This is England star Stephen Graham would refuse to be on set with a homophobe: ‘I’d slap ’em’

Nov 26 2022
Written by Chantelle Billson

Roald Dahl's "Matilda The Musical" World Premiere Opening Night Gala - 66th BFI London Film Festival

Stephen Graham at the BFI London Film Festival opening night gala and world premiere of Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical”. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI)

Actor Stephen Graham, who is known for playing Andrew “Combo” Gascoigne in the film This Is England, has said he would refuse to work with a homophone — but he would happily “slap ’em”.

In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph Graham revealed he would refuse to alongside anyone who was homophobic, misogynistic or racist.

“Just from my own personal view…

“Would I be on set with an actor who was misogynistic, who was racist, who was homophobic?

“No, I’d slap ’em across the face. I wouldn’t stand in a room with someone who held those beliefs, because I’m a mixed-race man myself,” Graham shared.

The comment was in response to his role as Mr Wormwood (Matilda’s dad) in Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical.

Graham said the film is “a million miles away” from Dahl’s openly anti-Semitic views and is instead all about “acceptance”.

“It’s about finding who you are, having that connection with another human being.”

Touching on losing his grandmother and mum, who had a stillbirth with his brother Kieran, Graham said it’s important to speak openly about feelings.

“I think, especially amongst working-class men, [suicide] still is the biggest killer of men between the ages of 18 to 35.

“I notice that there is a shift in the consciousness, to be able to talk openly… Nobody should be on their own with the things that can go on inside of our own heads. We’re all insecure.”

This is England is a film based in the 1980s and centred on a young boy who joins a group of skinheads. It is based on the real life experiences of its director, Shane Meadows.

Former child actress Mara Wilson – best known as the childhood star of Roald Dahl adaptation Matilda – has been open about her sexuality in the past.

On Twitter she previously shared a photo of her younger self and wrote: “Me at a gay club when I was eighteen. I feel embarrassed looking at it now… being a “straight girl” where I clearly didn’t belong, but I will say, I felt so welcomed.

“I have never had a better experience at a club than I did then. Great music and people. And one of my friends met his partner that night!”.

She continued: “But the LGBTQ community has always felt like home, especially a few years later when I, uh, learned something about myself.

“I *used* to identify as mostly straight. I’ve embraced the Bi/Queer label lately.”