Colchester born Sam Swainsbury stars in Fisherman’s Friends

Sam Swainsbury has had a host of acting roles ranging from the BBC comedy Mum to the film Thor, the Dark World.

But now he is hitting the silver screen with the heart-warming and wholesome British film detailing how a Cornish singing group hit the big time.

Sam plays the youngest member of the band called Rowan, a fisherman burdened with the inherited financial responsibility of running a pub.

He said: “Filming Fisherman’s Friends was an absolute blast with a lovely bunch of people.

“Port Isaac, where it’s set, is tiny and idyllic with one pub and a close knit community that took us under its wing.

“Singing with the the real life Fisherman’s Friends in the pub after a few absolutely delicious pints of Tribute was a highlight.

“One of the best parts was being on a tiny boat at sea with a helicopter flying all around us filming aerial shots.

“That was exciting and definitely beats a day in the office.”

Sam has also found fame playing Jason in BBC sitcom Mum which Sam says is his favourite role he has played so far.

And he appeared as Dr John Snow in Victoria, which is currently being screened.

But Sam, 36, who was born in Colchester and raised in Halstead, says he owes his success to his primary school. He is quick to pay tribute to his “brilliant teacher” at Holy Trinity School in Halstead which set him off on the road to his acting career.

He said: “Andy Smith had written and was directing a jazzed up nativity play in which I played Oriel, an angel sent to show three school children the true meaning of Christmas - a pivotal moment in my career.

“In truth it was though. It was a lead part, I was on stage most of the time and sang a couple of solo songs and when my parents came to watch it they couldn’t believe it. They had no idea I’d had so much to learn.

“After that they asked if I wanted to go to theatre workshops at The Quay Theatre in Sudbury and I haven’t looked back since.

“I owe a lot to Andy Smith for putting me on that path.”

Sam said he has done all sorts of jobs while trying to get his acting career to take off from nannying to stainless steel fabrication but it’s playing comedy roles he enjoys the most.

“My grandad was an actor in amateur dramatics and I think I inherited some of his love of being daft and making people laugh.

“Comedy is and always will be close to my heart but this show stretches the boundaries of sitcom and asks for a lot of challenging complex emotion too.

“Lesley Manville, who plays my mother in Mum, is one of the most inspiring actors I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.

“She just gets it right. She’s an exceptional actor with an intimidatingly impressive career, she’s so easy to work with and most importantly she respects people.”

Sam has also had roles in Doctors and Call the Midwife and is keen to promote the third series of Mum.

“If you haven’t watched it before then take a look. I’m so immensely proud to be a part of this multi-award winning show.

“It’s outrageously funny, devastatingly sad, exquisitely written and (if I take myself out of the equation) beautifully acted.

“I think the next series is the best yet, so check it out.”

Sam loves coming back to north Essex. He said: “I love the countryside most of all. I was always out and about playing in the woods and fields as a kid and it feels nourishing to come back.

“You can’t beat a walk through Broak’s Wood or across the meadows, through Box Mill and then up for brunch at the Little Book Cafe. Bliss.”