Main content

David Morrissey, actor

David Morrissey, actor, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

David Morrissey is an actor who grew up in Liverpool.

His screen work ranges from playing a ruthless survivor of the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead to a troubled police officer in James Graham’s Sherwood.

His television debut performance came playing a teenager in the Channel 4 series One Summer. Since then his career has seen him win awards including the Royal Television Society award for Best Male Actor for his role as Gordon Brown in The Deal.

Morrissey’s interest in acting started in primary school, when he was cast as the Scarecrow in a production of The Wizard of Oz. As a teenager, he developed his passion further at the Everyman Youth Theatre in Liverpool, where he took guidance from professional actors.

After his first TV role, he went on to train at RADA. He is best known for portraying complex and troubled characters, and in more recent years has also demonstrated a flair for comedy in series such as Daddy Issues.

David lives in London.

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Desert Island Discs has cast other actors away over the years including David’s fellow actors in Sherwood, Monica Dolan and Lesley Manville. The writer, James Graham is in there too. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Available now

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Gerry and the Pacemakers

    You'll Never Walk Alone

    • The Very Best Of Gerry & Pacemakers.
    • Parlophone UK.
    • 9.
  • The Beatles

    She's Leaving Home

    • Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Remastered 2009).
    • EMI Catalogue.
    • 6.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Suite (From the Film \"On The Waterfront\"): Andante - Presto barbaro

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Orchestra: New York Philharmonic.
    • Bernstein: Symphonic Suite from the Film "On The Waterfront" (Remastered).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 10.
  • Keith Jarrett

    Köln, January 24, 1975, Part II c (Live)

    Performer: Keith Jarrett.
    • The Köln Concert.
    • ECM Records.
    • 1.
  • Ronnie Lane

    Debris (BBC In Concert / 1974)

    • Just for a Moment (Music 1973 – 1977).
    • UMC (Universal Music Catalogue).
    • 18.
  • Joni Mitchell

    River

    • Blue.
    • Rhino.
    • 8.
  • The Real Thing

    You To Me Are Everything

    • The Very Best of.
    • Sanctuary Records.
    • 9.
  • Daniel Johnston

    True Love Will Find You in the End

    • 1990.
    • Eternal Yip Eye Music.
    • 8.

Broadcasts

  • Sunday10:00
  • Friday09:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Articles

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast