Robson Green admits he was left “devastated” after television bosses had a brutal one-word description of him when he started a recent project.
The actor has now spent three decades on TV screens after securing a role as hospital porter Jimmy Powell in Casualty in 1989. Since then he has starred in hits such as ITV’s Wire in Blood, Soldier Soldier and Grantchester, as well as filming fishing documentaries.
Robson turned 60 last month but doesn’t celebrate the occasion, instead wanting to make “every day special”. When he was younger, Robson admits he used to look at people in their sixties and wonder “how are you still alive”.
Speaking to Woman’s Weekly, Robson said: “Funnily enough, I had a medical recently for a job I did and the guy referred to me as elderly. I was devastated.
“That’s what people do when you’re 60. I don’t want their awe, their pity or the label of being older.”
Robson didn’t even crack open the champagne to mark his milestone birthday. The star says he “doesn’t drink really” having decided to cut back on his alcohol intake 15 years ago.
Previously he would enjoy a “few wines or a champagne” at night but found himself waking up the next morning with a “fuzzy head”.
He now opts for a glass of sparkling water and “clarity,” which he says is “great”. Instead of taking the time out to celebrate though, Robson is busy at work, filming a new drama in Spain alongside The Crown star Jason Watkins.
When not acting, Robson likes to film documentaries about fishing and his home county of Northumberland. The star lives in the North East with his partner Zoila Short, and is close to his 24-year-old son Taylor, from his marriage to Vanya Seager.
Robson also now serves as a producer on Grantchester, as well as starring as DCI Geordie Keating. Now in its ninth series, the show sees Keating teaming up with a local clergyman to solve crimes.
And while co-lead Tom Brittney is set to follow the likes of James Norton by moving on from the series, Robson continues to look forward to filming. He says the cast have “the most wonderful time” on set.
Grantchester series nine airs on Wednesdays at 9pm on ITV One and ITVX.
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