Tommy Jessop Goes to Hollywood review – a charming attempt to create a Down’s syndrome superhero movie
over 2 years in The guardian
The Line of Duty star is no stranger to breaking barriers, but will he be able to break the US? Jessop and his film-maker brother pitch a movie to a hotshot producer to find outTommy Jessop certainly isn’t shy about trying new things. Viewers may recognise him from his gripping portrayal of murder suspect Terry Boyle in the final seasons of crime drama Line of Duty. It was made all the more memorable by the fact that it was an exciting and multi-faceted role – something that is rarely afforded to actors with learning disabilities. He has starred opposite Nicholas Hoult in the BAFTA-nominated BBC drama Coming Down The Mountain, he was the first actor with Down’s syndrome to tour theatres as Hamlet, and has thrown himself into advocacy work – campaigning for the rights of people with Down’s syndrome. Breaking barriers is something that Jessop is no stranger to.He still has a few tiny aspirations up his sleeve, though. “My new dream is to be the next Bond,” we see Jessop announce while onstage receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Arts at the University of Winchester. Narrowing his eyes, he turns to the side and puts his index fingers together in the classic Bond pose: “James Bond. Shaken, but not stirred.”Tommy Jessop Goes To Hollywood aired on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer Continue reading...