It was a fantastic challenge. I'm proud and satisfied with being able to push myself so much at my age, says the 51-year-old actor to TT.
The Disney+ series "A thousand blows" takes place in London's East End in the late 19th century. Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby) has emigrated from Jamaica and initially wants to become a lion tamer but ends up as a boxer. In England, he meets the dangerous and violent boxer Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham) who becomes his enemy.
In the drama, there is also Mary Carr (Erin Doherty), who leads the female gang "The forty elephants". All these people have existed in reality.
As an artist, one has an obligation when it comes to portraying someone who has existed. But at the same time, the research one has done is a canvas that one can paint on, one must be as open and creative as possible, says Stephen Graham.
Worked with Alfredson
Graham, who over the years has filmed with, among others, Martin Scorsese and Tomas Alfredson, and not least made an impact in the "This is England" films and in the TV success "Line of duty", is lyrical about the filming.
For me, this has been one of the best experiences ever. So colorful, so alive, with fantastic sets and incredible clothes. It has been an absolute joy.
The idea for the series came when Stephen Graham saw a photo of Hezekiah Moscow and wondered if it couldn't be the basis for a TV series. He took the idea to Steven Knight, screenwriter for, among others, "Peaky blinders".
I thought Hezekiah's story was interesting. Then I had long been interested in the thing with "The forty elephants". Think if Hezekiah and they could meet, they were after all at the same place at the same time, says Steven Knight.
Violence has a purpose
Knight has not least with the long series "Peaky blinders" shown that he likes to write costume dramas. A long film that concludes the series will be released at the end of the year or early 2026, he reveals.
The important thing is first and foremost to find a good story. Then one must not bind oneself to telling about the present, then one limits oneself. Look back in time, it opens up.
Both "Peaky blinders" and "A thousand blows" are brutal – but the violence has a purpose, thinks Steven Knight.
I want to show how brutality is often a way to escape for those who are poor and desperate. It's an outlet.
Age: 51 years.
Family: Wife Hannah Walters, two children.
Lives: In Ibstock in England.
Occupation: Actor.
Previous roles in selection: "Back to Aidensfield", "Coronation Street", "Snatch", "Gangs of New York", "Empire", "This is England", "Public enemies", "This is England 86", "Tinker tailor soldier spy", "This is England 88", "Boardwalk Empire", "This is England 90", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's revenge", "Yardie", "Line of duty", "The Irishman", "Venom", "Peaky blinders", "Blitz".
Currently with: "A thousand blows" which starts streaming on Disney+ on 21/2. It consists of twelve episodes, of which six are released in the first round,
