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In this episode of The Romesh Ranganathan Show, host Romesh Ranganathan is joined by acclaimed BAFTA-winning actor Stephen Graham. The conversation covers Graham's working-class roots in Kirkby, his early days in a breakdancing crew and doing graffiti, and his rigorous, immersive approach to acting inspired by Shane Meadows. They discuss the massive cultural impact of the Netflix hit series Adolescence, which Graham co-created to spark conversations about young men and the manosphere, as well as his collaborative production ethos with his wife Hannah Walters. The episode also features discussions on music as a character-building tool, working alongside Al Pacino, and compiling the book Letters to Our Sons.
Romesh opens the show, introduces Stephen Graham and promotes his mental‑health service, Counseling Directory.
Romesh gives a brief rundown of Graham’s film and TV credits before the interview begins.
Romesh presents a vinyl of Young MC’s “Know‑How” as a playful gift, detailing the hunt for the record.
Graham discusses how music informs his character work and his personal love of hip‑hop culture.
Graham explains the origins of the series, its unexpected political resonance, and its effect on national conversation.
Graham reflects on the intensity of shooting a single‑take drama and the collaborative energy required.
Romesh and Graham wrap up, discussing future work and the lasting legacy of their creative endeavors.
Graham talks about the father‑to‑son letter initiative, its community outreach, and his personal motivations.
Stephen discusses the emotional impact of writing letters to his sons and the broader theme of fathers communicating with their children.
Stephen shares Leon’s experience of using letter writing to process family trauma and the transformative effect it has on relationships.
A voice note from Stephen’s mother prompts a discussion on the influence of strong women in his life and the values they instilled.
Stephen reflects on the decline of working-class stories in cinema and his commitment to creating opportunities for underrepresented actors.
Finding a Rare Vinyl Recordstory
The guest is surprised with a rare copy of Young MC's Know-How, sourced directly from the owner of a record shop after visiting fifteen different locations.
Music as Character Preparationstrategy
The guest explains that he uses specific songs to establish the mood and emotional tone for characters like Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire.
Childhood Breakdancing Daysstory
The guest recounts his childhood breakdancing days in the community center and being surprised by his auntie while performing at the town hall.
The Origin of Adolescenceinsight
The guest shares how real-life tragic stabbing incidents sparked the idea to examine why a young man would attack a girl, leading to the creation of Adolescence.
Undercover Homeless Researchstory
To prepare for a role as a homeless man, the guest dressed in tattered clothes and walked the streets of Sheffield, experiencing total invisibility.
Slapping Al Pacino's Ice Creamstory
The guest describes the nerve-wracking and exhilarating moment he improvised by knocking an ice cream out of Al Pacino's hand during a take.
“some of them are funny, some of them are, are, are emotional and, and all of them feel very, very honest.”
“they're gonna be able to deal with it?”
“My middle son was like, thanks so much, dad. It's a great letter.”
“I go through some, yeah, I've got, I'm doing a job coming up soon and, and already those little tiny fears and doubts and those insecurities are kicking in.”
How did Stephen Graham become one of Britain's best actors? In this Monday episode of The Romesh Ranganathan Show, Romesh is joined by legendary actor, producer, and writer, Stephen Graham, to talk about his incredible, award-winning career, spanning over two decades. Stephen reflects on his career, from This Is England and Boiling Point, to his latest work on Adolescence and Nocturne. He discusses method acting, the challenges of filming in one-shot, and what it takes to disappear into a character. They also get into a discussion on their shared love of music and hip-hop, breakdancing, street fashion, and the culture around it. Plus, he talks about his new book, Letters To Our Sons, which he was prompted to write after Adolescence. He reflects on being a dad and the importance of communication. Plus, Romesh and Stephen discuss Liverpool FC, fragrances, and the unexpected ways their lives have crossed paths. It's an episode you don't want to miss. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media. If therapy is something you've been thinking about, visit Counselling Directory and find a therapist that's right for you: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=romesh_sponsorship Go to https://surfshark.com/romesh or use code ROMESH at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:27 A gift for Stephen 08:39 Music & hip-hop 11:48 Rom’s Ice Cube interview 14:22 On breakdancing & culture 17:15 The street fashion 18:52 Adolescence 26:11 Boiling Point & the one-shot take 31:40 Method acting & This Is England 90 36:50 Stephen’s new book 38:28 On being a dad 46:26 A question from Shanthi 48:03 Being working class & changing the story 53:31 Nocturne 55:28 Imposter Syndrome, fame and being yourself 58:57 Misquoted 01:08:40 Liverpool FC 01:11:08 What fragrance is Romesh wearing? 01:13:10 An exclusive 01:14:38 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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