Morgan Jones (Lennie James) has only been in a total of five episodes of The Walking Dead — and two of those eps were just post-credits cameos — but he’s still one of the AMC show’s most popular characters. We can’t wait to see what’s next for Morgan and Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) in Season 6. Actor Lennie James was on Talking Dead after the Season 5 finale and a lot of fans seemed surprised to learn that, like Andrew Lincoln, Lennie is British.
Lennie and several other stars recently talked to The Guardian of the U.K. about their first jobs, their big breaks in the entertainment industry, and their next gigs.
For Lennie, the next job is Walking Dead Season 6, but here’s his full breakdown (posted to The Guardian’s site on April 14):
My first job: I worked as a freezer boy in Bejams the frozen-food retailer, in Wandsworth. I was 15 and my job was to stay in the warehouse, which was ice cold, and constantly fill up carts full of frozen stuff, to be taken to the shop floor by people who were allowed into the warm.
My big break: The first time I noticed a difference in how I was treated was when I walked into an audition after Civvies. It was a show written by Lynda La Plante, about ex-paratroopers trying to make it in civilian life, and I was one of the six paratroopers. Lynda then wrote another miniseries for Channel 4 called Comics, and she offered me a role straight away because of my work on Civvies. I felt I’d shifted to another level. I still have to go to auditions – everybody does – but there are more things I’ve been shortlisted for. It’s very rare, whoever you are, that you are the first choice for a gig. It’s shocking the number of things about which you think: “I can’t imagine anyone else doing that role.” Then you find out Tom Selleck was the first choice for Indiana Jones, or that Steve McQueen and Sly Stallone were considered for Beverly Hills Cop before Eddie Murphy.
My next job: I’m about to get on a plane to Atlanta to shoot zombies in the head. The writers are still working on the sixth season of The Walking Dead, so they haven’t told me how long I’ll be there – I’m packing a bag I can use for three to six weeks. But I’m used to that. As long as there’s a washing machine, you can survive.
He’s a survivor! If anyone notices Lennie going back to the U.K. for more clothes, or getting a big shipment to the ATL, then maybe that’s a good sign for Morgan. But it’s interesting to hear about his first job as a teen and part of his road to success, including his current stint on TWD. Lennie is a very popular actor these days, but hopefully we can keep him for a while.