The full Morlidge

ROGER Morlidge may reach an impressive 6’ 2” in his stockinged feet, but with his moon-shaped face and podgy body he doesn’t stand out in a crowd.

Yet, it’s this relaxed, next-door-neighbour appearance that has ensured his success on stage and on screen.

A trawl through his CV finds a string of TV roles on big-budget productions — Downtown Abbey, Coronation Street and Sherlock Homes. While on the big screen he has appeared in movies such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and Shakespeare in Love.

Born in Bolton in 1970, it was only after completing his degree in geography — “I was always fascinated with maps” — that he decided to apply for drama school. He has been a professional actor since.

Now living in Cheshire, he is married to Jo. They have a son, Wilf, who is eight years old.

* Roger plays Dave in the world premiere of The Full Monty at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin, from Monday, Apr 8, to Saturday, Apr 13.

What shape are you in?

I am swimming every morning to keep the fitness levels up — we are doing a lot of dancing in The Full Monty show. I suspect if I was to go all out and hit the gym and get super fit and very thin, I probably wouldn’t get as much work.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I have always drunk skimmed milk. I cannot stand milk with cream or fat in it. When we were in school I remember we were forced to drink milk that had been sitting on a trolley next to the radiator and it had curdled. I can still taste it.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

If I was marooned on the famous desert island I would want to take my own chippie with me, so I could have chips and steak pudding.

What keeps you awake at night?

As part of the rehearsals for the show we have been working with a choreographer who spent the first week teaching us how to learn dance routines. He has broken down all the songs into bars of eight counts. And for weeks now I’ve been lying awake at night in bed counting songs in bars of eight.

How do you relax?

I am a big reader — I always have three or four different books on the go at any one time. Real books, not electronic ones. At the moment I am re-reading Germainal by Zola.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Alec Guinness — by far and away my favourite actor. Margaret Thatcher, I’d like to know what she thought she was doing. And Tipu Sultan, an 18th century Indian prince who ruled southern India before the British turned up. He was an ally of Napoleon and a wonderful innovator.

What is your favourite smell?

I love the smell of woodshavings. My grandfather was a carpenter and I remember when I was a little boy going into his shed while he was planing pieces of wood. That smell of newly shaved wood is hugely evocative. I find it very calming.

What would you change about your appearance?

I am who I am. Yes, I could lose weight, I’ve had the opportunities, but I haven’t bothered, which suggests it is probably not that important to me. I am beginning to go slightly bald — that’s a worry.

When did you last cry?

I missed my little boy’s Christmas show last year. He played Herod in the nativity play. He didn’t complain. But when he was telling me about it, I could see he had been so proud of what he’d done. I welled up and had to take a moment and step outside. That is one of the dreadful things about being an actor and being away from home so much.

What trait do you least like in other people?

Being closed minded.

What trait do you least like in yourself?

I procrastinate a lot.

Do you pray?

No I don’t. But I’m secretly jealous of people who can.

What would cheer up your day?

The fact that I get home this evening at 9 o’clock and see my wife and little boy.