FROM LOCAL DREAMS TO HOLLYWOOD SCREENS: LEE CHARLES’ JOURNEY COMES FULL CIRCLE
FROM LOCAL DREAMS TO HOLLYWOOD SCREENS: LEE CHARLES’ JOURNEY COMES FULL CIRCLE
Years ago, we sat down with a young, ambitious actor named Lee Charles as he spoke about his hopes of making it to Hollywood. Today, that dream is no longer a distant ambition, it’ s reality. With roles in major productions including Gladiator 2, Lee’ s journey is a testament to persistence, talent, and belief in the long game. We revisit our original conversation and catch up with the man who turned early promise into a global career.
Lee, it’ s great to have you back, the last time we spoke was years ago. When you look back at that interview now, what’ s changed the most about you?
It’ s great to be back. Wow, so much has changed in the last 10 years, my career has really taken off and I’ ve been fortunate enough to work with some of the biggest movie stars in the world on some of Hollywood’ s biggest movies.
If you could go back and tell that version of yourself where you’ d be today, what do you think he’ d say?
I would probably just tell myself to keep doing what it is you’ re doing and maintain that work ethic. I mean I’ ve made some mistakes in the last 10 years but I think that is what makes us who we are today and without them mistakes, would we be who we are now?
Do you remember that first interview? What were your ambitions back then compared to now? I think they are exactly as they still are today, and that will always be to push, to always try and get the best out of who I am and who I want to be. I think a lot of us always want that little bit more from who we are, but a lot of us are scared of the challenges we might face if we do that. I’ ve always been that guy who has wanted to over achieve and do everything I can in the short time we have here and I will always continue to do that. I’ ll always be that dreamer.
You’ re from the Wirral, how much has that shaped who you are and how you approach your work? I grew up on a council estate in Rock ferry and I can honestly say I had a fantastic childhood, we didn’ t have a lot, but what we did have was more than enough. It shaped me into who I have become today and the friends and memories I have will stay with me for life. Its funny because a lot of people always seen me as a bit of a day dreamer, my head being in the clouds with unrealistic goals, but that group of friends who I grew up with on Dacre Hill always had faith in who I was and who I wanted to be, and we are still in touch to this day.
Do you still feel connected to the Wirral, even now you’ re working on big international projects? Honestly, and this isn’ t just for the readers but I love the Wirral, I love the people, I love the place and what it has given me. I think we take for granted just how beautiful a place it is, I mean, I literally live a 10 minute walk from the beach. Coming home at the end of a project is always a great feeling.
Was there a moment growing up where you thought,“ I want more than this,” or did it all happen organically? I have always been a dreamer and always thought I wanted more out of life than what people normally just settle for. Growing up I was obsessed with Bruce Lee and there is a quote he made“ the key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering” and I remember reading this and thinking, that’ s it, I want my life to be remembered long after I’ m gone, I want to set standards that in years to come my family could look at and be inspired by, I want my son to understand that this is possible.
What would you say to young people on the Wirral who feel like big careers only happen somewhere else? I would say, don’ t let where you are from dictate who you are going to be. More often than not we all fall into this trap, but I would honestly say if you have a dream, make it happen and don’ t strop until it does and when you do have it still don’ t stop, because just because you made it, doesn’ t mean the hard working stops there. Be forever chasing.
When did acting become a serious goal rather than just an idea? I have always loved film, like for as long as I can remember and always lost myself in the world created by this amazing individuals. Up until 2005 it was always something that I had dreamed but in this year I went to Los Angeles and had the opportunity to train with one of my childhood heroes a gentleman named“ Benny the jet” Urquidez, this was a life changing moment. Sensei Benny took a shine to me and before I knew it, he had me at the Lee Strasberg Institute on Santa Monica and Fairfax and I was trained with a stunt team and actors. From there Sensei gave me the opportunity to work on several movies with him and all of a sudden I thought I
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