'EastEnders' Ricky Norwood: 'I proved people wrong with success'
Published Jul 6 2012, 07:32 BST | By Paul Millar
© PA Images / Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
The actor, who plays Fatboy in the Albert Square soap, drew on his upbringing in Hackney as part of a BBC Radio 1Xtra Q&A.
Norwood said when asked whether he believes coming from a deprived area limits a person's chances as an actor: "Not at all - I think it gives you more fight.
"I'm from Forest Gate, they expect me to be a shotter [drug dealer] and they expect me to have twelve babies at the age of 17. I love to prove people wrong."
Norwood also insisted that his lack of drama school experience has not hindered his career progression.
"I think regardless of where you come from, you don't have to be there. If it's something that you want to do, you just have to get up and do it."
How many fatboys are there in the east end of london. try .living there and you will see that this character bares no relation to reality whatsoever. He is a figment of the pc bbc writing and producers at the bbc. how many guys like fatboy end up in gun crime in london....a massive am ount. just look at the figures produced by operation trident. however you will never get that true honest reflection in eastenders. its a pc joke. just ask around the east end. everyone thinks its a kids show now with ali g as its hero. cant wait to see ricky in downton, henry v, wallender midwife......innit you get me blood.
July 7th 2012 at 10:32pm
Mind you, I'm American and have only been in the UK for 3 years, but Eastenders has been one of the only shows I truly like to watch, here. I'm so pissed off when Wednesday rolls around, that it isn't on, and that I'm not a part of the show... that's how much I actually like it. That being said, the "Fat Boy" character did annoy me for quite some time. He's always so unrealistically positive about EVERYTHING, and there's just no way anyone is THAT happy. However, I started to have a little more compassion for his character when the awkward and uncomfortable relationship between him and Whitney started, and I almost immediately knew how it was going to turn out. How could such a lost and in need of love kind of girl like Whitney, string such a nice, positive guy along, knowing that she doesn't truly have feelings for him, and that it would kill him, in the end? Yeah, I really believe he's fine, now, serving food in some unknown bakery / cafe, instead of DJing like he wants to, with the girl that "needs" him, by his side.
July 7th 2012 at 9:41pm
Good actor, hardly. Just a few ghetto slang words here & there. That isn't acting. The absolute worst character in the show, now & probably ever! Totally pointless. His being in the show serves no purpose whatsoever. Can't stand him. Such a shame they get rid of characters like Mandy & this flamin' toerag is still roaming the square.
July 7th 2012 at 7:32am
I thought his stage name is Norwood because he's from West Norwood? Anyway, EastEnders isn't really known for great acting these days, lets see if you get any work once you've left the show.
July 7th 2012 at 6:58am
Its only Estenders, most leave never to be seen again, that says it all !!!
July 6th 2012 at 10:17pm(+2 likes)
There are more EE actors who have found success outside of the soap than actors from any other soap.
July 31st 2012 at 6:36pm