You can't overstate the importance of a great teacher. Just ask Tom Varey about his drama teacher, Wynn.
"Before going to college I'd enjoyed drama but I'd never thought it was something that I should pursue," says Varey. "Wynn definitely gave me that shove I needed to take it seriously and apply for drama schools. I learnt so much from her classes, she is the best."
As an actor, Varey has starred in Game of Thrones and Death in Paradise. He's currently a lead character in BBC1 drama Ridley Road.
It's fair to say, Wynn was right to give her young student that shove. Here's to her – and all the teachers quietly changing lives everyday.
Life
What upcoming project(s) are you most excited about?
Ridley Road! It seems like such a long time ago now that we wrapped on it and it was such an amazing project to be a part of that I'm over the moon that's it's now here!
What is your proudest professional accomplishment?
Getting the call to say I'd got the part in Ridley Road was definitely a very happy moment!
I'd absolutely flew through the scrips before meeting for it and kind of fell in love with it, so that was very nice.
I remember having a very happy boogie that day!
If you could change one thing about your career, what would it be?
I wouldn't change anything I don't think, but I'd like to just have a word with myself and say to worry less about what I was doing.
I think I used to do a lot of worrying!
What do you hope to achieve that you haven’t yet?
I have a big book of movies and directors and a while ago I started to compile little notes about directors I would one day love to work with.
I'm a big fan of Robert Eggers' movies, I love that fantasy horror element and I think something like that would be really fun to do.
I'm also a massive massive fan of films that centre around sport: boxing, football, all of it. I think to be able to learn a skill really well for a job would be cool.
Outside of your family, who is / was your biggest inspiration?
My drama teacher in college, Wynn. Before going to college I'd enjoyed drama but I'd never thought it was something that I should pursue.
I think Wynn definitely gave me that shove I needed to take it seriously and apply for drama schools. I learnt so much from her classes, she is the best.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
I think about jaffa cakes and Dr Pepper all the time, all the time.
Style
What’s your favourite item of clothing – and what does it mean to you?
I like to wear boots, I find it important to have a sturdy base foot-wise. At the minute I've got some some Blundstones that just slip on and I tell you what, it's heaven.
I tend to wear boots down the final seconds until holes start to appear on the sole, so I feel like every pair I bond with quite a lot.
Bloomin' heck do I sound obsessed?
Favourite accessory – watch / jewellery / etc – and why is it special to you?
I did a play called 'A Taste of Honey' and my character was actually a pretty horrible fella but he dressed very well.
One of the pieces of jewellery he had was a tie pin in the shape of a dart. When the run of the show came to an end the lovely costume department let me keep the tie pin, and I'm very grateful for it.
What items do you take on holiday and why?
I take as many caps and as many pairs of sunglasses I can get my hands on.
I'm a big fan of a backwards cap but sometimes don't feel like London is the best setting to rock this look, so on holiday its backwards cap 24-7.
Is there an item you threw away – or lost – that you really miss?
Yeah!! I lost a pair of Ray Bans in a shop when I was trying on other sunglasses.
I often think about them and hope they find a nice new home.
What’s next on your shopping list?
Bit of a rogue one but Venezia FC just released their home kit and I think it's unreal, so maybe that to play football in.
What would you buy if money was no object?
Manchester United Football Club, but if we are talking style-wise, probably some Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses – I think they're so cool.
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Watch Ridley Road 9pm Sunday BBC One
