DANIEL MAYS: I've Worked with Hollywood’s Biggest Stars But I Still Sometimes Feel Like an Imposter

Great Company with Jamie Laing

Jampot

Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.6 • 951 Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2026

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Daniel Mays has been in our living rooms for decades. From EastEnders and Line of Duty to Mrs Biggs and Thursday Murder Club, he’s become one of the most familiar and loved faces in British TV and film.

But long before he shared the screen with the likes of Michael Douglas and Stephen Graham, Daniel was the middle child in a working-class Essex family, desperate to be seen and heard. He found his voice through performing and never looked back.

In this conversation, Danny shares:

Growing up in Essex with dreams of becoming an actor
Why he nearly didn't go to stage school
The unforgettable advice Michael Douglas gave him
Taking on the role of the 'Black Cab R*pist' John Worboys and how it affected him
What it was like performing in front of Daniel Day Lewis

Daniel was a joy to talk to and he’s a reminder of what's possible when you back yourself and never let go of the dream.

Daniel Mays is Great Company.

Watch ‘Believe Me’ on ITV HERE

Check out Daniel’s new podcast ‘Gangster Presents: The Story of Ronnie Biggs’ HERE

If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:

Instagram- @greatcompanypodcast

TikTok - @greatcompanypodcast

Jamie - @jamielaing

And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: greatcompany@jampotproductions.co.uk

THE CREDITS

Producer: Helen Burke

Assistant Producer: Issy Weeks-Hankins

Video: Jake Ji

Senior Social Media Manager: Laura Coughlan

Audio: Rafi Amsili Geovannetti

Executive Producer: Ewan Newbigging-Lister

Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Going from being an Essex boy with your brothers playing football to suddenly going doing jazz and wearing a leotard.
0:19.4	Those are two separate worlds colliding. Literally head off. It felt like I was leaving that life that I'd known. How old are you at that point? I was like 13. It's young, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was terrified when I first went to Rada. Really? Honestly to God, I was like,
0:20.5	I just sort of
0:21.0	clammed up and I thought,
0:22.0	I'm way out of my depth
0:23.7	there.
0:24.5	Feeling just, Yeah, yeah. I was terrified when I first went to Rada. Really? I'm honest to God, I was like, I just sort of clamped up, and I thought, I'm way out of my depth there.
0:24.3	Feeling just so in fear and that imposter syndrome was kicking in.
0:29.4	Hi, I'm Danny Mays, and I'm in great company.
0:34.0	Danny May.
0:35.8	I got nominated for a BAFTA for Lime of Duty.
0:38.3	When they say someone else's name, there's a camera pointed at you right at that moment.
0:42.3	You're like, where do I look?
0:44.3	Like, what do it?
0:45.3	And the years have to go, well done, Tom!
0:50.3	And what's one role you missed out on?
0:52.3	Oh, the casting director walked me down the corridor to the lift.
0:56.7	I remember the door shutting like that, but you were wonderful.
0:59.4	Just really great!
1:00.9	I didn't end up getting it.
1:01.9	It's a harrowing story.
1:04.7	It's a heavy role.
	...

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