Eddie Marsan: 'I've only been addicted to two things — funk and praise'

Eddie Marsan says the first song he fell in love with was My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, which he remembers hearing one summer on the Isle of Sheppey. The first single he bought was Big Time by Rick James from Paul's Music on Cambridge Heath Road, and he admits "I've only been addicted to two things in life – funk and praise." Drama school made Les Misérables unbearable for him; coming from being an apprentice printer he thought "I can't stand it" and that out of everything, Les Mis "pisses me off the most." For a party pick he turns to Candy by Cameo for its funky line dance, and his karaoke go-to is I Just Want to Make Love to You by Etta James.

He also confesses that Ain't No Pleasing You by Chas & Dave is one of the best British songs of the last 50 years, despite trying to appear erudite. He has known every word of Guitar Man by Elvis Presley since he was a kid. Hearing Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine by James Brown changed him; it helped him lose himself in dance and escape insecurities, especially around girls.

eddie marsan, funk, george harrison, rick james, big time, les misérables, candy, etta james, james brown, guitar man