Lenny Henry interview

Written by: Jude Evans
Published: Monday 10th December 2012

Elvis Presley was a huge influence on Lenny Henry's career. The comedian started his showbiz journey (way before the Indian man, Pat-Elvis) as perhaps the first non-white male to take on the challenge of impersonating the 'King', having been coerced by his friends at the tender age of 16 to perform at an open spot in Dudley.

Growing up, there were so many pictures of Elvis in Lenny's home, he thought the star was a relative. "In many ways, Elvis was the perfect pop star. Impossibly good looking, a great mover and an enigma... No-one really knew what he was like. He could also sing pretty much anything."

Lenny has just finished a tour of the country with his one man show, Pop Life. He explains: "It was a show about my fascination with all things to do with music. I placed as many jokes and bits about music into a hundred minutes as I could...

"The tour went well. I did miss everyone back home though, but at least I got to work on my PhD when I was on the road. I'm studying media studies at the moment - with the Royal Holloway College. It's all about sports films, class and gender - all that good stuff."

The academic side of Lenny came about at the age of 22; whilst he was performing with Cannon & Ball in Blackpool. It was at this time in Lenny's life that he decided to study for his O Levels, at nearby Preston College. Reading Yates, Tennyson and Shakespeare, Lenny speed through English literature and language, whilst entertaining holidaymakers in the day.

The thirst for knowledge didn't stop there. Next on his ladder was an Open Degree in English literature. After being awarded his BA, Lenny was still hungry, and so decided to take a master's degree in screen writing; for which he received a distinction - amazing accomplishments for a man that left school at 16 with no qualifications.

I, and many others, were very happy when the comedian 'broke the rules' whilst filming Famous, Rich and in Slums for Comic Relief, and used his own funds to buy children in Kibera a home. I asked him how they were doing. "I was there recently and saw Bernard, Sharon, Linet, Sylvia and Daniel. They are in their new home, and are much happier now. They want everyone in the UK to know that they are incredible grateful, for all the good will they've received. These trips really do keep my feet on the ground, and remind me of what is important in life; shelter, love of your family, friends and fellow man, something to eat, something to drink... It's simple really; why do we make it so complicated?"

Back in England, Henry received the prestigious ES Outstanding Newcomer Theatre Award for his role as Othello, and picked up rave reviews for playing Antipholus of Syracuse, in The Comedy of Errors. Does he now have plans to perform more theatre? "I've really enjoyed my recent foray into theatre, and I intend to pursue acting much more in the next few years. I'm hoping that I gain more experience; really investigate the character exploration process. I want to be a better actor. I never had any training; so the rehearsal period is like a whole new country for me - fantastic..."

He adds: "I begin work on Fences (by August Wilson) at the end of January; it's to be directed by the wonderful Paulette Randall. The play won a Pulitzer Prize, and was first performed by James Earl Jones on Broadway; Denzel Washington recently won a Tony in the lead role. I'm playing Troy Maxson; a garbage collector with bitter experience of being rejected from the major league baseball teams, because of his skin colour.

"Then at the end of next year, I'll begin rehearsals for Shakespeare's Macbeth. That will be with Northern Broadsides, and directed by Barrie Rutter (who directed me in Othello). I can't wait!"

So where does Lenny write, study, and learn lines? "I like writing everywhere. On a train (keep falling asleep) - at home (keep making sandwiches) - in the library (keep looking at people) - and on the beach in the sunshine."

Last month, the fourth series of Rudy's Rare Records went out on Radio 4. It's a wonderfully real and funny sitcom set in a Birmingham reggae and ska record shop, with Lenny in the lead role. He explains more: "Rudy's Rare Records was created by Danny Robins, Dan Tetsell and myself; with Lucy Armstrong producing. I had a very odd relationship with my Father; no hugs, and never once did he say 'I love you'. So the themes of Fathers and Sons, music, Jamaican versus British culture, the Midlands versus Birmingham and middle class versus working class are an incredibly rich seam to explore for comedy. Working with the cast to a studio audience has been some of the best times in my life. Larrington Walker and Jeffery Kissoon are hilarious. And the music of course punctuates each scene."

With someone who adores music as much as Lenny does, I had to ask him about his Desert Island Disc choices (he appeared on the show in 1989). "I'm not sure I would pick Stevie Wonder now; I was very young then, and very much into R'n'B. I think I might choose something like this now:

1: I'm Still Here - Tom Waits
2: She's The One - World Party
3: Raspberry Beret - Prince
4: Flower Duet - Delibes
5: Vide Cor Meum - Hans Zimmer (Hannibal soundtrack)
6: Spirit in The Dark - Aretha Franklin live with Ray Charles
7: Embraceable You - Louis Prima and Keeley Smith
8: Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan
9: Tempts Medley - Persuasions
10: Village Ghetto Land - Stevie Wonder"

Various other singing legends have influenced his passion for music, too. "Having seen a lot of music performed live in my career, I have to say the people who are in total control of their instruments, are the ones that impress me the most: Stevie Wonder, Prince, Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Joan Armatrading, Tom Waits, Little Feat...

"I always liked Quincy Jones albums back in the day, because he had great players on there, like George, Louis Johnson, Ray Charles and Chaka Khan. James Brown has been a constant, as have Parliament and Funkadelic (how funny was it when Ed Miliband kept going on about 'ONE NATION', in his big speech; everyone wanted him to walk to One Nation Under a Grove by Funkadelic)."

Henry adds: "In recent years, Brian Eno [original Roxy Music soundmeister who produced Talking Heads and U2] has been a massive influence on me. He has a series of albums: Music for Film, Thursday Afternoon and Discreet Music; which has been on repeat on my laptop since I don't know when!

"I think one has to think about artists and their classic periods when you get to a certain age, simply because you're not consuming music in the way that you did, when you were in your teens. Unless you're in the music business, you don't have time to be going to gigs/clubs every night of the week, and hanging out at record stores all day; so your source of music changes. Now you buy a record because iTunes told you to, or Q Magazine, or some guy on the radio. You then suffer from 'one click regret'.

"So now I check artists via their purple period: Stevie Wonder from Music of my Mind, through until Hotter than July. Prince from Controversy, right through until the Symbol album, and so on. Best ofs/greatest hits, are very handy; also mix tapes/play-lists from friends... My passion for music is undimmed, because there are still so many soulful artistes out there putting themselves on the line."