Christopher Eccleston Discusses Working-Class Roots and Chasing Millions

In an interview published in The Irish Times, actor Christopher Eccleston discusses his role as a harried Northern Irish police officer in Stephen Burke’s comedy film Chasing Millions, while also reflecting on his working-class upbringing in Salford and his early entry into acting.

Chasing Millions And The Northern Bank Heist

Chasing Millions centers on the aftermath of the 2004 Northern Bank robbery, in which more than £26 million was stolen in the largest heist in British or Irish history. Eccleston stars as a Northern Irish police officer alongside Madeleine Madden, who plays a visiting Australian officer in the mismatched-buddy feature written by Stephen Burke and Katherine Thomson.

The story focuses on a monumental crime that largely faded from broader public memory due to its intersection with the peace process. So much more was going on in terms of the peace process, which of course we know it impacted on massively, Eccleston said, as reported by The Irish Times.

Eccleston noted that he relied on a detailed BBC Sounds podcast for background research on the heist. The film deliberately injects dark humor into its grim premise, a tone the actor connects directly to his own background.

I think it’s fair to say it’s true of Salford and Manchester – and it’s true of Belfast – that when these things happen that humour is there. Think of the joy that Manchester United supporters are getting from Manchester City. Humour always foregrounds in those great working-class cities.

The Irish Times

Eccleston Entered Acting to Avoid Factory Work

Raised in Salford by a fork-lift driver father and a launderette cleaner mother, Eccleston experienced a conventional working-class childhood before stumbling into drama. After failing all of his GCSEs and O-levels, he enrolled at a sixth-form college where a teacher spotted him acting up and drafted him into a school play.

His initial motivations for performing had little to do with high artistic ambition. There was a very beautiful woman playing opposite me. I was 17. I fell in love with her. Yeah, wine, women and song. I’m afraid that there was no depth to my ambitions. Avoid the factory. Avoid the nine to five, Eccleston explained to The Irish Times.

Grants And The Changing Cost Of Drama Education

Eccleston credits state financial support with making his entry into the entertainment industry possible four decades ago. Because he lacked traditional academic qualifications, he relied on a grant-assisted spot at the Central School of Speech and Drama alongside a discretionary council grant from Salford.

Reflecting on contemporary opportunities for aspiring artists from similar backgrounds, the actor expressed concern over rising barriers. I am the luckiest man on the planet compared to the equivalent of me nowadays, Eccleston stated in The Irish Times. Somebody like me is not getting there.