25: Harry Collett - Living The Dream & All The Moments In-Between

Hello, hello, welcome, welcome, welcome. How are you, Mary Christmas? If you are a person who celebrates Christmas and Mary 26th of December, if you're not, I hope I find you in a good place today, I hope you're having a good day, a good week, a good end of the year. If you're catching this just as it comes out, I am so honored to have your ears for the next. However long and I'm so excited to share with you, to share this space with the gorgeous Harry Collette. Harry is today's podcast guest. He is an Essex born actor best known for playing Oli Hyde in Casualty from 2014 to 2022. He also played Tommy Stubbins in Do Little with Robert Downey Jr. and his latest role is appearing as Prince Jace Valerian in HBO's House of the Dragon. I have admired Harry's work long before our paths crossed, but certainly his work and his work ethic since our paths did cross on Casualty in 2020 and I'm so proud and so excited to see the heights that this young man is achieving in his career and I know he will go on to continue achieving. He is so humble, he's such a love with such a fun time recording this episode and he's just an absolute delight to talk to and I'm sure you will get that in bucket loads from listening to this episode. I can't wait for you to hear what he has to say, to learn about his journey, to understand what it's like, being someone who has performed as long as he has since he was just a little kid right up to now as he blossoms into the wonderful, kind young man that he is. Enjoy everyone, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. This is in the room with Adele James and here is the unfiltered version of Harry Collette's story. We live. We live. How do you feel? Oh great. Amazing. Hi Harry. Hello. I'm good. I was alive. Yeah. Mad. Mad. Oh, we're going to get into that. What do you mean? No, it's just, you know, I pinch myself every day and I'm so grateful to be in the position that I'm in now. But yeah, it's all come very quickly and it's all taking me a bit of a surprise. But it's all right. I'm not complaining. It's the life that I want it. So it's good. It certainly happened, doesn't it? It's like one, I think this is one of the only industries I know where your life can literally change overnight or over the course of like a couple of weeks or a couple of months. Yeah, it's, it's, it's scary if you think about it. And especially like there's definitely been people that it's happened faster than, than it's happened to me. Like think of what happened with, I don't know. This isn't even an act. But Justin Bieber say he's just a little kid winning and he posted a video on YouTube and it would actually make it all right. To be fair, I am glad it didn't happen to me when I was younger because I feel like I had time to actually grow up because I feel like I would have really messed with my head because even though I've got a great family and great friends of you actually keep me grounded, I think it would have been really hard to stay grounded if it happened as if I was a kid. Do you know what I mean? But yeah, I'm glad I kind of have a head about about me and I'm older now and I'm more mature about it, you know what I mean? Yeah, absolutely. Granted, it didn't happen when I was younger because I don't know if I would be the same person I am now. Yeah, well, of course, of course. I mean, you started acting from a very young age, you were just looking at the right seat. Yeah. That's incredibly young. What were you doing at six years old? Well, I used to dance with a dance group called Diversity and it was before they went on Briton's Got Talent and they had a little dance shop in Reynum, like a studio. And I went there and I just used to love it. I was five, I think, when I was four when I started and Ashley Vanjo was like, he was my teacher. So after school, I'd quite a tough time at school like sometimes where I've like getting, I don't know, picked on or whatever. So I'd always go there straight after school and just dance and it would always make me forget about all my problems. I don't know how it does that, but acting and dancing or just doing something you generally enjoy, like it just makes you forget about everything, just makes you like, it's magical really. But yeah, I did a sort of dancing show because every year they sort of do like a recap of all the kids and an agent was in the crowd and she went up to my mum and dad and she said, is that your boy up there? I think he'll be really great for it and he's like born to be on stage. And so my mum and dad went to me and said, oh, this lady's interested. Is this something you'd be interested in doing? And I was like, not really. I mean, I was young. I was like, I don't want to do that. That sounds lame. But then mum and dad were just like, why don't you just try it and see if you like it. You didn't think you'd like dancing and you love it now, so I don't need to just try. I was like, okay. And then I got put up for my first audition and that was for Billy Elliot, the musical, which I played a character called Small Boy, funnily enough actually. The Billy Elliot's were Tom Holland and Dean Charles Chapman, who we've come across each other in our career once again, which is really weird. But yeah, that was my first ever show and everything just sort of snowballed from there. I started off with theatre and then I discovered film and TV and found out I love that so much more. So everything just sort of snowballed, it all just sort of happened. Yeah, it does. Yeah. Once you get, once you're in, I think you're in, aren't you? Have you ever had a break from acting? I suppose I could say the breaks of getting like no work and they're tough. Yeah, they're tough. I wish I didn't because I was going to give up just before I do little. Really? Yeah, I was really getting really sick of it and I was really panicky thinking about the future because I was in secondary school as well. So reality started to check in on me and was like, is this really going to work out? Because I was just getting absolutely nothing. And I was like, I need to actually maybe focus on school. And so what age are we saying? What year was this? I'd say middle of year nine maybe. 13, 14, 13, 14. And I was just terrified. I was broke my heart really because it's what I wanted to do. And I was older and it was like, I just want to be an actor and that was my goal. And when work just started, just went absolutely into nothing, it just scared me. I was like, what am I going to do? I mean, it's good at nothing. Apart from acting, like, I'm actually, there's nothing I'm used for that. I can't be like a like a plaster or like my dad was. I'm not good like that way. Like, can't really be a receptionist. I can't imagine myself sitting like, like, do you know what I mean? Like, it's just something I wouldn't be good at. I was going to give up. I said to my mum, I don't want to do any more. I said that I was like, I can't need to be real with you. My mum, I don't want to do it anymore. And my mum and dad have always said, we're 100% supportive of you. If you don't want to do it, you just tell us we'll be fine with it. We're not, they're not forceful parents. Like, you can get some parents like that in the industry with kids, which is absolutely dreadful. But I said to my mum and dad, I don't want to do any more. I'm not enjoying it. I'm not enjoying getting, not getting any work. It's the moment of waiting. And they was like, okay, well, why don't you just, my mum's like, why don't you just wait for me two weeks? Just do that. Just wait for me for two weeks. And then after that, if nothing comes around, then you can give it up. Week later, I've got the audition for Do Little. Then it went on for about five times. I really had hope because it was like the first audition I'd had in ages. And I got into like the fifth audition. And then I got a call while I was sitting there playing my Xbox with my mates saying, do you want to go to Atlanta for a screen test? And it was me and another boy. And I was like, okay, where's this screen just going to be taken places? I was like, oh yeah, just Robert Downey Jr.'s house like while he's filming Infinity War in Atlanta right now. I was like, what? I was like, this is mental. I didn't even know he was going to be in it. Like, this is crazy. So we went there. I did the audition. Really didn't think I was going to get it. Which by the way, it's really weird. The auditions that I think I've smashed that. I don't get the auditions that I think, I don't think I did well there or I don't think I got it. I'd get them, which is so weird. And I'm just like, like, I just think, oh, but anyway, I did the audition. I heard nothing for about two months, I say, a month. And I was gutted. Absolutely gutted. So I just kept calling my mum. I was like, they called you, they called you, they called you. And then I got picked up from school and they said it on the Bluetooth. Would you like to play the role of Tommy Stubbins and did it when I went? And I didn't even go crazy. Same with Game of Thrones. I didn't go crazy. I just sat there in shock. Like I just sat there. And my mum literally went to me in the car for, dude, who she went, are you not going to say anything? I don't know what to say. You know, this is crazy. Like, I just, and yet it, and for me, it doesn't sink in until it's out because I never really get my hopes up until it's out because anything can happen. I don't know if the show could go down or like, you know, there's been shows where they just give up halfway. So I never, I never get my hopes up until it's actually I see it on the screen. and people, other people say it. But. - Yeah, it's just a crazy life, isn't it, really? - It's such a crazy life. I do think there are so many things within that, the compartmentalization definitely around auditions, like which I feel sometimes I'm much better at than others. But also that thing you've just said about shock, is so I really relate to that. Like getting something massive and you just think it's gonna be like this huge party and actually you're just like, okay. - Yeah. - Thank you. It looks like I don't appreciate anything, the really you do, but you're like, wow, you're just like. - It's like wanting something for such a long time and then you get it and you're like, oh. - Yeah. - All right. - Yeah. - I guess we're gonna do that now. - It's not what you expect, is it? - No, and you know what the other thing about that, I suppose, certainly when it comes to like a job, is you get the job and then you still have to wait. - Yeah. - 'Cause you haven't got a schedule. - Prep comes in like four months. - Yeah, you ain't got no scripts. You don't really anything about your character, other than what they gave you in the audition. So you get this call over Bluetooth after they've picked you up from school, saying you've got the part in, do this all. What was it like when you got the part for Thrones? What are you doing? - I was just in my room again. Planet Xbox probably. (laughing) Literally just sees like all I do, really. My sister was in, my little sister, and the moment that went for a, to take my dog for a walk, 'cause it was in the summery time and I'm trying to think, was it quarantiney time? I don't think it was proper quarantiney, but I think it was like, people were still working from home. So I remember that was still working from home. So they'd like to go on like summer walks together. So I can get some time to tell them the dog and it was nice. And me and Brooke was never really bothered because we just want to stay in, we were just lazy. So we just stayed in, and my agent Mary called me, and then he said, right. So you know the tapes were sent off to HBO, 'cause I got an email like a week before saying they've been sent off, but I didn't get my hopes up, 'cause apparently they'd sent off the tapes of all the kids to HBO, so they didn't mean anything. They come back and they said, they absolutely love you, and they'd want to offer you the role. I went, are you kidding me? - From a tape? - No, no, no, from, I basically, I did a tape, and then I did one tape, and it went straight into the studio, and I saw, I was, what are, when I walked in, there was these, like, I had short hair at the time. I looked like a typical Essex boy, and there was his guys there, which proper tall, mussely, long-haired, looked like proper princes. And I was like, well, all I can do is try really. I'm just walking it, I'm just bubbling in there with my Essex accent, and whatever. But I just, I try, I just, I just, I just, I just make sure I try my best on everything, and I try my best there, and I remember the first thing I said, which I said it, and I was like, why did I say that when I walked in? And it was really embarrassing. I just went, oh, wish I could shake your hand, but it's COVID, so, and I just said that. I went, why do I even have an open in my mouth? But, that's personality, though. Yeah, I'm like, hello, I'm here, I'm not a robot. Yeah, exactly. I just wanted to be normal, I just wanted to be me. That's, but yeah, my mum and dad came back from the door walk, and I didn't even tell my sister, I just told my sister to come downstairs and I just said, so I'm gonna be in Game of Thrones. What? She's, my mum, like, hugged me, she did a, like, ex-sex girl shout. Sorry, what's an ex-sex girl shout out? I don't know, you'd have to make my mum to find out. She's just gonna hate me, I hope she doesn't do it. No, she just went, oh my god, like that. I just went, and then hugs me. I really hugged her, doesn't listen to this, she's gonna kill me for that. But she just, yeah, she gave me a big hug, my dad like gave me a hug, and my dad said, well done, and my dog, I'd probably know clue what was going on from the shouting, but I would just, again, my mum was like, are you not excited? I was like, yeah, but you know how? My mum, I can't really get my hopes up like now. And it's amazing, but I don't know, I don't know. Like, I just, it's amazing, but I just don't know. I can't get my hopes up. She was like, okay, okay, fair enough, fair enough. And then it just started to get in. Game of Thrones coming on quite quick. The prep was quick. The, um, I went to a hair and makeup fitting, and I had short hair, short back and sides. Look like I just come straight out of a Turkish barber's, which I did, and I was like, what were you doing? That's not medieval hair. I was like, yeah, good point. No one told me though to be fair, like, to be fair. And it was, it was like, I can't even say the code name on here, just in case like they're still going to use it for season two, but it was under a code name still really. And I mean, I'd heard of Game of Thrones, but I hadn't even watched it at that point, so I didn't really know if it had certain hair requirements. So I was like, right, we're going to have to go for the wig. And I was like, okay, so they brought out this wig. And I, you know what? It was great, right? But I did think they were joking. (laughs) I'm going to be honest, Harry, the wig is not really a look, is it? It's not one of my favourite things about it. The hair in general. Like, please don't not cast me over this people, but the hair in general in drag is really something. It is something. It is really something. But it's very Game of Thrones, isn't it? It's very Game of Thrones-y, but now you've got the hair, so look at that, no more wig. I mean, we don't know. We don't know. Maybe they want consistency, maybe the wig will be back out. Maybe, I don't know, it depends, 'cause my hair is not at all like the one in the wig, because to be fair, the wig fits the time period. But when you compare my hair in real life with the wig, and I showed my mates like all pictures of it, they were cruising. But yeah, and then they said, can you grow your hair out just for another option? I was like, okay. But even though they didn't use my real hair in season one, you know, it was still nice to see my hair at this length, 'cause I'd never ever grown it out before. And it's curly, didn't know it was curly. It's so curly. It's really suit you. Yeah, thank you. It's gorgeous. I don't think I'd go back to true hair really again, unless I'm doing it for a role. No, it's gorgeous. I don't think I'd do is give it a trim, but- - Fairly hair for the win. - Yeah. (laughing) I didn't know my hair could curl, which to be honest seems like the most stupid thing in the world. These days, it was so curly, but yeah, I had no idea. Oh, having a little new tropics coffee, aye? - New tropics coffee is actually really good. - You enjoyed it. - I'm actually really, I was just saying too early, it wasn't I was saying this is actually my first cup of hot coffee. - Yeah, you're a nice coffee guy. - Yeah. - And I've only probably got it from Starbucks. That's it. - You can make it iced. I mean, if you pour it over ice, then you've got a nice coffee. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. - Maybe a bit more milk as well. (laughing) - Yeah, but I'm glad you like it. - No, I love it. - I've given you this one because you won't feel in too well. - No. - It's got, this is mojo. So it's made with corniceps, mushroom, and Siberian ginseng, which has got immune boosting properties. - Wow. - So when you're not feeling very well, it's a good coffee to have. - I feel better already. (laughing) - All my love, before we go on, I just wanted to ask very quickly, if you might be able to hit the like button, the subscribe button, the follow button, the rate button, whatever the platform allows for, five stars would be so awesome in a cheeky review, but whatever you think is fair is great too. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Sorry to kill the vibe. - I'm really curious. So obviously, we cross paths on casualty a little bit, and I know it's like to kind of work on a job like that, and be away from home and all the rest of it, but I've never worked on something of the scale of how's the track in. And what I'm really curious about as you're kind of in it now, or I suppose in between seasons, but very much a big part of it, what's your, what's like a typical week like now? - When I'm working or when I'm not working? - A bit of both, like what's going on for you right now? Like for somebody who's watching this, who's like, gosh, I would love to do multiple seasons of a TV show, what's the in-between bit like? - The in-between bit, it's tough really, because yeah, it's awkward to get more work in-between, because you can't overlap with if you do next season. Which I think is really tough. It's tougher than doing a film, definitely, but at the same time, there's so many. There's more pros and cons, obviously, but the in-between bit has been a little bit of a struggle for me because, you know, obviously, some I came as well when you're spending money when you're not earning it as well, which is a big issue. And even though, like, I don't do it for the money, it's still important, especially when I'm not making it for a very long period of time. Like, I think we've finished season one in February, and I haven't got a job since, which is tough, but I'm glad I've got season two, which is amazing. But yeah, I've just been really cautious with money and stuff to try and save it as much as I possibly can, because my mates go out all the time, but it's good for them, but they're earning like a monthly wage. But they think that I've, like, that's, I feel like that's the biggest assumption. Everyone thinks you earn millions and stuff. - Yeah. - And it, you're really not. Which, well, I don't know if some people probably are, but they think that you're like, making loads of money, like, wow, you're so lucky. Yet, I'm very, very lucky to be in the position I'm in, but when I stop working, who knows if you're going to hit a dead end? So, I don't know, the hobby started to kick in, I started to drive myself a bit mental, my family a bit mental for being at home all the time. (laughing) I've definitely become a bit more lazy with getting up late and stuff like that, but that will just soon change when we start season two. But yeah, I'd learn how to play the guitar. That was something that I'd never really had time to do, 'cause my dad used to play the drums in guitar, so he sort of helped me out a little bit with it. And then, I learned how to DJ, which was great. - So cool. - Which I just thought, I love going to raves, right? Raves are brilliant, like, prune works. I've just been going to the Beams recently. Like, that's a brilliant venue. They're not even amazing venues, right? They're literally just old abandoned warehouses, right? Massive warehouses, they put like massive speaks in there, amazing lights, and all like the equipment that you need to DJ, and it's insane. I literally ordered the decks in the rave. (laughing) I thought, I wanna do that, like, as a hobby. I wanna, obviously my main focus is acting, but I wanna try that, like, that looks cool, like. So I ordered the decks on my phone while I was in the rave, and then they come, like, a week later. I got myself, I didn't have a laptop, so I got myself a renewed one from Amazon, which was actually only, like, 150 pounds for a MacBook. - Oh, that's really good. - But it was secondhand. - That's why I refurbished ones. - Yeah, yeah. - I've all pretty much always had them until my last Mac. Yeah, they are great. - But, yeah, I've got the decks, really enjoy it. Had a couple of gigs. I mean, I think it's yourself with DJs and X, doesn't it? - He does, yeah, quite a lot of people DJ and do something else, like, particularly acting. I wish I had the kind of brain for it, I don't think I'm not musical enough. - I'm really into it. - Dracon, oh, Harry. All right, maybe I'll try. - Maybe I'll bring my decks wherever we see each other next, and well-- - Oh, give me a little lesson. - All right, yeah, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done. - Propoke, just get proper rave in there. - But I would want to be like, I would want to be DJing to, like, 90s R&B. - Yeah. - Not his R&B, yeah. - That's pretty much what I did, anyway. Just remix his-- - Yeah, that's pretty much what I'd be doing. No house music. - No house music. - No house music, for you. - I'll leave you to that, 'cause I just don't listen to it enough. - I hate on house music. - I'm not hating on it, listen, I'll go, I'll listen, I'll dance, I'll do stuff, I'll have a good time. But I definitely don't know enough house music to be able to do all that mixy-mixy business. - Not these R&B is then. - Yeah, I'll take the 90s, and you can do that. - Well, a lot of people have been come crazy, because I listen to it, like, every day when I wake up, like, all through the day. And most people are like, how can you listen to it like this? I have to be absolutely hammered in a club to have to listen to this. But I love it. And I can, you know, I actually have fallen asleep to it on many occasions. - Really? - Base, yeah. I don't know why I'm a strange man. I don't know what it is, but I've put them headphones on. I've got headphones next to me. And they're noise canceling. I don't know what it is, but even house music I can fall asleep to. - That's a skill. - I love it though. - I just chose how much I'm in love with house music. - I think it does. (laughing) - Or maybe how much you've been listening to. - Yeah, exactly. - But I think that's so important, like, it's taken me, gosh, how many years, to figure out that having a hobby is a good idea. - Yeah. - I started pole dancing in the summer, and I'm obsessed. Like, it's honestly the most important hour of my week. Only do it once a week at the moment. But it's become the most important hour of my week. It's the only time I spend time on my own, working on something just because I love it. - Yeah. - Like, it's not for my CV, it's not for my career in any way. I'm not gonna monetize it. It's literally just something to do. I find really fun, and it's making me feel like strong, and yeah, it's so fun. I highly recommend it. - That's so sick. - I highly recommend it. - I know, like, I said I'd teach you how to DJ, but I don't know if I could do the pole dancing. - Oh, you definitely could. - No. - Listen, I saw those pictures you've been putting up. Hello, hello, you've got more abs than I got, baby. Okay, I feel it's so weird, 'cause I know you was like, look, baby, hurry. - And then I'm posting these wrong key pictures. - I'm like, I'll tell you 'em, I don't know where to learn. (laughing) - No, it's funny. You're really coming into your own, aren't you? Young man. - Yeah, I mean, the fashion stuff has really picked up. It's great. That one I just posted recently was for all saints, and then I just did one for Prada, which is amazing. So, modern isn't really something I'd thought I'd get into, but since, yeah, that's another thing since the break. That's the only really work I've been getting, but you don't, but I don't do it for money, because I said it was a bit of, like, fun. It's just fantastic for a photographer called Jemima, and we've been doing a lot of work to give recently. And, yeah, modeling's great. Like, I'd really enjoy it, and fashion is really cool, like seeing all the different things, and I wear things that I would never wear, like, 'cause I'm quite basic with how I dress, I think. So, like, some of the stuff I get to wear is amazing, because it's just so different. Like, I look at that and I go, "What is that?" But then, like, you put it on, and I thought, "That's actually pretty sick." Do you know what I mean? You don't know it, and to be actually try it. - Yeah, it's a bit like costume, isn't it? - Yeah. - I mean, to be honest, the thought of being in front of a still camera makes me really comfortable. I remember listening to somebody talking about modeling, and they were like, I just have developed a persona that is able to do those things that can go in front of a camera with all these crazy outfits on. And just, it's like, I'm acting, and that's the only way she could get through it. So, I think if I ever tried to approach anything like that, I would have to do it from that lens. But, yeah, putting stuff on that you wouldn't normally do. I mean, that's just costume. I'm sure they wouldn't like it to be a cool costume, but it's not that dissimilar as it kind of stuff. Does it make you feel different? - Yeah, a little bit. It's like, I don't know. I don't think I could ever yet wear it in public, but I don't have the confidence for that. I feel like the more confidence you get that easier is to put it off, because if you actually genuinely don't care what people think, like it suits you, do you know what I mean? - Yeah. - Look at Harry Styles, for example. When some people think his fashion is so out there, but he pulls it off so well. And he actually suits him so well, like, his stuff is sick. And then say if I tried it on, it probably wouldn't suit me as well. Like, you've got to find your fashion comfort, so I don't know if I suppose. And then that'll give you the confidence to put it off. Everyone has different tastes anyway, and music, and clothes, and films, and TV, whatever. - Yeah, absolutely. And also, I think a lot of those things, they're made for a certain place, like a certain time and place, or like a lot of them. You'd probably wear it like events and things like that, and all you'd be living in certain communities around certain types of people, like you're probably not gonna wear it down the road in Essex. You might, but you're probably not. - Me right now, not right now, but like I said, I don't have the confidence for it yet. I care about too much what people think, like, which is sad, but like it is true. So I just seem to go a bit basic when I'm in my hometown. But then it is weird, because when I'm out with my mates and say if we go literally, insure it to wherever, I'll wear something a bit more out there, because we're in London, do you know what I mean? It's weird, but I don't know. It's just the way that I roll, really. I don't really know what. - I think we all do, to be honest. I said to you today, it looks like I got dressed in the dark. (laughing) 'Cause it really does just through the nose on. - I think it looks great. - Bless you. I'll pay you later, babe. It's like social coding, you know, go into a certain space, especially someone like Shoreditch. Like, I think people are more creative with their outfits. They're more creative. They have more creative personalities around. And so that's expressed through things like clothing. And, you know, Essex is home and so you associate that with a whole bunch of things as well. And also, I mean, I think a lot of actors, I certainly feel this way, but a lot of actors don't want to stand out any more than they already do. Especially people who have worked on high profile jobs. 'Cause it's likely that whether you're wearing a bin bag or something off a catwalk, if someone's gonna spot you at some point and be like, "Oh, you're so and so from such and such." And for me, like, I'm just always trying to, like, I'm just trying to keep my head down. 'Cause I don't like the attention. Which sounds a bit counter-intuitive, given what we do. But you play quite nice characters though to me. - Yeah, I've been quite lucky with not being a bit of a brat or anything, but, well, you know, even in the first, like, sort of, Game of Thrones, there was that kid who played Joffrey. I forgot the next's name, I can't-- - Yeah, we were talking about it a couple of episodes ago. I can't remember his name either, but he was really badly bullied. - Yeah, bullied online and he gave it up, didn't he? You know, I've been quite lucky, but it's weird how people take TV so literally. But even on casualty though, you see without the mums coming on the, I look at the Instagram post sometimes. - Yeah. - Like, this is like, "I hate that person," like, "Oh, they just made me like. " But it's just a TV show, love, like. - That is the thing that you've said all day. - It's just a TV show, love. - Like, I don't know why they got it, but sometimes, and they go, "Oh, I hate that character." Also, "Hate the act," but why? You've never met them like, like, in person, they're not gonna be remotely, or hopefully not remotely like their character anyway, do you know what I mean? - Yeah, I'm gonna have to stop reading these things, man, because it really messes with you. You can kind of wind up in a bit of a vacuum on social media, and yours has blown up recently as well, hasn't it? - Yeah. - Gone from, I don't know how many, so like, well, over 200, 200,000? - I think I was on like, 65K, but no, no, no, I'm not, - Which is still huge, yeah. - And now you're on 200 and say one, I think, currently. - But, - It's a lot. - Yeah, it's a lot. I try to pull myself away from social media as much as I can, even though, Like everyone's been really nice to me so far, like, it's a weird place, like, it's a very strange place. People just open up their thoughts on there, which sometimes I don't need to see, you know what I mean? There was this meme that come out about me after friends, I don't know if you've seen it. - No, what about me? - Maybe. - About my posture? - Oh no, I haven't. - What are they saying? - They said, "No, it's quite funny to be fair." Basically, where I didn't have a job before for so long, and other topics of Xbox again, I'd play like a lot of Xbox, obviously. My posture was a bit messed up, right? And to be fair, the one, the photo that they screen-shotted, the set, so basically, we had this rocky sort of tunnel. And you have to duck underneath this rock to get to, like, the end of the studio. So it was like a rock tunnel, and half of it was cut off, and it was just studio after that. So I had to duck down, believe it or not me, you had to duck down, like, I'm not five foot more, seven. But I had to duck down, and in the space of me ducking down, I looked like my neck was really forward. But someone screen-shotted that, and then said it was my posture, so people that don't watch the show think I just stand like that. But there is ones where, there is ones where it's like, I don't know why I'm standing like that. It's true. I don't know what happened, but God knows, but, you know, I'm going to out this out now, because I feel like it's time. I actually got it medically checked out after the stuff on Twitter started coming along, because I was actually worried that I had like a spinal issue. I was just like, is my spine bending, please? Please tell me, is my spine bending. But it was, it wasn't like curving a lot, but it was like, it's because I watch a lot of TV and stuff, and I'm sitting at work reading scripts, I'm like that, and my back is constantly forward, that's how I sit, that's how I'm comfortable. But because it's been like that over time, I had to get it like cracked and like all of that rubbish. It was a traumatic experience, but no, it's fine. And you never would have gone, had it not been from me? No, but now I've got a lot of pressure to improve it for season two, because I've told everyone I will, so. That's hilarious. But I really, but you know, everyone's like, oh my God, no, I really hope his performance ain't rubbish, because he's going to be focusing on the posture the whole time into the performance. But I'll juggle it, I'll be fine. We're multitaskers, you can absolutely, straight back and for an phenomenal performance, hopefully. Oh, the internet is a cruel place, man. Yeah, but then it would affect my career if it was actually an issue. It might affect your career, and also it's like, it's just not, I think you just want to give yourself the best chance as you age. You know, very young, so you'd rather not have bad problems when you're young. But well, so I guess what we're really saying is thank you to the person who made the meme. Thanks. I thought you were, I don't know who created it. No, no, no, I actually, you know, I don't know how people still find it funny. I just sort of sit there now and I go, ah, not again, like I'll just see it come up somewhere and I'll be like, really still going, it's still happening. I thought it's died down by now. It's not died down. I don't think it will ever die down. But yeah, season two is my really chance to, you know, prove that my posture ain't that bad and I can actually focus on the performance as much as the posture or actually more than the posture. But I actually ordered a posture corrector and I was an also, oh God, it's really affected to you. Yeah, just, now I just sit there with the posture corrector and what I'm watching TV or playing Xbox or something. And my back actually is like that, but you can't leave it on for like a long amount of time to actually ruin your back otherwise. Yeah, so I have to leave it on for like three hours or something, and I have to take it off. You've got to take it off, yeah, because you've got to learn to do it on your own. Yeah. I always nag my little sister about posture because she's on her phone like that, you know. Yeah. Huddled round and I'm like, you're going to get that nubbing thing on the back of your, at the top of your spine, I've seen it, I've seen it, I've seen it, the nubbing thing and she's like, leave me alone. But I'm always like, pinch your shoulder blades, just pinch them together. And then your taller, and she loves talking about how she's taller than me anyway. So I'm like, you don't even need a taller, just just like going, yeah, I'm such a stickler for it. And then I never do it myself. So this is a good reminder. Let's all just set up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right, okay, Harry, all that half thing. I'm going to move on to the request for the next guest. So the previous guest before you was a man called Vincent Jerome, and he has asked, has there ever been a time where you've chosen credibility over common sense? And if so, what is that time? Okay, I'm going to take it as in something that I wish I'd done different. When I was younger, you know, obviously being a kid is hard on you. I don't know if there's any people that are listening to this who can agree also that have started like a young age like me, but growing up and doing this industry is hard anyway, because you're trying to maintain a social life in school and get the right friends. So while being at work for like a year or so and being out of school and in an hour, it's tough. But in like year eight, year nine, year 10, I don't know what happened with me, but I just sort of I wanted to be popular. I don't know why, like I started going in like to different friend groups and stuff. And I wanted to, I don't know what it was, I just like younger me just always wanted to be popular and I didn't need it. Like I just wanted to be in the popular group and be like liked and like, because I think getting bullied in primary school didn't help anyway with that. So I feel like I really wanted to make a change in secondary school. So I was like, okay, I need to like make a name for myself. I need to be popular, do you know what I mean? So I think I did get in that group and these like house parties and these stuff started to come along. So I would go to it, but sometimes there'd be self tapes and additions come in and I'd just shrug it off. Because I felt popularity is more important right now. I need to be like, need to go to this party, need to go to that party. But I wish, don't know if I would have got some of those jobs, if I would have focused on it more. And it was only like after, do little came out when I just turned 16 that I was like, because I'd focused on it before, but it's just that little gap of, I don't know what happened, it's a little gap of not focused proper focusing. And yeah, you know, if I did get those jobs, maybe I wouldn't be sitting here today. So I don't know, maybe life has its way of working things out, but I wish I did concentrate more. And my mum was just telling me to concentrate, but I'd be like, no, because I want to go to this party, I want to go to that party, mum's like, you've got plenty of time for that. Just like, self tape takes up what, like an hour at max to do, then you can go, like, but the things I'd always leave things to the last minute, anyway, even with homework, I'd leave things to the last minute. What is it worth after you leave school in school anyway? Nothing. Is that the homework? No, just that puppy Larry, yeah, all right. But it's like the homework. No, but it means nothing. And actually the people who weren't as popular are together anyway. We've just merged into one massive group, so like, it doesn't matter. So I just think, I don't think that I feel like people let school and school life get into the head too much, just find your true friends and people that you genuinely get on with, and that's all you need. You don't need popularity, don't need, like, I was always bothered about girls like me and stuff. Like, I just want, like, it sounds sad, but I wanted it. I was like, I want girls to have a crush on me, I want this, I want that. And I was probably a bit of a brat in being like that, but like, I just wasn't my true self. And I was so focused on being popular and just trying to, I don't know, be the funny one in class, not focusing on my work and just trying to distract everyone, being an absolute idiot and trying to make everyone laugh and be the class clown when the teacher is trying to do the work. That's something I wish I could change, but like I said, if I didn't have that break, then would I be sitting here today? Everything happens for a reason, I suppose, because each job could change. One job could change your whole life. Yeah, it really. Negatively or positively, anything, do you know what I mean? The industry is so mad like that and I think I am of the school of thought that things happen the way they're supposed to and there was obviously a lesson there that I had to be learned. Of course. Yeah. In the actions that you were doing that sounds like has been learned and actually, you know, it sounds school-specific, perhaps, but I think that's really good advice for people at any age. People seek external validation. All the time, look at social media. People are constantly seeking external validation. They're seeking popularity. I mean, what is it that this thing goes around every now and again that's like, you know, you get really upset if you only get like 30 likes on a post or something like 30 people walked up to you and said, "I think you look really nice today." You'd be overwhelmed, of course. And so that like, I suppose it's about perception, isn't it? And I think sometimes you have to learn what the correct way to perceive things is or are by going the wrong way about it. Like, if you, you did that young and now you know and then now you're set up. I mean, I'm just glad it happens to me while I was in school when I didn't turn into proper idiot when I'm older because I feel like, you know what I mean? We get told we're going to meet big actors. We're like, are they going to be a complete knob? Or they can have a really nice do not I mean you don't know but everyone I I've met has been lovely so far, but I feel like there is some out there. Oh yeah, they definitely are and I mean those people are often talked about and I think if someone's going to talk about you, you want them to be saying the right things, the nice things, you know, they want to be talked, you want to be talked about of somebody who's easy to work with. Exactly. I don't get it's just like career suicide if you do that. If you are a nob then people are going to take everyone talks in this industry, don't they? Yeah. I mean, that's the main thing, like if you're bad or like if you're treating others differently for the people that run around and get you a tea in the morning that are literally the same as you, why they're doing you a favour, everyone's got a job to do, just be nice and then it's better for you if you're nice and it's better for them, like it's like I don't get it. Yeah, it's a no brainer isn't it? It's a no brainer, but people's ego's getting the way I think people do it. Well, it's again, it's like external validation, it's like, well, so and so is paying attention to me now or, you know, this many people follow me now or blah, blah, blah and just like people just, their, their, their egos are inflated, but it sounds like you've got really good support system. Yeah. And you can head on your shoulders. Yeah. I'll serve you well. Well, if, you know, if I have a change, I've always said to people, if I have a change, I will give you permission to punch me in the face and tell me that I'm changing. Well, that's harsh. No. Because they not just tell you without the punch. No, because, well, thing is, if you tell someone they've changed, they ain't going to change. I see. It's the punch that's going to do it. They make your realisation. But the only person that could probably do that to make me realise is my mum probably. Okay. Mum, this is on you. Yeah. Yeah. No, but it's true though. I'm really lucky with mates as well. I know that if I started to act like an idiot, they'd be like, Harry, pack it in. Yeah. But hopefully, touch wood, I never get there and I don't think I have a will and I'm just going to stick to being me and I don't want to change anyway. So. Good. I won't. I won't change. That's what people need to hear, man. We don't want you to change, Harry. No. That's just the way you are. I'm not going to change. No. And do you have a request for the next guest? I would say, if you wasn't an actor, would you ever think about doing anything outside of the industry or inside the industry because I'm always, you know, curious to find out because I'm definitely not that if Atten doesn't work out, I know I said, I'm not a DJ now, but I'd always want to go into maybe directing or writing still. So I feel like people either not completely, not in it, if they're not an actor or actress or they are like in it still, like in the industry, do you know what I mean? So that's my request for the guest. Well, I like it. I like it. Do you have a backup, it though? Is your, like, a bit, is it, like, not really a backup, but like, is there something that, like, you would want to fall back on if it all hits the fan, do you know what I mean? I wouldn't say it's a backup. At the moment, I still, I also, like, coach actors, so I work with actors to help them navigate the industry, basically just like, just to feel like they're not on their own and to understand what the industry is like from the inside. Yeah. And I help them with auditions. And I also write, which is something I've been doing for the last few years, but I always wanted to be a teacher. Maybe that's where the coaching came in because coaching is not teaching, but it's still kind of, you know, it's a big business, isn't it? The I always wanted to teach primary, so if I'd never become an actor, that's the route I would have gone. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like the little caddies. The little ones. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They're so cute. Do you hear them? Do you hear them? Do you hear them? Do you hear them? It's a sound of an empty cup. That's a sound of an empty cup. Is that? Yeah. That's how much you enjoyed your first hot coffee. Yeah. Wow. Especially by London new tropics. Smashed it, babe. Absolutely smashed it. Did I get the job? You've got the job. You've got the job. You've got the job. I've got the job. You've got the job. Congratulations. Thanks. All right. So Harry, what's your self-care intention for the foreseeable future? Take a little break from social media while I'm filming. I think because I feel like I really need to have a clear head in season two. Season two is important. That's mega important. Stuff is kicking off right now. Like you're not. I mean, especially like from the last episode of the season, stuff is getting a bit fiery. So I need to have a clear head. There's been opportunities that I've sort of like business ideas that I've been my mate Matt that we've put on hold for a minute, just why I do season two because I'm really scared of stuff getting in my head and me not doing it right. So that's going to be my full focus for next year. I think just genuinely, generally being well and still making time with my friends and family. Because that's hard. And if we film abroad as well, because I'm not young anymore, I can't say I need a chaperone. So I bring my mom and dad's like, so I have someone there with me, like, you have to go on my own now, which is a bit tough because you don't get to see your family and friends that much, especially when they're at uni anyway or some of them are at uni or work and it's tough seeing them anyway. Yeah, getting a lot of sleep, because that can be tough. And they're just generally taking care of I think mental health is a big thing about it because I feel like I swear I read something somewhere that like this is probably like one of the hardest jobs for it because of social media and never think. But then most actors choose to not have social media. These days. So it is a personal preference. Yeah. But I've had it before. So it's like, I just sort of kept it, but I don't think I will be going on it much at all when I'm on season two of Game of Thrones just because I want to keep my head completely clear. And I want to, I want to do the fans proud, basically. That's all I do my work for because, honestly, doing front is the best thing that ever happened in my life, but also the most scariest thing has ever happened in my life. What I want to do is make the fans happy. And if I can do that, then I can put my hands up and say I've done it and I've made it. So I hope that I can do that. And you will. You absolutely will. I'm so proud of you. It's mad how far, like, like how many years ago was it, casualty, like you, you, like, when me and you, like, cross pass, because I'd come in it like once a year, would it not? And then I'll be like, Hi Harry. Hi Harry. Hi Harry. And I come back and I've, like, a deep voice and then, yeah, you're like a man now. So I was there 20, 20 to 21 for a year and a bit. Um, from that. So yeah, it was, it was a couple of years ago now. Was that when me and Emily had our stuff together? Yeah. Oh, okay, cool. Yeah, so that's mad. In it, in it mad that me and her have, like, so many jobs together. It's really bizarre. Yeah. I know. It's really bizarre. From like, young all the way in there, like, yeah, it's like a buy one, get one free. I think that's what we're going to go as. I think we have the same agents anyway, so let's just, like, yeah, it's funny. It's a good package. You're complaining. She's lovely. You're both great. You're both really, really talented. Thank you. I'm very headstrong young people, I think, and really, really inspirational. Um, so congratulations. Thanks. It's a pleasure to know you and I love watching you saw. I love it. Thank you. Pleasure. Thank you for having me. Yeah, thanks for having me today. I've actually really enjoyed it. I thought I was chatting for 15 minutes and it's now like been an hour. An hour. Yeah. And it literally is flown by. I've had so much fun. Thanks for having me. I love you. Happy too. All right, then, so you know what? I was cussed by Vince Jerome, the last guest, for not doing outros, so here is my outro. I'm so sorry, previous guests, but here is my outro. This is a new tradition. That was Harry Collette's story. Yeah. I'm sure you'll agree. Just a gorgeous human being. Thank you so much, Harry, for coming on the show. You were an absolute delight. I hope you guys enjoyed that. There was some useful nuggets in there for you, some inspiration, some motivation, and some solidarity from someone who is doing really, very amazing things, but has really grafted to get to this point and has experienced the same highs and lows that we all have, you know, particularly the lows. So yeah, thank you so much. If you want to keep following Harry's story, you can follow him on Instagram @HarryCollette actor, that's two L's, two T's, and if you do want to grab yourself a cup of delicious mojo coffee, which is what Harry was having today, then head to www.londonutropics.com. That's N-D-O-T-R-O-P-I-C-S and use the code Adele J-A-D-E-L-E-J. You can use that code as many times as you like, and it'll get you 15% off your orders. Get a box of mojo, get a box of flow, get a box of Zen, or get a box with a mixture of all three. You will not be disappointed, and that's all from me. Thank you so much for tuning in. As always, it is a blessing to have your time and your ears have a wonderful rest of your year, and I will see you on the other side of 2022, 2023, New Year's Eve next week. Love, love, love. (upbeat music)