Jonathan Watson is one of Scotland’s best known faces, appearing in much loved TV programmes like Naked Video, City Lights and, of course, Only An Excuse?. He also appears alongside Brian Cox in the critically acclaimed TV adaptation of the hugely popular Bob Servant books, which will be returning to our screens for a second series later this year. Despite a hectic schedule, Jonathan managed to find some time to answer our questions about his career and offer advice to people looking to break into the acting world.
At what age were you bitten by the acting bug and what were your first steps in the industry?
I attended the junior course at the RSAMD (Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) on Saturday mornings from the age of ten. A friend of the family suggested I might find it fun. From there, I picked up acting jobs in – among other things – Dr. Finlay’s Casebook, Sutherland’s Law, and the forerunner to Play for Today…The Wednesday Play – The Boy Who Wanted Peace.
Did you ever feel under any pressure from family or careers advisors etc to opt for a more ‘stable’ career?
Never. My mum and dad were completely supportive. Career advice was in its infancy, plus I hadn’t decided on going to drama college until a year after leaving school.
Have you had any other jobs over the years during periods of being a ‘resting’ actor?
No. I have been fortunate in that I’ve always had a job to go onto.
You’ve enjoyed a hugely successful career, being known for your appearances in iconic Scottish shows like City Lights and Only An Excuse?, as well as more recently in Bob Servant Independent. As a young actor, did you imagine being involved in such popular shows? What were your ambitions?
My ambition was to work, and work with good actors and writers…and it’s still the same today.
And these days, what’s still on your dream ‘to do’ list?
I don’t really have a ‘to do’ list. If anything, the answer lies in the previous question.
You’ve appeared on stage, TV and the big screen. How different are the skills or disciplines required in each and do you think it’s important for actors to experience all three to fully learn their craft?
There is a big difference between stage & TV/film, and the level of performance best suited for each. Like everything else, you can only learn from experience. There are some actors that prefer to concentrate on one or the other, but I like to mix it up. I’m not sure you should feel under pressure to cover them all.
The digital explosion has seen a huge growth in the number of TV channels (and other ways for people to consume film/TV, such as Netflix), have you found this has made a difference to opportunities in the industry?
I’m not sure that the growth of TV channels has matched the number of productions in development, but social media has given actors & filmmakers an opportunity to get their work noticed and seen. That can only be good for the industry.
What advice would you give to anybody looking to make it in the acting world?
Look for acting jobs, don’t sit by a phone expecting the agent to call. Work with them. Write letters/e-mails and use social media to get showreels seen and inform people in the business of what you’re up to. I’ve been doing this since 1979 – and I still do all these things to this day. Plus…act. Get involved in some way, if possible…and keep positive. Good luck!
As we mentioned at the start of the article, Bob Servant Independent began shooting series two in May and will be back on BBC Two Scotland and BBC Four later on in the year.