The film aims to keep youngsters away from dangerous weapons. Knox’s father Colin said: “I literally punched the air when Ray agreed to start in the film. People will listen to him and that is exactly what we want.”

To watch exclusive interviews with the acting legend that is Ray Winstone check out his channel on t5m.

Undoubtedly though it is now Winstone who is an idol for many an aspiring actor. There are not many people out there who can say that there were approached with a script that was specifically written for them, as was the case when Gary Oldman came to Winstone with the script for Nil By Mouth. ‘He said, “I wrote it for you. You’re the only one who can play this”.’ After reading the script Winstone describes it as the best thing he had ever read and he did indeed go on to make the film, though it was far from a walk in the park.

When it comes to clothes, Winstone is your man. ‘I’ve got some great Dolce & Gabbana shoes, great big long ones with the points on them. I think they’re blinding because I’ve only got little feet and they make your feet look bigger.’ He reasons that it was his grandfather’s style and an innate East End trait that gave him a love for the dapper.

‘If I walk into a room in a suit, I feel different. You think “Bang! Have that”.’

Hannah Berry 

Watch the first part of Ray Winstone’s interview on t5m

Growing up in London’s Hackney, the cinema always played a pivotal role in Winstone’s life and it was a place of bonding for him and his father who often worked unsociable hours as a market trader. ‘My dad used to pick me up on a Wednesday afternoon after school when I was a kid. There was many a time when we would sit through the film twice because you could do in those days.’ Ray’s lovable relationship with his father shines through as he tells his anecdotes in his tongue-in-cheek way which is a Winstone trademark.

In his own words, he was not ‘good enough’ to be a boxer but likens the instinct he felt when stepping in the ring and seeing his opponent, to the sense you get when you meet the person you’ll be working with on a script. ‘When you click into someone and you get into their heart and their soul, it’s not about who’s good and who’s bad because everyone becomes good’.

As on the big screen, Winstone effortlessly captivates the attention of the audience and touches on more tales from his trove of working with Ben Kingsley on the phenomenal British film Sexy Beast. ‘I liked working with Ben. Ben is one of those guys where it’s about the scene, you know? I had to play my part in the scene to make his part work and likewise the other way, I had to be weak, I am getting beat up by Ghandi afterall.’ And in his own words it was Ben who ”made the film’.

Hannah Berry

Watch Part II of Ray Winstone’s interview

The classic British film, featuring an unforgettable performance by Michael Caine, remains a New Years Day fixture in the UK, although Ray’s experience had enough action without the film! “We were making a bit of noise with the (popcorn) bags… and this woman behind us started complaining with her husband.”

After his mum and dad got involved, “there was a bit of a ruckus…. I seem to remember someone getting strangled behind me!” With such a colourful memory of his first time watching the film, it’s not hard to see why it remains one of his all-time favourites.