Ray Winstone on being Jimmy Rose

Ray Winstone is an institution of TV and film, but his latest role sees him living on a double-edged sword. The Trials of Jimmy Rose tells the story of the notorious armed robber of that name who, throughout his lifetime, has made crime pay.

A beautiful home on a small execusive estate is the profit of his life of crime. What the thief has gained in luxury, however, has come at an enormous cost to his family – something he never really bargained for. Over the years he’s spent more time in prison than with his wife, Jackie, their two adult children, Jason and Julie, and grandchildren Elliot, Ellie and India.

Consequently, happy distant memories of Jimmy have been shattered by years of abandonment. Especially for Jackie, who no longer knows if she loves him, and for Jason, who has finally cut his dad completely from his life and wants nothing more to do with him.

BROKEN ARROW. Ray Winstone as Jimmy Rose with Amanda Redman, who plays his on-screen wife Jackie.

How did you get involved in The Trials of Jimmy Rose?

It was down to the director Adrian Shergold, basically. I’ve been lucky enough to work with Adrian on several occasions. It’s about family. It’s about what a man does to a family when he’s banged up for 12 years. He destroys them. He loses his kids. They’re growing up in a world that’s changing but he’s not.

Do you have empathy for the character?

It’s my way of living. It’s where I come from. And where our age group comes from. You have a responsibility and a morality to look after your own and to deal with it yourself. We never used to call the police. If there’s a silly argument today, someone calls the police. Years ago it was dealt with.

MAN OF CRIME. Winstone as Jimmy Rose. Pictures: ITV

Is Jimmy Rose an illustration of how extended families today are often dispersed?

Cities get bigger and people only live in the areas now where they work. When we had that explosion where people started moving away to go to work, it broke the communities up. That’s just the way it happens.

Did you enjoy working with Amanda Redman again, who plays Jimmy’s wife Jackie?

I love her to death. I’ve worked with her a few times now. I don’t know whether underrated is the right word because she’s not underrated by people within the profession. She’s up there with the best actresses who have ever come out of this country, I think.

Jackie says to Jimmy: “You never knew when to quit.” Do actors ever retire?

This one will. I think about it all the time and then something great comes along you want to do. I’m not in a position to retire at the moment. And I still enjoy doing what I do. But I’d probably much rather be swimming on a beach or lying on a sun lounger somewhere hot.