Phil Daniels

My philosophy is to enjoy yourself. Do the things you want to do, like play golf!

My acting career began when I walked into a drama school class run by Anna Scher in Islington. Anna discovered a lot of people: Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke, Gary and Martin Kemp, and Dexter Fletcher were among my contemporaries.

When I was a kid doing television, they'd stick a leather jacket on me, and I would be the thug.

Acting is a tough industry. There are a lot of kids out there at drama schools and not a lot of money about, especially as the arts are being cut.

I get on with actors, and when I'm doing a theatre show, it's great being with them all the time. But we're all alike, and it's much nicer being with people who are different.

When my daughter was born, I called her Ella Bella Mandela, because she was born the day after Mandela was released from prison.

I'm famous for being a silky midfielder.

I found that golf saved me from going to the pub every day, so instead, I play golf with other unemployed actors. I'm a member of the Stage Golfing Society, and I play golf with all sorts of people.

Doing 'EastEnders' wasn't exactly suffering, but my soul's not in quick-fix TV. Theatre doesn't pay like TV work pays, though. We all have to live, don't we?

Acting is my passion, and Chelsea FC is my hobby.

It was a wonderful experience to live the life for a year; to spend all day doing Shakespeare and then do a play in the evening.

I grew up near King's Cross station in London, living in an apartment block where my dad was a caretaker.