Rising Star Mark Holden On The Five Things You Need To Shine In The Entertainment Industry
It’s a very fickle industry. Put in the hard work and if it’s meant to be you will reap the rewards. But remember getting a break, doesn’t always mean getting that regular role on a tv series, it might simply be getting a small role with a couple of scenes opposite an A list Hollywood actor/actress in a big-budget movie, or landing a role in the ensemble of a theatre tour and so on. Generally, a career is made up of many smaller breaks all threaded together.
As a part of our series about pop culture’s rising stars, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Mark Holden.
Mark Holden is a British-born, Canadian actor of Nigerian descent, who works in film, television, theatre, and voice. He has worked extensively throughout Canada, UK, Europe, and South Africa. He is best known for playing CIA handler John Lynn in the Fox Networks Group television series “Deep State” and most recently playing James Morse on stage in the original London West End cast of “Pretty Woman: The Musical” at the Savoy Theatre. His voice can be heard playing Doctor Paradox in the long-awaited video game “Cyberpunk 2077”.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
I was born in Plymouth, Devon, England on 21 September 1962, to a British mother Shirley Anne Cortis, and late father Admiral Augustus Aikhomu former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1986–1993. I attended Burrington Secondary Modern School in Manadon from 1974 to 1979. In my spare time as a teenager, I was consumed with athletics and amateur acting. I achieved many accolades on the athletics track. Upon leaving school I went straight into the Metropolitan Police Cadets in London at 17 years of age, and eventually became a police constable at 18 years old having completed the Metropolitan Police Training Course at the Peel Centre in Hendon, London UK.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
My mother frequently took me to watch live theatre and to the cinema from a young age. I remember one Christmas, probably 1970/71 when I was around 8 or 9 years old. We spent it at my grandmother’s house, with my aunt, uncle and two cousins. Jerome Robbins “West Side Story” was on television, and I distinctly remember the dancing and singing but don’t think I understood the storyline at the time. When I was about 11 years old, I looked for a local amateur theatre company to join and performed with them for a couple of years until athletics took over my time. The love of acting stayed with me through my early twenties and blossomed when I was 29 at which point, I started delving into it professionally.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
I guess one of the most memorable ones that come to mind, was when I filmed the feature film “Captain Phillips” in Malta, starring the acting titan Tom Hanks. I played real-life person William Rios, who was one of the actual crew members of the Maersk Alabama cargo ship when it was boarded by four Somali pirates. I was able to watch Tom at close range preparing for a scene. He did this so adeptly and smoothly, especially when a few minutes earlier he’d be telling anecdotes and joking around, but when it’s time for “action”, he’s there and ready to put in his all. He was also very kind and generous to all the cast and crew. He took us all out on a couple of occasions during filming; once for a beer and pizza and another time to watch the film “21 Jump Street “at the local movie theater. He had a real belly laugh at times when watching the film.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting?
About 2 years into my film career, I landed a small role on a film called Y2K. I got to set just before lunch, so got to eat prior to doing anything else. I sat down at an empty table with my food and shortly after a guy came along and asked if he could share my table. I smiled and told him that I recognized him from somewhere, another job possibly. He then smiled back and told me that he was the director, and subsequently cast me in two further movies playing larger roles.
Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The main lesson I learned from that was to make sure I do my homework, recognize and know about people on a movie/tv, and respect everyone on set, because you never know who they are or where they will be in 5- or 10-years’ time. But it’s always good to know what the director, producers and other key people have worked on previously.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I am currently playing James Morse in the original West End cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre. I have just completed voicing characters on a video game, which will be released around February 2022. I also recently filmed an episode of “His Dark Materials” which will be released around Christmas 2022.
You have been blessed with success in a career path that can be challenging. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
I believe like with most personal achievements in life that you must really want it, not coming at it half-heartedly, and that you definitely need thick skin to survive. That you’re not doing it for fame and fortune from the outset, and you intend to enjoy the journey with all its ups and downs. It’s a very fickle industry. Put in the hard work and if it’s meant to be you will reap the rewards. But remember getting a break, doesn’t always mean getting that regular role on a tv series, it might simply be getting a small role with a couple of scenes opposite an A list Hollywood actor/actress in a big-budget movie, or landing a role in the ensemble of a theatre tour and so on. Generally, a career is made up of many smaller breaks all threaded together.
We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?
Our society in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom is made up of diverse peoples. All these people need to be seen in movies, on television, online and their individual stories told. They need to see that it’s possible to attain their dreams, live successful lives and accomplish the near-impossible if they work hard, and lead the way for others to follow.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. I wish I’d met a black actor who could have mentored me and explained the deficiencies in the industry relating to diversity. I had to learn this through experience.
2. Being self-employed and the correct way to present receipts and spreadsheets to an accountant. I learned the hard way through experience.
To be honest, I don’t have any others, because I came into the industry at 29 years old, I’d already learned a lot about life having been a police officer from the age of 18. I started acting whilst I was a police officer so was able to tread the water slowly, take classes and so on whilst I was getting paid as a police officer. When I left the police to act full time, I was ready for the industry and its ups and downs.
Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?
Don’t be afraid to take a holiday, and get some R&R. Keep taking some classes, especially if you haven’t worked in a while. Try and do one small thing for your career each day (email a casting director, learn a monologue, etc.), and network with people at industry events. Using social media to this end is useful in this day, and age, but there are proven ways of making this work, and other ways that could hinder it. Do other completely different jobs if you need to earn money, it’s good to meet people outside the industry and experience how life is being lived by everyone else.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would introduce drama, musical theatre, singing and dancing to inner-city children and teenagers, and arrange free or majorly discounted tickets for them to attend live performances. I know this has and is being done in some places, but it needs to be done on a large-scale movement in cities and countries around the world.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
The late British/Canadian director Robin Phillips gave me a break when I was 30 years old. I’d come into the industry a little later in life at 29 years of age the year before Robin cast me in 7 productions over the next 3 years at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This enabled me to obtain my Canadian Equity card by working at the Citadel Theatre.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Absorb and learn from all your experiences in life and let those juices seep through into your creative process.” I have had many varied experiences in my journey through life which I have used in preparation for many acting roles. I am a former police officer of 17 years and have worked as a private investigator, and as a close protection operative. I was a successful track and field athlete at school and also represented the British Police at many international events. I have represented Great Britain and Canada at bobsledding on the World Cup circuit. I competed mainly as a brakeman, but also a as crew member pushing on the side. Much of the above I did prior to my acting career, and some in the early stages, and some in times further along where I had a quiet spell.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
I would love to have breakfast with Dwayne Johnson. What an extremely inspirational person, having had to struggle financially and with his mental health as a kid, a teenager and into his young adult life. But with the help and mentorship of certain persons, and a personal drive to better himself in the sports arena and to be successful in the acting world, he has become a successful behemoth as a wrestler and Hollywood A-lister.
How can our readers follow you online?
Instagram: @realmarkholden Twitter: @MarkHolden4real Facebook: Mark Holden Actor. Headshot credit: Mark Willshire.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
