Call The Midwife star Daniel Laurie found a safe space on the hit show after bullies forced him out of school.
Daniel, who has played lovable Reggie Jackson in the BBC drama since 2017, reveals he left education after struggling with children who picked on him. He then found a haven in acting aged 17 and hasn’t looked back.
Now 27, Daniel, who has Down’s syndrome, said: “I hated school. I was badly bullied and that made me walk out of school, but because of that, acting found me when I was 17.”
Daniel comes from an acting family – his dad was late EastEnders actor Leslie Grantham, who played iconic villain Dirty Den. And his mum Jane Laurie, 70, starred in 1980s films The Return of the Soldier, The Last Place on Earth and Foreign Body.
Daniel said: “Luckily my mum Jane found an acting career for me, she was an actress.”
He admits to having regrets at leaving education early but says landing a job on Call The Midwife has helped him get over that.
He said: “I can’t forgive myself for walking out but because of [show creator] Heidi Thomas I have bonded and made friends with the cast. If it wasn’t for Call The Midwife, where else would I be?
“The whole entire show is run by women and I actually love being in Call The Midwife because of them, they make the show what it is. It’s a fantastic show. I love being in the show. We have all been bonded.”
It’s been an exciting year for Daniel, who was nominated for the Best Actor gong at the recent TV Choice awards. While Daniel lost out to Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, 46, he said the news of his nod had made him “feel alive”.
“Thank you to everyone for voting for me,” he said. “It is an awesome honour.”
Call The Midwife, one of the BBC’s biggest ratings winners, is back with its annual Christmas special, followed by the 12th series in the new year.
Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne, says it’s scary that social issues covered in the show are still relevant in today’s society.
The feature-length Christmas episode sees a heavily pregnant mixed-race woman struggling to find somewhere to stay. She then goes into labour, is evicted from her hostel and starts to give birth in the street – until the nuns take her in and help her.
The episode also covers mental health issues and alcoholism.
Jenny, 69, said: “You’d think that with all of the things we have available to us today that we would move on much more easily. It’s worrying but it’s lovely to be a part of a programme and working with a writer able to highlight those things.”
- Call The Midwife is on at 9pm on Christmas Day, BBC One
