Fame at Last for Hot Goss 2004

Apr 1, 2004

When he was a pop star, Luke Goss – one half of top 80s boyband Bros – used to ask when would he be famous.

But he has left all that behind to pursue a career in acting and his latest film, Charlie, opens in Glasgow this weekend.

The 35-year-old is now one of Britain’s most in-demand actors in Hollywood – so the answer to his question would be: “any minute now”.

Charlie is the true story of 60s London gangster Charlie Richardson, who imposed a reign of terror on his patch, torturing those who stepped out of line.

Richardson was in prison when Goss was born but the former singer heard his story.

Goss says: “Charlie’s from south east London and I grew up about half a mile from the scrap yard that used to be his head of operations.”

The spectre of Richardson dominated the local gossip and folklore but he admits to knowing only the dark side. When he was approached to make the film he said he was interested, but not till he had met Richardson.

Goss admits to being intimidated at the meeting because he was going to have to play Richardson on screen. But they already had a link.

He says: “Richardson knew of me because his grandchildren were fans. It turns out they had had my picture up on their walls which is a strange twist.”

Goss’s main concern was that the film should not whitewash what Richardson did. There are those who suggest that the film takes a sympathetic view but he disputes this.

“The only reason the audience is privy to the torture in the movie is because we put those scenes there,” he insists. “All of those scenes are visual versions of the evidence from the prosecution witnesses. As they start their verbal testimony we cut to the visuals and we didn’t have to do that. We could have whitewashed it,” he says firmly, “but we didn’t.”

What really fascinated Goss about the Richardson story was the trial. Richardson faced four charges of grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 25 years.

“The trial was a farce. The judge had a conflict of interests,” he claims, pointing out that some of the trial records will remain sealed for a further 50 years.

Charlie has already been a hit on a limited London release and goes nationwide this week. Goss admits to being terrified about carrying a film on his own but feels more relaxed now it is a success.

It’s 10 years since he left Bros and he could have been a successful actor now.

He turned down major West End roles to tour regional theatres to learn his craft so he couldn’t be accused of trading on his celebrity.

He says: “I wanted to feel the pleasures of success based on something I had worked for. I fell in love with acting on my first day. I loved how terrifying it was.”

Goss got his big break as the villainous vampire opposite Wesley Snipes in Blade II.

He has also filmed a version of Frankenstein, in which he plays The Creature, and Silver Hawk, an action movie with martial arts star Michelle Yeoh. He’s also about to star opposite Samuel L Jackson in The Man.

But whatever he chooses, he will never return to professional music.

“I haven’t touched music for 10 years and it doesn’t turn me on anymore,” he says simply. “To go back would make a farce of the decisions I have made.”