Story & Lesson Highlights with Ross K. Foad of London

We recently had the chance to connect with Ross K. Foad and have shared our conversation below.

Ross K., it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Jigsaw puzzles! They are a great way to calm a chaotic mind filled with repetitive thoughts and rumination. When my brain is racing a thousand miles an hour over small things, puzzles help it slow down and simply be in the moment. They’re incredibly soothing, and I highly recommend them to anyone dealing with chronic stress!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an actor and voice artist from Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey.
Both my parents are actors and my older brother is a special effects makeup artist. So, it is probably fair to say that it arts run in my family.

Some actors joke about steering their kids away from acting, but my parents have always been incredibly supportive. In fact, my mum got me into a nappies ad when I was only 18 months old! I started taking acting seriously in my late teens when a friend and I formed a comedy duo on the London circuit. Since then, I’ve pursued roles in film, stage, and voice acting, with voice acting being the main area I focus on.

In 2017, I took part in the BBC Class Act Program, where the BBC auditioned and chose 30 of the top disabled actors in the UK for a training scheme aimed at improving disabled representation in the industry through specialized training with some of the BBC’s leading talent. As someone with autism and dyspraxia, I aim to prove that neurodiverse individuals can succeed and thrive in this challenging industry.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that played Sherlock Holmes. It might sound like a strange answer, but it’s true. I spent 11 years portraying the character in various web series and short films, immersing myself deeply in the books, films, and everything related to him. But it didn’t stop there; spin-off documentaries appeared, along with a weekly web show focused on reviewing Sherlock Holmes books. Publishers and authors from all over the world would send me stacks upon stacks of Sherlock Holmes books, hoping to be featured. It was incredibly flattering, and I loved how much people enjoyed it and the sense of community it created.

However, it consumed me to the point where I lost my sense of identity without it. I came to understand why people like Jeremy Brett, Basil Rathbone, and even his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, grew to dislike the character. Brett famously said that the character would steal your soul, and now I understand why. It was all many people focused on, completely overlooking everything else about me.

It absolutely served its purpose as a strong training ground for the level I’m at today, but it was just too much and for too long. I was afraid to be without him because, for a while, I didn’t know who I was if I wasn’t him.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Having a mind that doesn’t worry as much. When you’re very young, you don’t make many choices, and most things are taken care of by a parent or guardian, allowing you to live more freely in the moment. You rarely worry about things that haven’t happened yet.

I remember being about 7 and worrying that when I turned 11, I might be chosen to take the cycling proficiency test at school, which was a terrifying thought for someone with dyspraxia! But then I reasoned it was so far away it would never ever even happen. It’s a wild thought, but that was just how time worked for me.

This ties back to the Jigsaw answer, providing me with a brief moment of relief from worrying so much about everything.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
God. A source. A creator. A consciousness. However you choose to frame it. There’s nothing I can say or do to prove it. Equally, there’s nothing anyone can say or do to dissuade me. I’ve had too many last-minute saves in ridiculous circumstances to believe that no one is looking out for me in my darkest moments.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
If I do well, at least I know I did well! If I don’t, then I’ll definitely know that too! Knowing is what matters most at the end of the day.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Remy Hunter
Kat Leroy
Marina Fistal

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