple of years above me. I remember everyone sounding strange and I also had long hair which set me apart at the time. I do remember being invited to a party at Julie’s house when I was still very new to the school, which was a really lovely gesture.”

The Julie he refers to is one of our occasional columnists and friend of the Acorn, Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Dominic told me that he wasn’t a particularly academic student but was quite good at maths and loved Metalwork, Woodwork and Technical Drawing.

I asked him when he realised that he wanted to become an actor, and his answer took me by surprise:

“I didn’t want to be one at all. I left my job as a sheet metal worker and spent a summer fruit picking in Kent and Herefordshire. I should have just taken a year out but I threw it all in. All those skills which I never used again!

“To kill some time I joined a music course at Accrington and Rossendale College as I played the guitar. Nothing serious and I would have probably re-joined the workplace as a sheet metal worker at some point. During a drama section of the course, a teacher called Martin Cosgrif took me to one side and told me I should jump across and join the acting course. I genuinely thought that was because I was a terrible musician rather than him spotting any kind of talent.

“Well, Martin Cosgrif turned my life around and made me fall in love with acting. He told all his pupils that we had every right to work in the media and that we shouldn’t think a career as actors was unobtainable. As working class teenagers in the mid-eighties, we certainly did not think we were invited to join that vocation with any degree or seriousness at all. He was brilliant. He made us into professionals who read lots and we worked hard not to let him down. I’d never read the classics or Shakespeare or even read a play until then.”

I went on to ask Dominic about first ever production, he told me:

“We did an ‘in-house’ college production of a play called ‘Amongst Barbarians’ which we had to produce ourselves; i.e raise the money, book the venue, advertise, act in. It was an incredible experience which I still look back on as being very formative.

“In the same month I signed with my agent, I did Crime Watch and The Bill. Really small parts but it was good to have the experience of being on a set. I remember being paid for my one line (‘Can I help you?’) on The Bill and couldn’t believe my luck. I felt like I was on my way…”

Then I asked him about Emmerdale and how that came about:

“I’d spent 3 or 4 years jobbing on various dramas and lots of adverts when the roll came up for 8 episodes. I wore a knackered old jumper and tried to look ‘rural’. In the intervening 28 years I think someone just forgot to sack me as the scripts just keep arriving.

“I think the stories and the character have moved and evolved over the years. Soaps are not the same creatures they were. Emmerdale was more of a sit-com when I arrived; really over the top comedy and melodramatic. Really good fun but I’m so glad we have morphed into more socially conscious story telling.”

I then asked Dominic a question I ask everyone I interview in the performance media. Whether there was any role he wished he had played, and any he regretted playing. He told me:

“Every actor will tell you about the rolls which got away. I was up for a great part in the TV drama ‘Cracker’, which I had lots of recalls for but it went to someone else. I also filmed a special effects heavy Coca-Cola commercial which was going to run for 18 months… It didn’t.

“I am more than happy with my lot. I adore Emmerdale and really can’t feel more loyal and grateful for what it has given me in my life. I know how lucky I have been.”

Apart from Emmerdale, Dominic has another (quite big) ongoing project. He and his wife, actress, Joanne Mitchell have their own film production company. So far they have released 6 films. I’ll let Dominic explain more:

“We’ve made 6 feature films so far, to varying degrees of success. They are all within the horror/thriller genre and all have had distribution deals. It means we can work together and it’s another string to my bow. ITV have been very encouraging and supportive. We usually make one every two or three years.”

I must admit that I have actually seen one of these films and although I’m not usually a horror fan, ‘Bait’ was a very good film. It had all the elements of a good horror, but with a really good story and a thrilling conclusion. He told me about its success and another one that did well.

“We’re very proud of that film. It sat on Netflix for a number of years and was distributed throughout the world with Metrodome and then 101 Films.

“I really enjoyed making Wolf Manor which was a werewolf film with James Fleet; loads of fun with a fantastic group of people.”

I mentioned that he returned to Accrington a couple of years ago to switch on our Christmas lights and asked if he still felt fondly about his adopted home.

“I’m not a celebrity and I don’t feel like one. I’m quiet and as a TV actor, I’m not used to having an audience looking at me. There were thousands there to see the lights and it was an honour to be part of it but, my word, that was a lot of people. I’m proud to be from Accrington and the people there are some of the kindest, funniest people you could care to meet.

“My family are all scattered now: Manchester, Leeds and Somerset. I still have friends in Accrington and visit about once a month.”

I went on to ask Dominic, apart from his own body of work, what he enjoyed personally in film and TV and he told me:

“My favourite film is, and always will be ‘Whistle Down the Wind’. It’s perfect. I love it that much I always have a few copies spare and give them away just to spread the word to people who haven’t seen it.

“I also recently saw a film called ‘Calm With Horses’ which should have been massive. Everything about it is totally brilliant.”

I’m always interested in whether successful people have the time to read and if so, what is their favourite book or author. I got this answer from Dominic:

“Laurie Lee. I was in an adaptation of ‘Cider With Rosie which led me on to reading ‘As I walked Out One Midsummer Morning’ and ‘A Moment of War’.

“We also met him shortly before he died. He was sat in his local pub and happy to talk about his upbringing and quote his writing while we bought him pints.

“I’ll also read anything by Irvine Welsh but my favourite novel, which is really a novella, is ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ by Ernest Hemingway.”

I asked another of my favourite questions in this type of interview. With all the pressure and stress of filming and deadlines that come with a regular acting role, it always interests me to learn what they do to unwind, so I asked “What does Dominic Brunt do to relax?” This was his answer:

“We walk a lot. We live near the moors above Hebden Bridge and we have three dogs.”

A beautiful part of the world to live indeed, with all those breath-taking views. That’s why many of Sally Wainwright’s shows are shot there, I’m sure.

I then went on to ask Dominic what advice he would give to anyone; young or not so young, who would like a career as an actor. This was his advice:

“It’s not about trying to find fame; it’s about taking your training seriously and not taking anything for granted. Learn your lines. Be courteous.”

My last question concerned what is next for Dominic Brunt as far as new projects. He just told me:

“We’ve always got something on the boil…”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dominic wholeheartedly for answering all my questions so thoroughly and honestly. My editor, Tracy will be delighted as she is a massive fan, so from Acorn News; thank you Dominic, it’s been an absolute pleasure.