Actor Ray Winstone appears on the podcast Dish from Waitrose talking about his personal and professional life, with a particular focus on food, health and his acting career.
Speaking to hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, Ray shares his recent experience with shingles, describing the impact it had on his daily routine and how he is now feeling better than he has in years.
He explains: “I had shingles in November… it took me till February to get over that… now I’m just getting back into it. But I’m kind of feeling probably the best I’ve felt for many years.”
The conversation moves to Ray’s life in Sicily, where he enjoys the sense of community and the opportunity to live off the land.
He details how he grows olives, almonds, pistachios and various vegetables, learning more about agriculture as he goes.
Ray says the environment reminds him of London’s East End decades ago, with a strong sense of local connection.
Food is a recurring theme, with Ray reflecting on British culinary traditions and challenging negative stereotypes.
He points out that cities like London, Manchester and Liverpool offer a wide variety of quality food, and expresses his fondness for classic dishes such as roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.
He also discusses his evolving appreciation for pie and mash, especially when returning to his roots to watch West Ham.
Ray opens up about his diagnosis with type 2 diabetes, which prompted him to stop drinking and reduce his sugar intake.
He notes that within five months, his condition improved significantly, though he still occasionally enjoys caramel ice cream as a treat.
The podcast also covers Ray’s acting work, including his role in The Gentlemen and his thoughts on working with Guy Ritchie.
He describes the surreal nature of the scripts and the enjoyment he finds in the collaborative process.
Ray comments on the changing culture of film sets, noting that the focus is now more on work than on socialising.
Reflecting on his career, Ray discusses his roles in Nil by Mouth and The War Zone, highlighting the emotional challenges of portraying difficult subjects and the importance of honest storytelling in British cinema.
