Dominic West, one of the talented British actors who has had success both at home and in Hollywood, is our guest today. His breakout role was in the cult U.S. gritty crime drama The Wire, in which he played the detective, Jimmy McNulty, so convincingly that many American viewers were shocked to find out he was a Brit. In this conversation, Dominic tells Gyles about his Yorkshire childhood: he is one of seven children and grew up on the moors just outside Sheffield. He reminisces about his parents, the brilliant way they coped with the logistics of having such a big family, and their talents outside the home. He talks about his schooldays; the intense homesickness he felt when he went to Eton, and his feelings of alienation and "grief" at finding himself down south and far from home. He talks about finding his feet at that school, through drama. He talks about going to Italy, Edinburgh and Paris. He tells Gyles about going to university in Dublin and about what he learnt at clown school. He talks about playing Fred West and how he approaches his work. Thank you Dominic for this warm and wise conversation. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and Early Childhood Memories 02:16 - Family Background and Parents 05:17 - Growing Up in a Large Family 11:45 - School Years and First Crushes 16:38 - Attending Eton College 23:31 - University Years at Trinity College Dublin 30:29 - Drama School and Early Career Development 38:18 - Reflections on Major Roles and Career Highlights 48:25 - Personal Life, Family, and Philosophical Outlook #gylesbrandreth #rosebudpodcast #dominicwest #thewire #rosebud #interview