Campbell says he ‘had the authority’ when discussing lines with the writers of the new Brian Epstein biopic
A man went from busking at eight years old to playing the part of one of Liverpool’s most famous musicians. Campbell Wallace, 23, has been a keen performer since he started busking as a child on Bold Street, where he performed his own songs.
The actor gradually worked his way up thanks to the Young Everyman and Playhouse scheme and studied acting at the sixth form of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
During his studies Campbell was cast in the ITV series, Anne, starring Maxine Peake. He played her son, Kevin, who lost his life in the Hillsborough disaster, aged 15.
Campbell later studied acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and has gone on to tour with the Royal Shakespeare company. He has starred in several films, as well as the Liverpool-set ITV comedy G’wed.
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It was during his degree that he was cast as Ringo Strarr, the drummer of The Beatles, in Midas Man. The film tells the story of the life and career of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, played by Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, and his influence on music across the globe.
Speaking to the ECHO, Campbell, who is originally from Crosby but now lives in Allerton, said he had a lot to learn when he got the role of Ringo. He said: “The project has been going on for a long time.
“I heard about it about two and half years ago. A friend sent me a casting call. At the time, I didn’t play the drums. The original director took a gamble on me.
“There was a lot of pressure to get it right. I remember getting blisters on my fingers when I was learning. It was a lot of work, a lot of nights emulating both how Ringo talks and his drumming style.”
In the film, Blake Richardson plays Paul McCartney, Leo Harvey-Elledge is George Harrison and Jonah Lees plays John Lennon. It was a daunting task for the actors, but Campbell feels they benefited from Midas Man focussing more on the story of Brian Epstein. He said: “It was a huge responsibility. You felt the pressure and weight of the role.
“They changed not just Liverpool forever but also the world. At the same time, there was freedom. The Beatles take a backseat in this. We lead on Brian, someone who was a kind but also dedicated and hardworking man who kept his homosexuality a secret.
“It really is worth watching. This is definitely a story that should have been told. We wanted to show who they were when they weren’t on screen. We wanted to see them when they were just being young lads, the cheeky side of them which maybe people haven’t seen.
“I think the movie does a good job of that. A lot of what we said was improvised. Not all of it made the final cut, but 80% of the lines of the film are totally improvised. We had a lot of discussions with writers. As the only Scouser on set, I had the authority.
“It was great because if there was any doubt about a line, people would say, ‘Cam, how do you say this?’ There was also some talk about their humour being a USP (unique selling point). If they were uptight, people would never have accepted them. But because they were funny – that’s what people fell in love with.”
Sadly, Campbell hasn’t had the chance to talk to Ringo himself, despite some close calls. He said: “It was like passing ships. There were times where people would say to me, I met Ringo this weekend. As far as I know, he doesn’t know me. It would be nice to have a chat with him.”
Campbell is delighted at what he has achieved so far in his acting career, and through the film has bonded closely with Blake, Leo and Jonah. He said: “From asking people for coppers on the street to stepping into Ringo’s shoes, it’s a big responsibility.
“It’s a big privilege also, I feel grateful for getting this chance. From busking solo to now being part of a group emulating the best band ever, it now feels like I’ve got three brothers.”
