John Barrowman chats about giving back
Actor, presenter, author, and singer JOHN BARROWMAN, 52, chats about giving back, his Christmas album and the joys of a hammock
It is better to give than receive
I rarely talk about it, but over the past couple of years, my husband (architect Scott Gill, his partner of 26 years) and I have tried to give back at Christmas. Through a charity, we find a family who are going through a bad time, or have recently lost a loved one, and arrange to go to their home on Christmas Eve. We hand over an envelope of £5,000 for them to spend however they want. That’s our gift to each other – giving to someone else.
Waiting is good
My first job in the West End in 1989 was playing Billy Crocker in Anything Goe,s alongside Elaine Paige. Her sage advice to me then was: ‘Don’t want things too quickly.’ I think that’s a good life lesson for this next generation. Success will come, it will happen. But it doesn’t always happen overnight. I was 38 when cast as the action hero Captain Jack Harness in Doctor Who and later in the spin-off series Torchwood in 2005. It was career-changing for me leading to major roles.
I’m a born performer
I always loved performing as a child. From the moment my Mum used to stand me on the counter at the record store to sing songs when I was five or six years old, I was in my element entertaining. I am happiest in front of an audience, making people feel good and laugh. My parents nurtured what talent I had.
Get out of your comfort zone
I had been asked to do the ITV show I’m A Celebrity for years but hadn’t been able to appear in it until last year. I always say I love a challenge, and I thought, I’m 51... why not? I knew what I was getting into but I loved it. Although when I came out, I couldn’t sleep with the doors closed, and I had to open up the whole back of the house as I was so used to sleeping in the open air. Since then, I’ve put a hammock in the quiet part of our garden in Palm Springs, California. It’s a great place for quiet reflection.
Christmas is about loved ones
Scott and I often go to my cousins in Dunblane in Scotland but this year, we’re hosting at our home in Palm Springs before I head to the UK to film Dancing on Ice [he is a new judge on the ITV show!] Everyone will be spoilt rotten; my friends, my parents, my aunt and uncle, and our six dogs! I love to make Christmas for other people and we’ve got two enormous trees.
Stay close to your roots
I was born in Glasgow but my family moved to Illinois in the US in 1975 when my dad’s company relocated. Even though I live in the US, I consider myself 100 per cent Scottish; I am very proud of my heritage. My roots help keep my feet planted on the ground. On my latest album, A Fabulous Christmas, I sing the old Scottish hymn Be Thou My Vision. It’s one of my favourites and has a Highland drum running through it.
■ John Barrowman’s album A Fabulous Christmas is out on November 29 on Decca Records. His UK tour runs through Nov-Dec. For tickets and more details visit www.cuffeandtaylor.com