Journey from prison to Vanity Fair actor
Johnny reveals he even became homeless
FOR JOHNNY Kinch, playing The Bailiff in scenes with star Tom Bateman in several episodes of ITV’s new multimillion pound drama Vanity Fair marks a new chapter in a remarkable journey which has taken him from army life to RADA to addiction, prison and homelessness - and back into the spotlight again.
From Sutton Bonington, Johnny joined the Royal Marines, before trying his hand at acting. He won a coveted place to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London.
But he says that within 18 months he was thrown out for his erratic behaviour, became homeless, spent time in prison and ended up selling the Big Issue to feed his habits.
After auditioning for one of the first TV talent shows, ITV’s Soap Stars, Johnny says
he then got a break which led to parts in shows like Doctors (BBC) and The Bill (ITV).
Unfortunately, still suffering badly from mental health issues and with an addictive personality, even the promise of future success couldn’t break the hold of his destructive lifestyle.
He says he soon found himself back in the hostel system following an abortive suicide attempt.
Eventually he was invited to church by a family friend and his life changed.
He stopped drinking, gambling, doing drugs and getting into trouble.
He also laid down his pursuit of acting to stabilise his life, married and had two children. But his love for acting never left him.
He told the Echo that after suffering an unexpected breakdown in 2016 he made the decision to pursue his dream of becoming a working actor again and went on a national theatre tour with a play sponsored by the Curve Theatre in Leicester.
After signing with New Wonder Management based in London Johnny made the bold declaration that he would be ‘back on TV within a year.’
It actually took a year and a half, but Johnny kept focused, and began to get small parts in a string of major commercials.
Finally, Johnny received the news that he had landed a role in the period drama of 2018: Vanity Fair.