Paul Ready: ‘ I wanted to be a tennis player – but I was crap'

The Guardian

01-03-2025

When I was five, I was in the front row of the choir for our school nativity and couldn't hack it. I pulled a sickie, started crying, had to get out. I don't know why the hell I wanted to perform in front of people.
My parents' mantra was 'do what makes you happy if you can'. They didn't push my three siblings and me to be academic. Our home was beautifully relaxed. Behaving well and being nice was drilled into us. And we could throw a party and they would stay out of the way.
During a play at the Royal Court, my brain mistook the adrenaline going through my body for panic and I had serious stage fright. Now I do breathing exercises and tell myself there are times we need adrenaline to be ready and alert. It's nothing to be afraid of.
From the age of seven until 15, I wanted to be a tennis player – but I was crap. What I was missing was someone knowledgable telling me how to improve. In youth theatre, self-discipline was encouraged and our teacher told us what we needed to know about becoming an actor.
Drama school taught me to take an interest in life when you're not working. Watch what's happening in the world, read history, read psychology. Bring that understanding to your roles.
My wife [actor Michelle Terry] and I respect what the other does. Her brain is a superpower. She has fast, extroverted thinking, whereas I'm an introverted thinker. Once we figured out the difference, I wasn't as intimidated by her process, and she wasn't as confused by mine.
I'm in denial, but I probably am like Kevin [Ready's hapless character in Motherland]. On holiday with my family in Center Parcs I got caught in the Wild Water Rapids and couldn't get up. A group of people was watching me struggle, saying, 'There's that guy from Motherland.'
Once, I was in a soft-play ball pit with my daughter when she was a toddler. This dad, with a slightly crazed look in his eye, held on to the netting next to me with both hands, looked in and said, 'I'm Kevin.' I had sympathy.
Skiing nearly killed me. It was my first time on a harder run. Within a matter of minutes I'd gone off-piste and ended up throwing myself to the ground, looking over a sheer drop. I'm 90% sure I wouldn't have survived the fall. I wasn't injured, but there was a lot of swearing.
My fear of ageing is more about life disappearing – but I find that valuable. The paradox is to be more present, more grateful – then it becomes a gift. I've taken loads for granted, but the older I get, the more precious life feels to me.
I opened the door to a small sauna in a hotel in Santa Monica and a very naked Harvey Keitel was there. I stood in the doorway like: 'Is this cool?' I was allowed to sit down. No conversation – I just let him stretch out. I'm unsure if I was starstruck or just struck.
'He bished, he bashed, he boshed.' That'll do for my headstone. I'd love my kid to remember me as a good dad, and to be remembered as a brilliant actor, but part of me is happy to be forgotten. Let's not worry about that.
Paul Ready is in Three Sisters at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare's Globe until 19 April (shakespearesglobe.com)