In the nineties, Richard Blackwood was making waves as a fast-talking comedian and presenter, splashing an urban edginess with notoriety. But fame went to his head, and he fell out of favour spectacularly with the public. His tale of success through to bankruptcy could be seen as a warning for any youngster seeking fame and fortune.
Richard recalls: ‘The last few years have been horrible for me. People don’t warn you about that side of the industry. You come into the industry and if you have the luck of being successful, you have everybody telling you how great you are. But when you have all of that, you forget how cutthroat it is.’
If you are fortunate, and your face fits, life can change with extraordinary speed, as Richard explains: ‘I had been doing comedy and then, all of a sudden I go off for an interview and come out an MTV presenter! That was the Friday. On the Monday I’m in Paris interviewing my first guest. I’m in a five-star hotel (that was paid for) and they’re giving me more money for being out here, even though I’m being paid for it. They say, “you need clothes so we’ll give you £1,000 a month for clothes.” Each month! So all of a sudden I’m in this world! You feel as if you are entitled to all this – and you’re not.’
Richard experienced every artist’s nightmare: the phone stopped ringing and the bookings dried up. Vilified in the press for his arrogance, it looked all over for the young man from Clapham.
He said: ‘It’s the hardest part. You’re in denial – you don’t believe it’s really happening, and when you realise it is happening you don’t feel like yourself. But I’m now starting to get it back so it’s good.’
Richard appeared in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (directed by Debbie Allen) and starring W James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Adrian Lester, and on the back of this was cast as Donkey in Shrek The Musical. Rehearsals began in earnest last month but the preparation started much earlier – with intensive singing lessons. Richard explains: ‘I have been having singing lessons every day for the last three months with brilliant people. I’m going into this with a clean slate so I will enjoy it and learn as much as I can. Rehearsals are five days a week, from morning till whenever! I can do the dancing and I’ve no problem learning lines. As for how to play the role, Eddie Murphy made that role in the film – I can’t mimic him but it’s written in such a way that even if you read it in a basic voice, it still has a Murphy vibe.’
Richard is philosophical about his experiences in the world of showbiz – and eating some hearty scoops of humble pie, knowing that there are rarely second chances in this tough world. He adds: ‘This world looks beautiful – because it’s supposed to look beautiful. It’s lights, camera, action! but you have to understand that if you choose it, it’s a life choice. There’s no guarantee when you come out of drama school that you’re going to get a role and there’s no trainee manual to tell you how to get through the dark place. I’ve been really lucky.’
Does a fairytale ending beckon for him? We’ll just have to watch this space.
And you are?
Name: Richard Blackwood
Age: Born on May 15 1972. Oh go on, you do the sums…
Where: Clapham
Key moments: Some not so good…his father was in prison when he was born, and his mother had a drinking problem in those days so he was brought up by his grandparents.
Showbiz is in the family: His uncle was Junior, who had a hit in 1982 with Mama Used To Say (remember?) and his dad married Valerie Campbell, the mother of supermodel Naomi!
Education: A chatterbox in class who wanted to make everyone laugh. He remembers a PE teacher, Mr White, who taught him there was no room for second place. ‘Nobody messed with him.’ After school he went to college and studied Business and Finance.
Next steps: Richard has a role in a Bob Hoskins film called Weighed In, and another one called Another Hood. Both will be on screen soon.
And Shrek is?
Shrek The Musical opens at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on June 20 (previews from May 6). The production stars Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman (Lord Farquaad) and Amanda Holden (Princess Fiona). The Education Pack, written by Mark Palmer, the Director of Learning, Creative and Media at Wildern School in Southampton, is available from the website www.shrekthemusical.co.uk.
Image: Richard Blackwood by Helen Maybanks