1x5: Simon Gregor

Interview & Photos by Tim Allen

1 person in 5 minutes

SIMON GREGOR

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: ACTOR

LIVES: ST LEONARDS

1. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?

It was a few days ago – I’d been on a bit of a mini holiday with my two kids and my sister in North Wales and after I came home I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself. The usual frustrations of life and missing my kids after spending time with them.

2. WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?

I was going to say it was some photos of my mum with my two kids but then I thought of something silly that always raises a smile. During a trip to Ikea with my kids we saw a soft toy dog that we thought was cute and couldn’t resist. You know on the trolleys there’s that space to put a child? We put the toy there and by the end of the journey around the store we’d got so attached to it I just had to buy it. I don’t know if it’s a he or a she but I called it Kit and I’ve cherished it ever since.

3. WHEN YOU WERE A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

I really wanted to be a jockey right up until I found out what the job really involved. The dream of course was about riding a horse to glory but when I found out about the mucking out and the dangers of riding I decided it wasn’t for me.

4. WHAT IS A HAPPY MEMORY THAT YOU TREASURE?

Family is very important to me, particularly since losing one of my brothers. He’d moved to The Netherlands and had a family and since his death I love spending time with his now grown-up children. When they visit the UK all of us go to my sister’s for Christmas or other holidays and make the most of our time together.

5. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF?

There’s a great routine by the late comedian Bill Hicks about life being ‘just a ride’ and making the most of it and if I ever see my children feeling down I like to gently remind them of this. I deliberately avoid saying “don’t take things too seriously” because usually things are serious, particularly at the moment. But it’s just a ride.

BONUS QUESTION: WHAT LED YOU TO BECOMING AN ACTOR?

Things at school weren’t going well and my mum was getting a bit frustrated with me. She wanted me to join the local youth theatre and cleverly made it happen by threatening to withhold tickets to a football match I was desperate to go to. I reluctantly went along but was soon hooked and I found the whole thing rather groovy. Within a few years I’d gone from attending that local youth theatre group to enrolling at RADA and I’ve been an actor ever since.