That Gaby Roslin Podcast: Reasons To Be Joyful - George Jaques and Ruby Stokes

Episode Date: August 25, 2026

Director George Jaques and actor Ruby Stokes join Gaby for a natter about their new film, 'Sunny Dancer'. Gaby is OBsessed with the film and is telling everyone to see it! Here's the synopsis:As if conquering cancer wasn't hard enough, 17-year-old Ivy's parents sign her up to spend her summer at what she calls "chemo camp", where she manages to find unexpected friends in a group of misfits and has a summer she'll never forget.George and Ruby chat about the film, their careers, working together and what brings them joy; acting, friendships, poetry and cuddly toys!

George Jakes rhymes with cakes. George Jakes rives rimes of cakes. Yes, I like that everybody got you a little baseball cap with that on it. And Ruby Stokes rhymes with... Pokes. Pokes. Ruby booby. Yeah. Oh, my word, you two.

Sunny Dancer is my film of the year. It's both of my daughter's films of the year. Everyone I've spoken to is their film of the year. We know, I'm not for name-droppy reasons, and I'm not going to say. massive writer and director I told her to see it she then left me a voice note just saying I'm absolutely blown away

what a phenomenal talent George and all the cast are another somebody who's a massive casting agent said to me have you seen Sunday dance I went oh yes so we're all slightly over the top about it and I really really mean it from my heart congratulations

it is a phenomenal film I hope you're both hugely proud I'm beyond proud. It's sort of mad, and so grateful to you for shouting about it and celebrating it and doing all the things. I'm all like, I'm gladly proud. It's like it's so weird because we, you know, when we, like, Ruby was the first cast member to come on board and, like, read the script first and I wrote the role for Ruby, but then, like, you sort of start adding people around. I'm so lovely. I wish you'd seen her smile. I know you've said that before, but her smile when you say that is just. Yeah, but it was mad because we worked together on my first movie Black Dogg and Ruby did a day with us and then it was like very clear that we should do it again, but. We sort of kept adding to like, I guess me and you, and then Bella came on and then like, you know, the rest of the young gang. And then like next thing we were shooting in Glasgow with like Neil and James and Jess. And then it was out. And it's like, I think we just had such an amazing magical time. And I know everyone says that about jobs. But like we were going to Glasgow and like listening to Kylie Minogue as a cast, all of us out. And then we would like have dinners all together. And then it's become everyone else's film. And that's a really special thing. But a really weird thing. Yeah. Yeah. Well, like a week since it's been out. And for us and it's been mad sort of handing that over. And is there, I mean, the reaction has been incredible.

You know, four stars, five stars. And as far as I'm concerned, it's five stars across the board. But is it very weird, though, now that everybody knows so much about you and about the, you personally, but also this film, that everybody, Ruby, you know, you're known for so many things. I mean, you're busy, busy actress. but this is the film that's real, the buzz. Does it feel strange for both of you

this week after? Well, I mean, I'm sort of, I'm in total, I'm an adoration of George and like, you know, the fact that I'm even part of it, I feel grateful that you asked me to be a part of it, you know, as your mate and as your friend, but also like as a colleague as well, and I'm just in, also to play comedy, like, for me was so different.

And also, but in the same, time, like, do a story that's so important and you did it with so much, like, love and care that for it to be everybody's feels really exciting. But in all honesty, like, I'm just watching you in adoration and, like, yeah, like, just, it's so exciting. And, I mean, I've always been in awe of a few, like, since we first worked together. How old were you, we both were? We're both the same age, but that was also a thing of, like, oh, my God, George's 23, I'm 23 and George is like

written, directing, producing with his own company which has had since he was 16 I'm an adoration of you No that's so quiet No I think it's really Take it No no I'm like that

You're so British The way you're like no No no it's like It's like you know It's been such a journey to get here And I think it's You know I've done a lot of things now And like I've been lucky that this is my second movie

And like the first movie was People Loved as well but this is on a bigger, bigger scale. And I feel super lucky that the end of the Rainbow Wars, people love the movie, because sometimes we make it and you do these things that people then don't respond as well to. And that's fine because I always say,

like, you have that time together on set and we can all remember what happened. I'm so pleased that you didn't use a word, which I hate people using, which is if something fails or failure. To me, in your industry, in my industry, in the arts, there's no failure. You learn from each thing.

And the fact that this was a huge success, ride that wave and enjoy that wave, but it's right that it's a success because it is that good. You know, sometimes things can be, everyone can be talking about it because somebody jumped out of an airplane. It's not particularly good film, but oh. Did you not see that scene in Sunny, you know, all of the hype and celebrity and all that, which I can't bear all of that. And this is a film for the, the reason it's the success is because of the way it's written, acted and directed.

And I think it's as simple as that. And it's so independent, you know, and like truly, truly, it's not like, oh, it's independent, but A24 are releasing it. Like, this is fully, like, as independent as it sort of goes. But I think where it's been, like, mad, like being a week out of, like, the films saw in cinemas and doing really well,

is, like, you're still, I wake up every morning and I get, like, letters and huge messages from young survivors being, like, where I finally feel seen in something, or then I read a interview that someone did or they've written something about me that's like and talks about my mum and her journey with cancer and it's a really weird experience

because you're like that was such a deeply personal time in my family and then someone's writing about something I said on a Berlin panel about there was a version of this movie where my mum wasn't sitting in that audience and then you're seeing that in different things and it can be really overwhelming in one side but then also incredibly beautiful because people are

sort of connecting it and talking about it and talking about the authenticity of it and and that so I just feel so so lucky that like we've got to make this thing and people now get to watch the thing. And wonderful that your mum absolutely can sit in the audience and watch it and be proud of her baby boy. But the other extraordinary thing is,

and I know I've said this to you before on the radio, is that I was imagining that friends of mine who have cancer or going through cancer, the last thing they want is somebody to say, you've got cancer, oh, and do the head tilt. And this film doesn't do the head tilt and doesn't just, cancer is part of the story. It's not, this is about people

that their headline isn't, I have cancer. No, I've had cancer. And I think like, you know, truthfully, the cancer was the least interesting thing about all those characters, from Ruby's characters to Bella's. But when I was working with Teenage Cancer Trust and working with, like, the young people.

What a charity. And what an amazing... What a charity. We both work. We're very lucky to work with them. And it's mad because you sort of meet all these young people. And at first, I'm going to be totally honest. Like, you don't know how to win.

interact. When you go to the wards and stuff, you sort of are a bit scared because you're like, I don't know how this is going to go or like what's going to happen. And then you meet these young people. And I remember going and I always talk about this. I remember going and they like this young person, young guy who was in Ed Hardy jeans and Jordan's trainers and he was having chemotherapy. And I was like, you are no different from any of my mates. And it's just the stigma and this noise and the way our industry has sort of presented young survivors for so long as other. And actually, no, they're still as horny as excited. as teenagers we all were.

They've just gone through this really awful thing that no young person should go through or no person should go through. And I think that's what I'm really proud about the film is we got to celebrate the young people for who they were beyond their diagnosis and then got to cast young survivors and then actually got to make a cancer film

that really is just about a group of young people hanging out. Exactly. And just so happens that they also have that in common. But talking to the young people with the teenage Cancer Trust, I think for me, after years of chatting to these young people, it's just every soul, and I feel like it's them giving me a little slap around the thing.

And that's what I feel this film does as well. Yeah, in a hug. A hucking slap. We can get really caught up, you know, like, and I'm the same of it of like, you know, when you haven't got the job you want to get out or you haven't, you know, you didn't get that five star where you really wanted that five, you got a four, or whatever it is.

And you're both actors as well. And it's a difficult industry You know, there are times There's a hard And there are times where you hate it And then, but I think what this film How it's changed my life is going My God, aren't we lucky to be here

And have our health and we'll be able to sit in a podcast Food on a Friday And talk about a film that we're all so proud of And you know, celebrate that like So it is that slap in the face of you going Remind yourself how lucky And I always say this at the moment Is like there was a

You know, because it's really easy I'm like releasing the movie around the world and we're about to theatrically released in America and all of this stuff which is so exciting but there was also like you know you're then thinking about what's next and like what are you writing

and like you know the other projects I'm working on but I always go at the moment and it's probably because I've grown up a little bit in the last few years of going like the George that you met when I was 21 I direct to Black Dogg you know like would have dreamed of this you know I would have dreamed to have a movie

in like cinemas around the UK and being like this you know because Black Dog did a really tiny release and so it's such a like good reminder when that snap in that face. I think that's partly because of teenage cancer trust and partly because of who you surround yourself with. And you surround yourself with fantastic people.

Let's talk about... Ruby stuck with me, basically. That's it, yeah. You've got to do stuff together. You've got to do more stuff together. But let's talk about you two as away from the film. So you were both teeny when you both just went, yeah, this is what I want to do.

You were younger than I was. Was I? Was I? Read you were seven? Oh my God, was I? Someone's writing that out there for me. So it's not true. No, no, I think I was a bit of, oh, sorry, I was a bit of a shy kid, and so I just did, like, I've got myself trapped in the white.

We can talk shyness big time because I'm very shy, we talked about shy. It's performing is what a lot of shy people. It just brought me out on my shell and I just, like, I loved it. And then I, you know, did it here and there. And then I think I was like 15 when I went, oh, is this a viable thing to do with my life? And, you know, I think a lot of this industry is right time, right place and luck and talent and whatnot. And I've just, I've been very fortunate that it's all come into an amalgamation at one, you know, inception. And I've had the career thus far that I've had.

But I'd say I only sort of realized that I was like, ah, is this a real thing at like 15, 16? And is that when you did the circus training? Yeah, I did. Oh my God. I can't tie it. I did do, yeah, I did do circus training at like 14. Yeah. What can you do?

Flange peas, silks, rope. You name it, Gabs, I've got it. You, I can move it out right now. You can you actually do it? Can you actually, I didn't know this? I swear I've told you. It's my one, you know, the drama game where it's like, give me two.

Truths and a life. Yes. And I'm always like, well, let me adjust. I've got some circus training. No, but I, yeah, I'm thinking I've got to get this into the next version. So Neil is circus trade as well. I know, which is crazy. Yeah.

He can... And I'll sit on the ground shooting it. Yeah, exactly. You can get the steady cam out and... No, but yeah, I always love for them. And then all of the past off that you've done, all the acting that you've done, all the work that you've done, has it solidified how much you love it?

Because you're still very young, both of you're very young. You're the same age, aren't? Yes, yeah. And you're both very young. Does it make you think this... I've made that right? I want to do. this. Yeah, massively. I think my hunger. I'm so pleased. For it only, only is always growing. Good.

I'm so pleased you said that. I think what's been, and it's your go to get awkward now, but what's been so amazing about watching Ruby's career and also being a very small part of directing you in two things is just going like Ruby never. My director's quite a big part. Yeah, but only in two films. No, but it's quite a big part. Don't underplay yourself. No, but it's so amazing sort of watching like, like there's a lot, we both know a lot of the same actors and it's not a slight on them at all, but watching people go from like one big show to another, whereas you've had such a varied career of going from like, you know, Bridgeton for a bit to then Black Dog with me and then going into Lockwood and Co.

It was amazing. And then we both worked with Samantha Morton. Samantha Morton's played both our moms on separate things and sort of like bouncing between independent film and then big studio stuff and then coming back. And I think that's what makes Ruby so special as she doesn't really realize how unbelievable she is. and I think like in pretty much every review.

No, no. That's so kind of you, George. In every review, it's sort of like Ruby is unbelievable and sunny dance when I feel so like, wow, like how cool that we got to create that role for you and do that. Imagine if you had said no. I was thinking about this the other day. I would have said it. I love your writing.

But that's also the thing as well. Like you, we became friends and I think you saw a side of me where you, you know, it's like, you gave me the opportunity to do some a bit of comedy and improv on set as well like you know we took some of those was it improvised? No it's mostly written by but we always did one

we did a thing called a Ferrell take which is basically like after every cast member had done the script I would then go like Reebs do something wild or like Ferrell like because the directors in the past have got to me do something crazy and I used to be like as an answer I'd be like I'm really sick but that embarrassing to me yeah it's just awful and then you're like what do

what's crazy you know but Ferrell sort of feels like you get boundaries with that you sort of go okay I can be a bit wilder but it's not extreme you're not pushing for like hey come up the most outrageous joke you know you're doing something within my structure but I think it's also what you cultivate on set as the director and like the boundaries you create but the atmosphere you cultivate is that one of oh I feel free enough as an actor to play and to explore you know sometimes you can do a job and you're like I love this but oh god I feel maybe a bit judged or whatever and I think You create an environment where it's like, okay, go it, go for it,

and then if not, I'll draw you back slightly, and that was why I felt comfortable to, exactly. Which is so fun, but I think, like, you know, also when you trust each other, some of the things like, you know, you're doing in the film is pretty wild. You know, there's scenes where you're coming in in, like, a green corset and going like, bam, like, you know, like, there's some wild moments,

but I think what was so fun about writing that with you and mind, like, for the role was, like, Ruby would tell me stuff when we'd hang out in, like, cafes. Apart from that she could do circus. Yeah, what the hell, Judge? Why did you implement that? When you told me you basically, what was it that you were like

the number one kayaker or canoeer? Oh my God, no. You did like, she did that like youth game. Yes, she's an Olympic gold kayak. I'm actually, no, I did like, the youth games when I was younger. I must have come third. But it's just so fantastic.

I love that. No, I love it. No, you know what? Enjoy all of that. Because that makes you what you are. That's such a varied. You've done so much and you're still so young and you've got so much still to do.

And the same with you, George. I mean, so you're acting. So you're acting, with your acting head, this casting agent who I was seeing, who was an old friend of mine, and we were just said, and I said, have you seen, and that's the one that she was going completely mad about, she said, oh, I used to get him in for casting. Who was it? I won't say now. Okay, you're telling me afterwards. And she just said, he is extraordinary.

Wow. But the fact that at 16, you started up a company, because we've got more time on a podcast, because on the radio show when we talked about that, I thought, I need to know more. So you act, you then thought I'm going to start up a company at 16. You know, it was a really weird one because it was actually all at, I basically at school I got the role of Paperboy in Bugsley Malone,

which I think was a made-up role because I couldn't sing or dance. So they were like, you get one line. And that was about 15 when I did that. You could have been anything that you won. I couldn't even sing. So it was so embarrassing. I wasn't allowed to do any of the dancing. And I think I got my line wrong most nights.

But I then sort of was like, you know, I had done a lot of sense. sports before then so I was sort of quite sporty and was like but then I didn't really fit in with all the like rugby lads or football I just very much wasn't that I was like no I can't do that thing and then sort of discovered that and was like wow maybe this is really what I love and at the same time we lost the mate when we were growing up and I think that sort of grief was so intense and I was a very kind of I grew up in south London and I was super lucky to sort of grow up in London and all those things of course that was a massive part of my life and the sort of fortunate of that and the luckiness and sort of being grateful for that but in the same place

it was a really hard place to grow up as well because it's a really like intense environment and like you know I went to a sports school where you're like really told like you're pushed and pushed and pushed and you know so you're sort of you're growing and then my mum was diagnosed

when you're 15 yeah and then you know I was sort of in that like weird spot that like we were you know like the sort of want I guess one of the most important people in your life is your mom like is sort of unwell and you're watching that journey and you're sort of struggling at that age

and then you're sort of hanging out with the wrong people and it was sort of a lot of clichés started happening. And I think then truthfully I sort of went, you know what, let me go and write a play. And then that became everything. And I think I was such a like energetic teenager, but then was like, right, let me put everything into this. And I went around at my local pub and I raised four grand,

you know, and managed to get this money together and then hired an abandoned railway arch in London Bridge and got this company called White Light to sponsor all the lighting and the stage. And then my dad's a builder. and we got this rake seat and turned up. And I remember trying to put it up with my stage manager who was like 18 at the time. So it felt really old because I was 16

and was like, he's 18, he's got this. And the whole thing was wobbling, but we had a sold out show that whole week. So I had to call my dad and he had to get his scaffolder mates to come and we were all like putting it up. And I'll never forget it. We were in this railway arch

and I was putting the scaffolding up and I was sweating and my school would give me like a week off to put this show on. All the scaffolders were smoking in this railway and I was like, well, they can't spend the fire alarms and my dad just looked to me and when do you want a show tonight? And I was like,

this is Hollywood. Yeah, yeah, this is. And then we put it on and the show happened. And what's happened to that show now? So it was... So it was... Yeah, so it was a play. So it was in this band and rare rights. So you'd come in and we had this DJ for my Beather in there who sort of did this live set and you walked into this rave and you watched all these teenagers do a load of fake drugs with you

and you were forced to sort of party with them. And then you watched this kid overdose. And then when you went to the bar next door, you were having a drink and everyone was sort of having a cocktail or whatever. And then the kid got stretched in. by paramedics and rushed through and when you went back into the arch it was a hospital and then you watched this kid sort of

I played this kid right so I was then in a coma for the second half so I was just lying like that for like a long time very good at dying but then it was sort of a hospital and you just watch this kid always in the background of every scene so it's immersive theater before immersive became yeah we sort of described as world building

and it was like you know so you watch these scenes and these kids sort of fracture and their moms and all this stuff and like but you sat with them And, you know, we were all 16, 17, and the show sold out, and I got a call two weeks later from the CEO of Sky. A guy called Gary Davy at the time, and Zai Bennett and Anne Mensa at the time, who's now one of the heads of Netflix over here. And they were like, yeah, BATSia BBC, and they were like, Gary was like, one of our daughters happened to be at your show. She said it was the best thing she's ever seen. Can we meet you? And I was like, what?

I just, I can't believe I'm getting emotional. It's make me cry. It's so mad because it was like, I so didn't know this in, like, it was the first time my life I felt accepted by anything and was like, right, I've really found something I love doing. And then they read the play and I got taken into Sky and they were like, you know, and Zai was there and all of them and they were like, what do you want to do next? And I was like, I've written this second play. And then I was like, I'm trying to raise money and they went, we'll give you all the money. And it was so mad and they supported that. And then, you know, then I got asked to do a West End transfer for the play and I didn't want to do it. And then we did the second play instead. And then I got asked to take that around the UK and I didn't want to do it. And I think for me it was always just about the integrity of the work and leaving it where it was. But then, you know, I felt so lucky that I sort of like got to do those. And then I had a show at the National when I was 18. I won a competition and landed my first lead as an actor. And it was amazing. It was this really incredible time from 16 to 18 of working and creating work and like getting it wrong. Were you still at school then?

I was still at school. I was doing A levels and I was getting it wrong and I got a scholarship to uni and all these things and I was like I am doing the thing and I'm like feeling really good and I landed this lead role for Amazon and I was like looking at flats in Nine Elms I was like this is it I'm gonna be famous and then it all got cancelled and then I was like what

what do you mean it got cancelled? So the Amazon show got cancelled before I shop but I turned down university I was then like back to I was working at a barbershop in Shortwich at the time and on a market stall in Clapham and I was like back there I'd quit both and then was back and was like my dad was like you've got a year to prove to me you don't need to go to university. And I remember just being like,

where do you start when you've had sort of a rise and then being set back massively? What's next? So it was a really mad time. It's also like going back to what I said before, there's no failure. And it was a setback, but it wasn't because I mean, I'm somebody who truly believes that things happen for a reason. And you were being in the moment and you just thought, right, now what's next? You didn't just go, I'll just stay here then. You just thought what's next? And now look what's happened. And I think for me it was like a lot of my mates went and got like a massive Netflix job that they blew up and it happened overnight. And that's so brilliant.

I'm so proud of them. But I'm so grateful also that I learned how to make a career beyond sort of waiting for the phone to ring. Yeah. You create your own opportunity. You have to nowadays. Especially, yeah. And especially at like such a young age as well that's only meant. I mean, it is, I'm going back to how we started.

but it is extraordinary. At the age you, God, tell everybody how what this is, we keep talking about your age. I'm 26 now, yeah, yeah, yeah. 26, and at 23, was that you were 23 when you wrote this? Yeah, yeah. You wrote Sunny Dancer at 23 with your own production company,

and then you produced it, and you directed it at 23, 24. That was 24 and said, yeah, yeah, yeah. It is unheard of. I mean, it's very, very, very, very rare. I mean, I don't think I've ever felt so proud of somebody who's not a member of my family ever. I get everywhere I go, I talk about you and I was at this, I'll tell you off there as well. But I think last night, and there was another casting agent who was talking. She said, oh, what have you seen recently?

And I said about Sunday dancer. And all the people there were all talking about it. No way. Yes, and they're all talking about how fantastic you are as well, Ruby. And Bella, they're incredible. I mean, it's just mad to me that people were watching. our movie and like but also all of the actually have to I don't want to just pick I I think all the group of you there was no it's so wonderful to see something there's

no weak link there was no bad egg no weak link but also it's it's about the wider picture and we need obviously well let's talk about the extraordinary way that you got Neil Patrick Harris who I am in love with Neil Patrick Harris how you got Scissor Sisters on board how I mean James Blunt is there. So the whole, that role, like you said, with all these heads of Sky and BBC and what have you. And that sort of happened again, didn't it? This is how this rolled.

It was, you know. So you were on board. Ruby was there. Yeah. Did you say yes straight away? Of course I did. Good. Yeah, no, you did.

No, you did. No, you did. No, you did. I was just trying to remember. No, it was, so I wrote this script and when I was, I think I probably met you when I was writing it. we had coffee or lunch or something because we're done Black Dog and I was writing it in the edit

and I probably said look I'm writing this thing and there's a role in it that I want you to do I imagine I would have dangled that carrot but not told Ruby anything is usually what I would do as well because I'm very like I don't like talking about projects I'm working because I'm like I'm trying to figure it out and I'm trying to work and then I don't want to get it wrong and be like

she's the horny roommate and you're like really George what you do it you know like you're so you're figuring out how you describe it and everything but so Ruby was the first actor on board, which was amazing. And then it was about going out to find our Ivy, you know, and, you know, Daniel Edwards and Lucy Allen and Tom Paine, who cast it, were sort of giving you all these names, and then they sort of went,

how about Bella? And I didn't know Bella, and I was like, you know, had watched The Last of Us and was a fan and was like, you know, but also had seen a tiny movie they did at another independent film called Two for Joy, which is beautiful with Samantha Morton again. I love that film. They're really beautiful film and stuff like that. And I was like, they're so amazing. And I was like, but there's no way they're going to do this job.

And then we sent their agent Georgie the scripts and Georgie read it and loved it. And then next thing it was going to Bella and then you're sort of like, maybe they might like it or whatever. And then I got an email being like Bella wants to meet you and I had no idea what that meant. You know, was it good, was it bad? Was it everything? I didn't think she was going to, I didn't think that Bella was going to sit there and they were going to say, oh, well, lovely to have a coffee with you.

I don't like it. But you'd be surprised, you know, because actors are wild sometimes. You know, sometimes they'll go like, you know, you're ending. And I'm like, oh, well, you're. I didn't know you, like, started writing. You know, like, it's really wild. Sometimes you're like, yeah, yeah, not so much on some...

But sometimes I've had it where, like, you'll meet an actor and they'll be like, yeah, I just didn't like that. And I'm like, it's not even your character. You know what I mean? So you sort of have to, you know, and that's fine. You know, actors have... They're often, like, I, after I sort of turned 18 and sort of went back in, I trained under Nick Heitner.

I was his intern in theatre. And he always said a really good actor. What a person to... I mean, please. I know, that was mad. But he was like, what's so good about amazing actors is they can fix a bad script and I was always like wow that's so interesting like hearing you know like that watching a group of actors in rehearsals fixing something is quite a magical thing to witness and I

do believe that but yeah I think so we then I had a zoom with Bella and Bella was like you know luckily loved it so then Bella signed on and then it was about casting that rest of the gang around Ruby and Bella and going right well what energy does Ralph played by Old Cave need to have you know we knew that sort of like Bella's going to be quite better's character Ivy is going to be quite like sort of angry at the world, then sort of pulled back and then we'll find the tribe but won't be the loudest in the group. And then like we knew that you were an agent of chaos that would just come into scenes and like to strut stuff and go for it and crazy. And then you're like, okay, well now we need somebody even crazier in Ralph that can sort of, you know, if you're

going left, he's going to go bang up. And then you sort of go about Conrad Carney plays Archie, you know, then you're sort of finding someone that can sort of really pull back and be quiet but quite understated. I think they're amazing. And then Daniel Quinn and Toye plays Jake, you know, who's at the love interest. And then we found Jasmine Elcock, who's first ever job it is on screen, you know, it's her first film. And that's mad to me because you've been doing it for, it was close to, what, eight years when we shot, you know, probably, more or less. Gosh, it's not ridiculous, and you're only 26.

Fantastic. Bella was, like, had been doing it for, like, 10, you know, like, when we shot, like, oh, I'd been doing it for a while. Conrad had been doing it for ages. And then Jasmine, it was like, yes, she had done amazing theatre and Britain's got talent, got the golden buzzer, which I always think is so cool. But it was then you're quite scared as a director. you're putting these actors together in a group where they have to look like best mates.

Well, it worked. Now let's talk MPH, Neil Patrick Harris. I mean, I still can't believe you didn't do circus tricks together. Next film. When are you going to write that two hands? But Neil is just wonderful and there is, we won't talk about it, but there is a moment. I know you've put it on your socials and looking at it again on socials. I just ma-ha, that moment, which,

we sort of, I think we had no idea it was coming. It literally came out of nowhere that moment while you're watching it and it takes your breath away. Because you're sort of not expect, you know there's going to be something, but you don't know what it is. But he's fantastic. And the way he, because I'm lucky to interview him for Magic Radio about this film. And he loved it and loves you, but really, really, really admires you. respects you and loves you. And he's, you know, he's an old hand at it.

He's been there seeing it on it. He's an old hag. No, he's an old hag. He's an old hand at it. He has been there seeing it done it. And what a, he was so beautifully generous about you and how much he loved it. But then talk to me about, he overheard something. Didn't he overheard a conversation?

I think, you know, Neil, like, and it's so mutual with us because I think what I love about him And what I love about anyone I work with that sort of older than me is, I'd be really lucky that they've never treated me like a young filmmaker. You know, or even when I was young, it was like younger. It was always like I loved working with, my first AD's worked with me since I was 18 and he's in his 40s and he's amazing. That's how it should be. People shouldn't be judged by their age.

Not anymore, I think. And so Neil, it was mad. So we had Esty Haim on board to do the composed musing from the Gobynheim. And that was mental because she had gone to diabetes camp. So sort of really connected with the script and wanted to be able to. part of it and I really wanted to sort of make the musical language of the film like a real beating heart of it. And then SD and the Heim sisters, Alana and Daniel, were all the Emmys together and Jessica Gunning. It was the year that we had Jess attached to the film before Jess

won every award for Baby Reindeer. And they were chatting about Sunny Dancer and about the projects and they were all meeting and stuff like that. And then Neil overheard all of this and was like, who's this George Shakespeare's kid? And then called his manager, Jason Weinberg, who's also my manager by chance and was like, can I meet him? And then I got this. And then he was like, what's funny, you should say that because George texted me saying that would Neil Patrick Harris ever work in the UK? And like, it wasn't about Sunny. And then so he basically match made us and put us on a Zoom that was supposed to be, Neil says it was supposed to be 20 minutes. I say it was like supposed to be two hours. But, you know, we were then on for like two and a half hours just

chatting about everything. Because my first lead role was with Sky and HBO, Huntstruck, the immersive theatre company and that was when I was opposite Jude Law and it was an amazing thing to be a part of and Neil is the biggest punch drunk fan and a massive theatre fan ever like he's done that you me bum bum train oh oh yeah have you done it I've never done it I'm Neil's performed in it no way did you have you no way yeah I can't say what but we you know we get we do we do a something I've been a something in a something and you me bum bum train James has done it I'm James not as well yeah yeah yeah there's a few of us who do there's a certain role that I'm not going to say because obviously you can't say anyone if you don't want to ruin it.

But he, I think he just, obviously there must be a connection because he started when he was very young as well. I think we spoke a lot about that. I think we spoke a lot about sort of growing up in this industry and the hardness of that. And like, you know, and it's been an amazing journey and my company's 10 next year and I'm so grateful for everything that's happened. But it's also a really high pressure environment and like being. and acts is one thing and that was hard, you know, because you're walking down the street. No, don't say was because you still act. No, still, and I do, but like, you know, when you're doing a show like that, you know,

there is a lot of pressure because you're, you know, with Samantha Morton and I were doing a death scene and a eight and I'm having to die in front of loads of people in this show was like 100 million quid and it's so much pressure. Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, but then with... Then you've got all the pressure as well because you're... Well, I think it's sort of more with directing because you feel like you have the weight of the world in your shoulders.

Yeah, and I think we really bonded over that and over the sort of, you know, the sort of of hard a bit of our industry and sort of pulling, and Neil's made his own work and has directed. So we really clicked over that, but then also over how we work. And what I was so blown away with Neil and why, after that call, I sent him the script that night and he read it that night. And then the next day he called me and he was like,

we had a chat about it. And then he signed onto the project. But it was, and also, like, we should mention, like, Neil is a hugely successful as American actor, right? And like to come to Glasgow for no money pretty much and sort of go hang out in a, not great hotel

for two weeks and come to say yeah he's a person but that's what he's so real but he didn't have to do that and he didn't have to come early

to the job on his own money and settle in and get over jet lag he didn't have to come out to Kylie with us or he didn't have to take everyone for dinner like you know and he really just went above him and he didn't have to come to any of the press there was a version of this movie that he just was in America and going

good luck guys you know but he was there at Berlin he was there at London and everything and now you're going over to the states yeah and you and I went of you together. And I went to see him. I did a trip to L.A. in New York last year after I shot the film.

Just sort of like I had to do a couple of bits and bobs. But I end up to going to his place in the Hamptons and got to stay with him and his family and like meet all of his dogs. And like he basically just hand you a dog when you get there. It's amazing. They've got like five dogs and you just get given one. Yeah, you can. There's dogs everywhere.

Forget Neil. And they're so cute. Like Chunk is a French bulldog. He's just got the best. But I think we all just had the best time and he is so generous and so. and so brilliant because what he can do and where it's hard to dinect reptil is he can give you everything.

So you know that like, you know, it's so wide the range that he can do because he can go from How I Met Your Mother to Gone Girl and then he can go to Count Olaf and then he can go to Sunny Dancer and you're like, okay, well where do I want to pitch that? And that's a really hard thing to decide. But he gave you what you wanted

because it's how you were, you've got to own some of it. You've got to own some of them. But he was really brilliant at that as well because he kept going to me and I think it was probably a confidence thing of going I want to be your Patrick so what do you want me to do?

Whereas a lot of actors you work with go like this is what I'm going to bring to the character and that's really exciting too it's just two different ways of working but he was very much like what's in that brain and I was like I don't know how okay we didn't I didn't talk about James Blunt how did you get James Blunt

how did that happen? James was He really is in it he really is in it and he's actually really good in it and all those lines that he does that's all him improvising because we were all on set watching him perform your beautiful all morning basically and he was um he was so brilliant so james was a weird one so i was always in the script as music superstar you don't mean james is a weird one no james was a weird way of getting

there was always music superstar i didn't know who it was going to be and obviously we're we talk about craig david and we make a joke out of craig like just in terms of that he might be turning up and all this stuff so we knew we had to get someone big um and when i was 16 and i was setting up that first plate one of the people i met at that pub that i was raising money was a guy called Todd Interland who was a came up to me and he was like hey I'm a music manager he didn't give me any money for the play but he was like I'm a music manager and I was like take my card and one day you might need it and then he was I was like who do you manage and he was like James Blant and then sort of like 10 years later I called him and I was like Todd remember me yeah

it was like do you remember me please you kept his card so please right and then I called him and he was like yeah of course I do and then we were chatting and he was like that's amazing and I was like we've got this film and Rubez is in it and like, you know, Bella and Neil and all these things. And then he was like, yeah, it's amazing. Like, what's the fee? And I was like, there isn't one. And then I was like, but I really want James to do this. And fair place James, he got an easy jet flight and came up to Glasgow and sung your beautiful about 12, 15 times. Oh my God. Like, 20,000 times he sang it. And he was just so, like, just did it. And that flipping line he says to Shalom is just, oh my God. So with the therapist in it, like this isn't a

spoiler, but he's sitting next to the therapist. I was very clear that he was going to sing the song, this was in the script, he was going to sing the song, go sit down at the judging table, watch the performances, and then sort of announce the winner, basically. He sits down and he's sitting next to the therapist in the film played by the wonderful Shalom, Brum Franklin, and Josie Walker, who plays the camp now as Brenda.

Oh, that whole interaction is just genius. And I'm filming this, and I've got two cameras, but not all on. So it was very hard because I couldn't, like, it was just a hard shot to get. And then he just goes, like, can I have your number to the therapist in the scene as improv? And then she's like, no, sorry, I'm still working at camp, I can't give my number out.

And then Brenda, the nurse, sort of goes, you could have mine. And it was just this thing that you're watching as a director. And you're just like, what the hell is going on? But it was so good, I put it in. I'm so pleased. I mean, you're both flying. And does it, when you do something like this that everybody's talking about

and there's this big buzz and you're going over to the States and it's just going to keep flying, is there that feeling of, okay, it's like an album so every time I speak to any huge music act and they do a great album they go oh really scared about the next album I hope you don't have that please do I think I'm what I'm trying to say is don't have that I think I've always had that and it's not a bad thing but I always remember the play when I was 16 die late it was called

and then breathe and all the other things I did but I always worried I was like I don't know if I'll ever be better than that play and it's not like an attention-seeking thing, it was just like, that was so magical that play, and it was so raw, and I didn't know what I was doing, and I was so, like, not sure about that that wasn't a normal thing to do to put a play on at 60. I had no idea, so it just felt so organic and me and everything. And what I've sort of come to learn, and this is because I've had, like, amazing people around me, like the Niels, like everyone around, that you go, like, it won't be better,

it will just be different. And that's a really exciting thing, and I sort of try and take that into acting, but I don't know about you. Do you feel like, you know, when you went from, Bridget in to then like Lockwood or then like to Sunny or then to like blackdoor all the other wonderful jobs you did

between Mad Fabulous and then the new show with that I love that I was gonna ask George to reel off my entire TV yeah yeah and then she did this and the next one and the next but is it skit do you ever have that moment?

Do you have that moment? Um I was going to make a joke about being employed um you can happily make a joke about being employed I think It's always a relief to be employed

It is a relief to be employed I just enjoy doing like a variation of Work and as an actor like going from period to Comedy and whatnot It's just like exciting for me to play a different range And more than anything I think I'm just excited for what's next Rather than afraid of what's next But I think there's also sorry

No no go say No I think there's also always going to be a part of me that sits in the bottom of my stomach of, oh God, like what will the next thing be, but it's trusting that, you know, hard work and whatnot.

Yeah, but also, let's hopefully people will take this on board. To every actor, director, producer, presenter, musician, don't say, what's next? I don't, do you,

I can't bear it if somebody said, What's next? But in that way? Oh, that's really good. What are you going to be doing next? It's sort of, I don't think anyone should ever ask an act of that. I think it should be a rule. Yeah, and also because it's such an anxiety-inducing exercise of, like,

that I'm writing lots at the moment and that's fine. You know, I'm grateful for that. But there was a version of this movie where I, like, went and lie on a beach for like three months after finishing this press tour. Have you had any lying down? I have had lying down, which is really nice. Good, good. On the beach?

Not on a beach, but we are going to Thailand at Christmas. So I'm very excited. Oh, how lovely. I've never gone beyond Europe, I've gone to America, but never gone, like, all my mates went traveling when I was growing up or, like, my actor mates. So you're busy doing, putting on shows. I never did that. So, like, now we're doing that, and I'm like, oh, my God, I'm going to go to a beach and. You enjoy it.

And will you do, will you learn some circus tricks? Yeah, I'm going to try. I can teach you. Okay, so we got that one in the book. You write the next film. You write the next film. I'll teach you some circus tricks. Okay, so give us the list of what, so you can juggle?

I actually can't do. Oh, I can teach you to druggling. Can you? I can teach you. So you've got juggling soared. Okay, juggling. Juggling. Juggling.

A bit flange peas. A lot of... Olympic kayaker. Olympic kayaker. I don't know how this is... Silk's... Is that the one where you do that and you do the dancing

on the side of the silk? Yeah, you like climbing. And you loop down? You do... I was thinking, what was that thing with the stick that you just go like that running about? I can do that too. You know the one that you just go like that?

They do that in the Olympics, don't know. I'm sort of... I'm like, you know, get me in an audition room. Someone goes, can you horse ride? And I'm like, yeah. Good. I also read Rons and I was 12 So yeah, I can do it.

You know it's one of them things where you just go Yes and Well zip lining Because you know that Neil loves doing all of that Yeah When I was interviewing him He said right we're going bungee jumping And I said no

Will you come zip lining with me Because I just love zip lining So that's what you have to get in the next film You want a trapeze Neil bungee jumping With you and you zip line I don't at least be in the film I'll just zip line

You can do it on me Hi everyone how's all going If I got James Bluntin I can definitely get you and that's it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Zip-lining through at the next camp at year two like that. They're going to put like a GoPro on your head. Oh, that's how to be your camera person. Perfect, thank you. There we go. That's the shot I need. I'll film the sit while she's

doing the still. This is amazing. And Neil is on stilts or whatever. Yeah, and bungee jumping. And he can eat fire. Oh, no, he can spray fire. You know, you know when you're like, fire eating? He can't eat fire, yes. He can't eat fire, because he was like that, he didn't want the, like, chap's living. No, you know, you know when you're like, you eat the fire breathing. Yeah, it is. You know when you like, swallow it. Yeah. But he can do. But he do the other way where you like put something in your mouth and then spit it out. Oh and then... Don't try it at home.

That's his party trick. No. Crat, that was my plan on your home. No, I know. Both of you, it's been complete nutter joy. Sunny Dancer is out now. Everybody has to go and see it. It's going to be streamed eventually.

But when it is streamed, I will be raving about it all over again. Anything that I can, in my little world that I can do to help this film and to help you guys, I will do because I truthfully, 100% believe in you as people, not just the film. Now, we always ask people if they can bring, I don't know if you have, if anyone asks you, something that brings you joy. Mine's really, I was going to have been cupcakes, right?

Because I was like, that's the best thing to do on a Friday. Is it? That brings you joy. Okay. I like it. But would you make them? I've really got, yes, if I had not done, yes. If I wasn't sunny dancing, I would have made these cakes.

But I really like baked stuff at the moment. I feel like I'm in my like baking it. Is that your therapeutic away from writing? I actually get really stressed with it though. I'm then like so stressed about getting it. You're directing the whole thing. I was got a look.

Yeah, exactly. It's not quite. Yeah. But then instead I bought, when I was going through a crazy time of my life, I had an amazing therapist that sent me this and it's this amazing company called Poetry Pharmacy. Poetry Pharmacy, that's amazing.

And they usually do it in the little like bottles. But I've got this book and there's one poem which I say that everyone should go and read. It's called The Guest House. It's my favorite. it's nice because it really helped us through me through sunny dancer in a really brilliant way which I'll find now okay so it says this being human is a guest house every morning a new arrival a joy a depression a meanness some

momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor welcome and entertain them all even if there is a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture still treat each guest honorably he may be clearing you out for some new delight the dark thought the shame the malice meet them at the door laughing and invite them in be grateful for whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond and I feel like it's a really nice reminder of going like if you feel shit in the morning

or you feel scared or you like let that be and don't feel. Yeah and feel it and I always say I only work with people in this industry who take the work really seriously but not themselves because if you do that right and you let you feel everything and there was days where I didn't want to

I didn't feel 100 on set or you didn't or Bella didn't and that's fine too and as long as you sort of are honest you welcome that then I think you're in for like a good thing. That's fantastic. That's mine. That helps me a bit. You should, the guy that was on our podcast this week.

He was brilliant. Lucas Jones, I haven't you, his book in. But also his one about the like, about the one when the mum asked to read the poem at the funeral. Yeah. That is so beautiful. He's incredible. And you would love it. He's an actor as well.

Is he? And he's a, have you seen his poetry? It's amazing. I listened to when you called up to his mom on the pod. Yeah. You two should get together. Yeah. Just an idea.

Have you brought some. I have a little picture of mine. It's just my... It's not as beautiful as this. No, we don't. No, no, no, no, no. We're not judging. It's just my cuddly toys in my bed. Oh, I love that. Here we are. I love that. Let's have a look.

Wow, they not live... Let's have a look. They've been with you for a minute. Are you calling them disgusting? No. They're not. Talk me through them. Each one. Yes. You know what it is? I take the little panda on every job I do. Love me.

home and then the middle one is a pillow pet and I've had that. A pillow pet? So I always wanted a pillow pat as a kid. What is a pillow pet? Oh, it's that? It's a picture. We have to describe it in case people like, let's feel you're saying it. Basically you like, you fold it and then it's an animal and then it comes out and it's a, it's a pillow. But I always wanted one as a kid and then my mum sort of jokingly, not jokingly got me one at 16 and I've treasured it ever since. Oh, I love that. And you're a monster. I'm like, oh, Sully, because that's my favourite film, I think.

Wow, but also, there's like, there's one, I remember when I was a kid, I had, like, a toy that I went, my parents-de-ball, so I had, like, one that used to come with me, I put my school bag, and then, like, take between the two houses, and someone took it for my school bag. No! And I thought, like, I don't know who they are, I hope that's on their conscience, like, what was the, what was the cut of toy? It was a little dog, and then my sister had a dog as well, and, like, still has it, that

she has in Berlin, but she's with her boyfriend out for a few years, but when they first started dating, she was like he was like I didn't know you weren't going to introduce me to your other man and then like pulled out the toy that she had hidden under the bed because she was embarrassed oh no people shouldn't be yeah you have them out Ruby brings them on set every day

yeah I sort of go right now here's my entourage get used to them but it makes that they bring you joy yeah they just and we don't this isn't a place where we do you know people have brought so many different things so many different things not that we're judging but what's the weirdest one oh I don't know I don't want to say

Which was weird. But we've had, we've had everything from somebody. People brought it in their dogs and people have brought in. I was going to do that today. Yeah, lots of people bring in their dogs. And we've had little ornaments. We've had things that their late parent had given them. We've had people bring in a Christmas thing that they had when they were a child that they still hang on the tree.

Oh, yeah. So all sorts of things. But they're about what they mean to you and they bring joy. And you two are joy spreaders as well. Long may you rain, long may you fly. especially on that trapeze. And thank you for being on reasons to be joined. Thank you.

Thank you for having us. Thank you.