Ripon cabbie Richard Fieldman has been a film and TV extra alongside Hollywood stars Samuel L Jackson, Judi Dench and Michael Gambon.
The A1 Cars owner got into the side hustle after a conversation with a passenger in the back of his cab a few years ago.
The man was an extra and passed on the details of his agent to the curious taxi driver, who now helps secure him non-speaking roles on the silver screen. He joked:
“But I always get picked out for the thug type character!
“It must be the way that I look. It doesn’t bother me, it’s all good work and I thoroughly enjoy it, it’s a break from taxi-ing and I get to meet a lot of stars.”
Most recently Richard was in the Marvel superhero series the Secret Invasion that was filmed at the Piece Hall in Halifax last month. He said he was in a protest scene “causing a bit of mayhem”.
He’s also had roles in Victoria and Abdul with Judi Dench and Mad to Be Normal, which starred David Tennant and Michael Gambon.
Many people will remember Ricky Gervais’ character in the BBC comedy Extras, who was disrespected by diva A-listers, including Samuel L Jackson. However, Richard said in real life Mr Jackson is much more friendly.
He said:
“The set was fantastic, it must have cost thousands, businesses around Piece Hall were paid to close for the weekend.
“A lot of stars keep themselves to themselves. Samuel L Jackson had his own security bloke but I spoke to him. He was normal and down to earth.
“Coming away from the Marvel set was really surreal. One minute you’re on a multi million pound set with top stars, the next you’re back at home cooking dinner in Harrogate.”
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Richard drives his taxi around the Harrogate district for thousands of hours a year, so there’s one role that he wouldn’t require much method acting to play.
“I recently had to send a photograph of the car to my agent, it might be used, but I’ll have to take off the Harrogate Borough Council sticker off!”
On the rank, he says most are pleased and proud of what he’s been doing.
Next up, Richard says his agent has contacted him about being in the hit TV show Peaky Blinders, which will be filmed in Yorkshire later this year.
He hopes to transition into speaking roles and develop his career as an actor.
“I would love to do some speaking roles, that’s the whole idea, to see where it leads. You never know who’s watching.”
