Eddie Marsan: ‘Mitch Winehouse was a loving father whose daughter was an addict’

At 55 years old, Eddie Marsan is a highly likable actor who has built a diverse career of over 70 films. Despite his approachable demeanor, he has made a point to avoid being typecast and has played a range of characters. Marsan is known as a talented character actor, with standout roles such as the eccentric driving instructor in Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky and a seven-year run as Terry in Ray Donovan. In the coming weeks, he will be seen as John Adams opposite Michael Douglas in the new Apple TV+ series Franklin, which tells Benjamin Franklin's mission to secure American independence while in France. Additionally, he will be portraying Mitch Winehouse, Amy Winehouse's father, in Sam Taylor-Johnson's upcoming film Back to Black.

Mitch was portrayed negatively in the documentary Amy (2015). However, in my portrayal of him as a father, I tried to showcase his love for his daughter. One of my acquaintances, who had worked with Amy in the music industry, knew Mitch and expressed his admiration for him. He perceived Mitch as a caring father dealing with his daughter's addiction while also navigating her global fame. I wanted to present a nuanced depiction of Mitch, as I don't believe in oversimplifying or vilifying people. Life is multifaceted, and we should approach it with that same complexity. If the film had portrayed Mitch as either a saint or a sinner, I would not have been interested in participating.

You've mentioned before that having talent means being able to ask the appropriate queries. When you first encountered Mitch, what were your inquiries about him? My curiosity was piqued about the measures that Mitch's family undertook to address a challenging predicament. To my surprise, they made nine efforts to have her admitted to a hospital or rehab, and there are no official records of this occurrence. It intrigued me how a typical family from north London handled Amy's widespread recognition. How did they cope with the situation, and who wouldn't be enticed by the idea of fame? I found it all very interesting.

As a fellow father, do you also struggle to find a way to be both protective yet allowing your children to be independent? Personally, I have four teenagers and every time they leave the house, I can't help but worry if they will be safe. It's a mix of emotions - pride, love, fear, and even frustration at times. I believe that the best parents are those who can adapt and find a way to navigate this complex balancing act. Anyone who claims to have all the answers is probably not being truthful.

At times, the most comforting thing is to hear people acknowledge that there may not be a remedy available. That's absolutely correct. From time to time, there simply isn't any. This is why the story that Mitch is responsible for Amy's death has gained traction. When someone as youthful as Amy passes away, the devastation is so severe that we feel the need to assign blame. Nonetheless, life is full of chaos, and addiction is caused by a combination of genetics and upbringing. The way I perceive Mitch is that he adores Amy, is thrilled with her achievements, and is utterly heartbroken by her death.

Can you describe your dad's personality and do you have any similarities with him? I don't share any resemblance to him - that's all I prefer to disclose on this subject.

What was his profession? He worked as a truck driver.

Can you describe your teenage years? It wasn't the easiest time for me. I dropped out of school at 15 and worked a few odd jobs, such as an apprentice printer and sales assistant at a menswear store. I also worked for a bookmaker named Mr. Bennett. I enjoyed dancing and even got the opportunity to be an extra in a movie with my friend Emmanuel, who is like a brother to me. It was during this time that I watched Jamie Foreman act and realized that's what I wanted to do. Mr. Bennett promised to pay for my drama school if I got into one, and Emmanuel went on to pursue a modeling career. He definitely had the looks advantage over me, standing at 6ft 4in and being absolutely stunning. He had a mix between Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte's charm.

You are frequently given roles for Jewish characters, even though you are not Jewish. Is it fair for anyone to portray any type of character? In my opinion, an actor of Jewish origin should be permitted to play characters of non-Jewish backgrounds and vice versa. Likewise, an actor who is homosexual should be given equal opportunity to play heterosexual roles, and vice versa. Although categorizing people into different groups is necessary to measure and address inequality issues, it can limit acting opportunities. By confining individuals to certain categories, we may discourage them from pursuing certain roles.

Currently residing in Chiswick, have you always lived in this area? I heard that Amy used to request rides in a black taxi from Mitch to take her back to the East End where she spent her childhood. Mitch is from Stepney, which also happens to be my place of birth. Amy was fascinated with his stories about his upbringing in the East End. Personally, I enjoy revisiting the East End because of the people who live there. They accepted and cared for me before I achieved fame, which is priceless. I serve as a patron for Streets of Growth, a charity based in Tower Hamlets that assists children in avoiding harmful activities such as bullying, drug gangs, and knife gangs. A couple of days ago, I went to Pellicci's, my friend's cafe on Bethnal Green Road, where we had a wonderful time.

Your quality as John Adams in Franklin is refreshingly realistic. What was your experience acting alongside Michael Douglas? John Adams is a legal expert from Boston and he speaks eloquently. He symbolizes the puritanical aspect of American beliefs, while Franklin represents the idea of personal freedom - they make an odd pair. When I am in character, I strive to maintain my persona, but whenever I acted with Michael, I couldn't help but think to myself, "Wow, it's Michael Douglas" - it was an exciting moment.

What did you gain from your experience working alongside Mike Leigh? When collaborating with Mike, genuineness is a vital aspect - there's no room for superficiality.

How much has your unique facial appearance been advantageous for you? My face stands out as being different. If you were creating a video game character, you probably wouldn't pick my face to represent you!

In what way are you interested in a part that is improbable to be offered to you? During my upbringing in the East End, there was a remarkable inclusion of varying sexual orientations and a handful of resilient homosexuals. I would be intrigued to embody a character with those traits - to exhibit a sense of masculinity with a hint of homosexuality.

You have frequently expressed the significance of meditating on a daily basis. What is the reason behind this? You comprehend that thoughts are merely thoughts and not the actuality. Buddhism promotes a great concept, although not being a Buddhist, which is the absence of self. Being defined by anyone bothers you. The reality is that we are not firm, we possess boundless potential.

It must feel very freeing for an actor to have that belief. You must be very busy – how do you handle all the different responsibilities? Personally, I am similar to how Elvis was towards the end of his life, where my agent and wife are aware of my schedule and I just show up. However, I still put in the effort and prepare for my roles. I don't believe I could ever stop acting as I find it too enjoyable.

Starting from April 12, you can catch Back to Black at the cinema while Franklin will debut on Apple TV+ the same day.