James Nelson-Joyce: “I want Wayne in This City Is Ours!"

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1:17Do you get to do much at home today? Well, this city is ours. That must have been like, I want Wayne to get here so we can get into that properly, but that must have been like... It was a gift. A dream. Is that the way you view it, a gift? Yeah, it's a gift. I'm very lucky. You know, there's actors who are sometimes better than me and more gifted than me. I think you're being humble with Saskatchewan. No, but it's true, isn't it? Luck plays a lot in every areas. Zatting, lads. Zatting and sausage.

1:45Here, I've lost, wait. Hello, you go. How you doing, brother? Sorry we're a bit late. What's wrong, mate? It's all right. We train up for soccer, mate. No, I can't play this year. After last year, I looked back on the curtain and I was thinking, F***! I saw a couple of clips, innit? I was talking about it. Oh, that was the... Yeah. Were you streaming with that tease? No, you look sharp, though. You look sharp, bro. Like, all the comments were like, Oh, you still got it. I reckon you can still do a job up front. Last five minutes. That's the last night. Yeah.

2:23Introduce me to my show.

2:29there was a show i couldn't do the other week welcome to the way really show we're we're joined by wayne really but we are in liverpool in a pub called the monroe and we are joined by the actor uh james nelson joyce and we were just chatting about kind of being in liverpool and how you guys got to know each other um and it i was also asking that me and kay are fascinated by this the scouse bond it's quite something isn't it like it seems like even when you two met each other both scouts yeah we met the first time really to me at soccer age and then you met Cleen before and you I think there was a shop it shut down it was an old shopping lift pool where Cleen used to go and then as scouts you always stick together and you're proud as well when seeing the stuff he's done on TV and stuff it's great when you you see scouts doing well and obviously over the last few years the stuff that James has done has been great and it's great to watch.

3:27So, you know, once you get to know someone as well, you try and look out for them and have that bond. So Soccer Aid was the first time you kind of spent any intense time together, is that right? It was the first time we'd met. Like, what was your first impressions of Wayne? Because you'll have heard of Wayne the footballer. So, we've got mutual mates, so the Schmitz. Oh, so you've got an insight. So, I knew we were Sands anyway, but where Wayne grew up, It's like a five minute drive from mine. So, like, you know, there's much of you play for Everton and United and all that. The Scousers are in me, like we stick together.

4:01What were your first impressions? Just one of the lads. It was funny because when we were at Socrate, I didn't do the training. I don't want the training days. And then I got there and then obviously James' day, Tony Duggan there. And then naturally the Scousers just gravitate to each other. I really want to watch this happen one time. But you know what, though? We weren't like that in training. It was all elbows. Oh, yeah. Yeah, but you've got to, you've got to, you're training, but it's, no, I think that's normal. Scousers just gravitate to each other and there was a few people who, he could see, I'm not going to name names, but there's a few people talking to me and he could see I wanted to get away.

4:47I could see him looking across. I was thinking, come and rescue me. As he helped him out? Yeah, of course. You see, with soccer, is there a lot of people that go so hard in training that by the time they get to the actual match, they're finished? Obviously, we know what it is as ex-players, so you know how to prepare for the game. You're saying you don't? No, but even though you're not fifth, like I went fifth to game, you know what to expect and so you can take your rest during the game and stuff like that where the players, the celebrities who play in it, they're so eager, obviously. It's like if we go into something different, and they're so eager to do well and they're really...

5:31Just trying to impress people. Yeah, and then what normally happens is because the body's doing something a little bit different, they start feeling little things and little aches and pains and they're not used to it. Because football's different to just running or when you're going in the gym. It's all little movements. And that's what I've been saying now for it. More just football. I feel like he's been taking this training really seriously. He was on the phone to me today and he goes, I had a coach coming in to teach me I was about 40. I went, what? But you've lost a lot of weight as well.

6:04I've been doing it this morning, although I struggled this morning. I've had a big weekend. Really? No, I went skiing with the kids. and then we went to races and I had another party for Cleve for the 40th in a parent's house. So I still got getting up this morning, but I got up and done it. So I'm guessing you're a big football fan, right? Yeah. I was going to say, and you don't support the team in Liverpool that Wayne likes? No, no, no, no. But my dad is a blue. And dad's a serious blue, isn't he? Yeah, he's a bitter one, yeah. He ate it when I say bitter. Should we get him on? He's in the next room, isn't he?

6:45Dad! Come here a second. Just saying you're a bit of blue, aren't you?

6:54So if he's a blue, how did you end up supporting Liverpool? So my mum's dad, he was a Liverpool fan. He travelled to all the games and I was the first grandchild. So when I was 18 months old, he took me on the Kop the last game standing and then that was it then. How does that work in the dynamic with your dad? It's funny, isn't it? It's funny, I get to let them all the time. So do you know his dad as well? No, I've spoken to his dad when I've been on the phone to him. That's pretty cool, isn't it, being able to put your dad on the phone to Wayne Rooney? He's led to each other. He'll go to me, dad, what's going on with your hair?

7:28And me dad'll go, you can't f***ing say nothing. Fair. But also I'm told that your dad is such a big Everton fan. Has there been a few moments in your life where it's been quite tricky for you? Yeah, so when I was like 15, 16, we were playing United in the Carlin Cup final at Cardiff. So he dropped me off to get on the coach. And just before the coach was about to take off, you know, it's full with Liverpool fans. He's jumped on the coach and going, I hope you get f***ing well, he's your red f***er. And then just jumped off the coach and I've got to sit there now for four hours. With a load of lads that I didn't even know, just sweating, yeah.

8:02It's horrible because when Liverpool win stuff, it's horrible. I can see the pain in your head. I remember in 2005 when you were in the Champions League, I remember they'd done the parade. And obviously I was in Liverpool and they're doing the parade, so me and my mates were in the car. So we drove through a few of them. We did have a paintball gun with us, but we didn't use it you didn't use it but just seeing them all it was just like it's horrible when they're doing their plays so you went out there with the intention and then you thought better of it yeah we didn't do it I'm guessing now with your work and everything what's your relationship like with Liverpool how do you get to because I imagine it's hard to get to games isn't it yeah I mean like with work and that you just you haven't got the time but if I want to go like the good to me they'll short me out and that but it is it's hard to get to games yeah Yeah, I bet it's hard.

9:02I was meant to go down when I did it, couldn't make it, but... He texted me a few weeks back. I was a police officer, I didn't tell him for work, asked me if I wanted to. I said, do you want to come in? I said, come play a copper up, eh? Yeah, I'm gamey, I said, come in, I'll play a copper. But what'd you have done if he'd have said yes? Well, he'd have loved it. So, our big producer is a Mad United fan. And he's like, Wayne's his favourite player ever and all that. And I'm like, Wayne said he's going to come and play this copper. I'm like, yeah, Sean, we'll pick him up. We'll do that. What's the dietary requirements?

9:32I'm like... D dietary requirements. Nothing. He's on a strict diet that went to Australia. But that show, that City's Ours, I must have went massive after that. That was what everyone thought. And that dance, that was two years I did. Just before you came, actually, we were talking about how much he loves being back in Liverpool now as well. And the fact that you get to do a show here, he described it as a gift. It must be... and for you as well as a fellow scouse kind of from you it must be amazing there's a few things um a few shows which have been based around Liverpool and and stuff and as a scouse you're always watching them and you're thinking i watch the accents like are they represent Liverpool properly and stuff and and there's been a few which haven't um whatever but i think with with the city's eyes it was it was done right it was really good to watch i was saying before you know when you go on holiday, you'll always spot a Scouser, won't you?

10:24But you can tell a Scouser by the way they walk or anything they're clothes. Can you tell us how you spot them? What's the key? I'm going to be looking for them. It's like a sixth sense. You just know the one of us, you know what I mean? There's a Scouser in the corner laughing at least. It's true, isn't it? It's true. Like even walking through... When I lived in London and I'd go home or I'd go through Euston Station, I'd be like, is that not where you live where you're from? Like, it was like that bond. You go on holiday and you'll... You'll have the little bag over the body and... The glasses hanging round their neck.

10:53Can you tell by the accent where in Liverpool they're from as well? North and South you can tell, yeah. Can you? Yeah. Was it strong? What's the difference? I'm trying to learn about that. South's a bit posh anyway. Is it? And then you'll have people from Whittle and stuff like that, where people... You'll probably listen to them and think, oh, it's the Scouser. Yeah. Where you'll know straight away. Did you feel pressure then playing in that show, knowing it was all based around Liverpool, knowing people like Wayne were watching it? Nah, it was more Little Boy Blue, I felt the pressure of. So that was about Reece Jones, do you know what I mean?

11:24I felt the pressure of that, but with this, I was just, as I say, I'd auditioned for such a long time for the role. Had you? Yeah, for like six months. So, and I weren't giving up, do you know what I mean? Cos at first I heard it was going to like a name and all that, and I was just, I was like, nah, they're not saying no to me. And I was just putting my foot on every time, like, getting my agent. Was it like self-tapes or was it actual, like, impersonal? Yeah, so it started off in person, then it was self-tapes, and then it was back to being in person. And I was just like, there's no way they're giving this to anyone else.

11:56It's not happening. And I was honestly like auditioning and writing and sending emails and I was just like, there was no way. Do you know, on the audition, do you improvise or do you have to stick to the script? I'll always improvise, cos there's all... You're shooting a scene five or six times just in this one shot, comes a bit monotonous so to keep it alive and I think you get the best performance out of the actors you're working with so even when we were auditioning and me and Hannah were doing a chemistry lead I would you know throw different other lines or say it in a different way just because acting's about reacting isn't it it's like you know also it makes you feel like you're in the room a lot more yeah keeps you on your toes doesn't it what's the show done for you?

12:39it's been amazing like it's opened a lot of doors like I'm very lucky but and it's to be honest it sounds cringe but Wayne will know what I mean like everyone who works on the job is like you know you spend 14 hours a day with each other got Simon Maloney the best producer going and it's like a team camaraderie feeling and I guess you know when the dressing room's right you know it's that and so when we knew we were getting a second season it was like all these people who I love I know they're getting employment for another 6-7 months you know what I mean That's the kind of thing where I get the lift from, because it's nice to know that you can pay the mortgage or whatever, because you never know when your next job is.

13:22I've just filmed a NICAD recently, where I've got a little bit of acting in it. Spoiler, I can't wait for it. I've done the wine one. Put that on IMDB. I've done a wine I've had for my 90 years, where I would be acting and it was terrible, like, so bad. But then, I think now I've stopped playing. Yeah. When you're playing, you're doing it and you just want to get in and out. And now you actually feel a bit more calm and a bit more time and stuff. I'd walk in and say, should we do it this way? We've got to get you in season three. We've got to do it. When does filming start? Has it started? So we finished last week.

14:00So we've been doing season two for seven months. We finished on that last week. And so when will it be out? We think the beginning of October. It's quite a quick turnaround to do. When you prepare for roles, do you like... I'm not saying method, but is there anything you do for any particular role? One thing I'll always do is get an aftershave. OK. Cos it's like a sensory thing, I think. Certain aftershaves or clothes make you feel a certain way, don't they? So, like, a nice aftershave if you're playing someone a bit... Or, you know, if you're playing a little scally or something. Or, you know, Kill Waters or something.

14:34Have to pause, what? I've got...

14:39Who was this? We come back from... I actually... We wash bags in the car, my people can't. We come back from... You mentioned this off camera the other week, that you said this had happened when you came back. I've come back from... I can't remember where it was. It was Ireland. Went to Ireland. It's a classic, isn't it? I was coming back from the airport to the sea, so I bought it. And then... Fan night as well. Yeah? Fan night's my favourite. I love fan night. I can't contribute... See, man at the people, see what I'm saying? In terms of, I said what it's done for you as well, you've been nominated for a BAFTA, haven't you, as well?

15:09And you're up against someone, I know, I feel bad about always asking you about him, but it feels weird not to. Stephen, yeah. You're up against someone that you've kind of been an idol and now a friend. Yeah. To be honest, you find out when everyone else finds out. Do you? Oh, man. Yeah. So, at, like, at 12 o 'clock or whatever it was when it got announced, I saw my phone at quarter past 12 and I had like a couple of missed calls off my agent. So they don't ring you like this as well? No, yeah, I thought it was getting dropped. That's what I'm worried about. So I looked at my phone and went, what's going on here?

15:43And then I saw a load of messages and then my agent's phone, she picked up, she was like, oh yeah, this city's being nominated. Amazing, thousand blows, oh great. And then she went, and you have a leading actor and I thought, is it April 1st, you know what I mean? And then I put that phone call down and within 10 minutes, Stephen Graham FaceTimed me and he was just like, saying loads of nice things and that to be honest I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him that is genuinely the truth really? yeah honestly why? tell us a little bit because you met is it right that you went up to him in Nando's as a kid?

16:12sorry you've probably told that a few times as well but you went up to him then and you've kind of gone full circle almost now that thing about Scousers what I was saying about sticking together looking after each other but he hasn't just done it for me he's done it for you know Jodie Comer Jack McMullen you know Tommy Tagus you look at the list of names of people who he's helped He's just got a heart that's massive. When you say help, in what way? Just like with your career, your personal life, you know, keeping your chin up when you keep on getting rejected. You know, like, so Stephen put me in contact with his agent and he's done that with Jodie and it was probably one of the best things I've ever had in my career.

16:47That's what we say about Scouse, isn't it? When you're watching Jodie and seeing what she's been doing and what she's done, it's brilliant. I'm good friends with her dad, Jimmy, who's my Sarah Evans, still there. Jodie can't miss the dad as a mess. Jimmy, yeah. Jimmy, yeah. So, remember we went to Wimbledon, and obviously because Jodie had done brilliant, and so then we would, sat just next to the Royal Box, and I look across and I see Jimmy in the Royal Box. Someone texted us and said, oh, you've changed, you. Whatever, but then it's that thing of, you know, I remember Jodie when she was a kid, and then seeing her do what she's doing, and seeing James, going back to that Scouse thing, I think it's brilliant when you see Scousers do well.

17:29Is that a bit of a kind of something that's on your radar as well as you get older and kind of continue to have the success that you have, that you want to be a mentor? Oh yeah, 100%. Like any of the young kids who were on set or anyone who would meet us, like, why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you help someone? You know, we all need help at some point. I'm sure, I remember you talking about it was at Duncan. Yeah. It's your job to do it, isn't it? Did you help anyone out particularly when you look back? Yeah. I'm sure you did. I just wonder if there was anyone that you particularly took onto your way.

17:57Yeah, no, there's... I think as... If I just look into football, I've had teammates who are younger than me who need help and advice. And, you know, I've been in the hotel and they've come to your room like four games and, you know, they might feel a bit down or feel a bit left out of the squad or even with personal stuff as well. So I think, of course, you're trying to help in whatever way you can. The same way I have players who help me and that's you try and pass down as you're getting a little bit older. to pass down your knowledge on them.

18:33Is there any good kind of actors from this area that we should look out for coming through at the moment? There's loads. The ones that are in this city as ours, isn't that? Yeah. Jack McMullen. Telling you what, you know Mike Noble, the lad who plays Banksy. Yeah. So, you know, seeing a lot of the stuff he's done on the second season, he's going to win a BAFTA. 100 % Mike Noble is incredible, but you know, Darcy Shaw there's a young kid who was in the first season Shane Walker I feel like Liverpool's thriving you know at the minute with the acting and certainly the music as well I was going to say it feels like it's a bit of a creative kind of cultural hub at the moment and it must be something you're quite proud of as well yeah that's brilliant and then obviously there's time as well I love time yeah yeah oh it's so funny on that though because that was my first time working with Sean and you meet Sean he's dead like mild and he's a gentleman he's a real gentleman and I'd had a week off when I walked in and he went, oh no, James, not f***ing you again.

19:30Because I was like 10 in every scene, but that's what I mean. I weren't supposed to be an actor and you pinch yourself, like some of the people you've worked with and that. Why do you say that you weren't supposed to be an actor? I wanted to be a footballer. Did you? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it just so happened I fancied my English teacher when I was like 15, 16. She was fit, you know what I mean? So I used to just put accents on to get her attention in Clash, and then it just kind of evolved from there. And I just got lucky. Is there a particular role that once you played it, you thought, wow, like, I've actually...

20:03I've done this now. No, I don't watch myself. Really? I don't watch anything back, no. Do you watch yourself back? No, no. Unless it's, like, for an edit or something. Otherwise, like, I hate it. It's funny, isn't it? Because, like, football isn't that... You guys have to watch... But when, obviously, I've done TV adverts and stuff, I'll never watch it back. But it must be interesting when you're doing a show. Oh, I know. Like, we're doing a one two-minute thing where you've got a role to play, so you don't know how it's going to end up really. But to do a show, I think I'd have to watch it back.

20:38But the thing is, you'll shoot a scene, I don't know, 20, 25 times. So it's down to someone else's preference of what they liked in that performance. So I think you do a job, you forget about it and you know... So have you actually watched the show? I've watched This City is ours, yeah. Because we are two for like a lot of the press and talking about it, but a lot of the stuff, no, because it just sends me under. So do you actually know what's going... Yeah, because I've read the script. You've read the script, but that must be mad where you... You know the bits you've done, but you don't know how it's...

21:10Yeah, no. That must be weird. Would you go into like writing your own things and directing or that sort of stuff, or would you just want to stay as an actor? I've got something in production, but I genuinely can't say what it is. That's fine. No, but that's genuinely the truth. So you wrote it yourself, though, yeah? It was an idea created by me and a really big writer, Sucker and Powerpaws. And his agent at this point is saying, shut up. We won't ask you too much about that, but the last year we can talk about the City of Zars and everything it feels like the last year for you would you say it's been life changing yeah what's next I'm about to go and do this other than the writing yeah well no I'm about to go and do this film we start filming in two weeks and it's set in the 1920s Portugal it's all true and it's about a fella called Alves Rez and he basically was an amazing forger and he got the Mint of London to produce 300 million escudo notes, which in today's equivalent is about 300 billion or something like that.

22:18And he's a fraud of Portugal out of all that money and kind of built their economy. He was giving the money to the working classes. It was like a bit of a Robin Hood story. And then, yeah, so I'm going on to do that next. And that is the reason that you can't do Soccer Aid? Yeah. It's a pretty good reason, isn't it? Yeah. He's not having it. You can get a little jet now, can't you? Get a little jet back home. Are you in that world now where you can get jets around? You can let me run. So that'll be filmed over three months. And we were talking about this before, actually, when you were talking about Liverpool, like the intensity of going away and filming for that period of time.

22:53Like, I can tell you love Liverpool. I've got that. What's it like being away from home? Because we can say it's all glam and everything, but... Can I say something before you did? Of course you can. I remember that FaceTime and... Yeah, that's why I was away on holiday. And he answered the phone. He had this net around his head. What was that? Oh, yeah. He was away, obviously, he was filming for... He had this net around his head, I was like, what are you doing? In between takes, yeah, we were in Spain, and there was just tons of mosquitoes. So they were putting this net in between takes, they had made us wear this f***ing net around our head, or pick up the phone like that, and he's like, start on your head, lad.

23:28Sorry, that's why Mooney's just calling me. But yeah, it's like, I hate going away from home. It must be so interesting. Do you take anything away to make you feel like little home comforts, to make you feel at home when you're away, or is there anything that you try and do to try and... Because I can imagine being away for that long, it'd do my head in. No, to be fair, no. Really? No. I'll FaceTime my family all the time and that. But I'm dead close with my sisters and my nephews. So you're missing three months of their life or however long you come back, they kind of forget who you are because they're only like two and three.