Veteran actor Larry Lamb has revealed the astonishing career gamble that transformed his life - taking a staggering £500 weekly pay cut to pursue his acting dreams, a decision he says he's "never looked back on".
The EastEnders and Gavin & Stacey star, now 77, made the life-altering choice in his early career, swapping financial security for artistic fulfilment in a move that would ultimately make him a household name.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Lamb was working comfortably as an assistant stage manager at the prestigious Nottingham Playhouse when opportunity knocked. "I was earning £35 a week," he recalls, "when suddenly I was offered an acting role paying just £7 weekly."
Despite the massive financial hit, something inside told him this was his moment. "I just thought, 'I've got to do this,'" Lamb explains. "It was one of those instinctive decisions that define your entire future."
From Financial Risk to National Treasure
That courageous leap of faith launched what would become one of British television's most beloved careers. Lamb would go on to create iconic characters including Mick Shipman in Gavin & Stacey and Archie Mitchell in EastEnders, becoming a familiar face in millions of British homes.
"Sometimes you have to take a step backward to move forward," Lamb reflects. "That pay cut felt enormous at the time, but it opened doors I never imagined possible."
The Wisdom of Experience
Now reflecting on his decades-long career, Lamb offers sage advice to aspiring performers facing similar crossroads. "Follow your gut," he insists. "Money isn't everything when you're building something meaningful. Passion and opportunity often matter more than immediate financial gain."
His story serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes the riskiest-looking paths lead to the most rewarding destinations. As Lamb himself puts it: "I took that massive pay cut and never, ever looked back."
