I've had a good career playing mavericks

Actor Marc Warren on the gritty Nineties movie that changed his life, his remarkable resemblance to Malcolm McDowell... and why despite playing a host of bad 'uns, you won't see him for dust in a fight

- By Alison James

BEFORE he was gripping audiences as conman Danny Blue in Noughties BBC drama Hustle, as the deceitful Comte de Rochefort in The Musketeers and in the title role in ITV's Van der Valk reboot, Marc Warren made his mark in the coming-of-age drama Boston Kickout.

Released in 1995, the independent film follows a group of young men desperate to break free from the boredom, frustration and violence of small-town life in recession-hit Britain.

The unflinching drama, set in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage, is raw, bleak and heartbreakingly real; a story of friendship, anger and survival in a world offering few second chances.

Warren played one of the troubled young men in question - Robert, a dangerously incompetent, skin-headed villain who is forever planning the one “big” job that will change his fortunes.

Now, to mark the film's 30th anniversary, Boston Kickout has been re-released on digital platforms with a limited-edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray set.

When we speak over Zoom, Marc is tucked away in his onset caravan on the Isle of Wight, taking a break from filming his latest project, which he is not able to talk about - for which he apologises.

Behind him, Orla Kiely curtains add a splash of retro colour to the otherwise modest space, a surprisingly homely backdrop for one of TV's most quietly intense actors.

Marc is warm, thoughtful and quick to laugh, but that same steely focus that defines so many of his characters is never far away.

As the actor reflects on the special anniversary of Boston Kickout, it's clear the film still means a great deal to him.

"It's no exaggeration to say it changed my life," he admits. "It was my first proper film role and I was desperate to do it.