A 20-question interview with English born, Los Angeles based actor and musician Jack Turner
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Treat people well. Try and learn your blind spots.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Be nice, but don’t get shat on.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2017?
Everything seems to be acceptable. People are being absolutely despicable because of messaging they see from those in power. Perhaps the only unacceptable thing is calm and clear discourse.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
My family and Weymouth Beach.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Everyone having some.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?
That, and the political system (similar principles), make me most unhappy to be an atheist.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Reach out”. The word I maybe most love is “tosspot”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I think there’s a threshold of financial and social safety below which there is no hope to ascend, and that people below that threshold need help. What we have in the UK and US would be considered a ludicrous luxury in many places. I personally just donated a pretty solid sum to Syria and Somalia.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
I wish my phone would blow me up. These devices are ruining people’s presence, empathy, and ability to talk. I just read a great summary of the evidence linking socialization and our neurobiology. When you consider socialisation is being replaced by phones, I fear sociopathy will rise massively. Put the fucking phone away, or on silent if you just can’t be without it, you tosspot.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
People without phones, who can like each other even if they disagree. I pick my girlfriend and my mate Monte. Anyone else is welcome. That should ignite some fun.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Curry from Mirch Masala in Tooting, and bitter. Followed by red velvet cake and some Law Estates Cab.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Not so much a case of “Is this acceptable?” as: “Will my body reject this now?”
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
I don’t know what a Negroni is. Martinis are frightening. So I’ll go for some tea, please.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Those I curate carefully to avoid tosspots. Because I loathe tosspots.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My girlfriend. I’m lucky enough that this is a pretty competitive decision, but she takes the cake.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Aforementioned red velvet cake. And guitars.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I don’t like tattoos, which I think sums me up.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
Public transport or a bicycle. I now realise both sound dirty.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
To my shame I didn’t know what an incredible singer she was. I thought she was just a host. That surprised me. I’m a terrible singer. Which maybe makes it surprising that I was in a great band and continue to make music. Check out our old stuff if you’re interested – Cable Car on Spotify, iTunes, etc.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Our place isn’t fancy enough to have a mantlepiece. However, we do have a cupboard, upon which we put meaningful things. My mum potted me an Oscar statue, which we call ‘Oscar’. Probably unoriginal, but, I think it’s very sweet, and I’ll take what I can get.
Jack Turner grew up in Weymouth, Dorset, where he was a dubiously-skilled mackerel fishing tour guide. He studied psychology at Oxford before working for Google in London and San Francisco. He’s now an actor in Hollywood and has starred in Netflix’s ‘The 10 Year Plan’ and Hallmark’s ‘My Summer Prince’.
Follow him on Twitter at @jackoturner and Instagram at @jaxonturner.