An actor has explained how one encounter led to a huge career.
Businessman turned actor was known for launching One Nation, Garage Nation and Rave Nation but soon found himself acting alongside a string of huge names. The 53-year-old started his acting career in the 2003 movie Hell to Pay, alongside the likes of Bill Murray and notorious gangster and actor, .
But while most actors spend years trying to bag a part after drama school, Terry admits that it was an unexpected encounter which saw him land a stellar career away from the rave scene. Speaking exclusively to the ahead of his decision to come out of retirement for United Nation at XOYO this weekend, Terry revealed that a former writer had offered him a part in a movie.
"I did a little part in this film and met a few actors who'd been in Snatch, which at the time was a massive movie," he said. Terry continued: "This film was when I sold the business, it happened in that period. A few of the character said to me 'You should have a go at this, you've got a bit of a natural talent for it,' so I thought it sounded cool – why not?
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"I said 'Well how can I become an actor?' and they said 'Well you've done your first part, most actors never get to do a part in a film, so you've got a shortcut from drama school,' it was a bit of luck but I got some pictures done and reached out to some acting agents, got represented and I got two episodes of ."
Terry continued: "It was November 2003, back then EastEnders was doing like 20 million viewers a week. I was in that with Shane Richie and all these characters and it made me realise, 'You've winged it, now you've got to learn how to do it properly!'" Shortly after his episodes of EastEnders aired, Terry enrolled himself into drama school to hone his craft, which his wife thought was "hilarious" after he became a student, believing he was having a "midlife crisis."
After a year, Terry made the decision to move into producing movies and swapping being in front of the camera. The businessman left school with no qualifications and started working at McDonalds and later a department store. "I ended up doing these events, that led me into acting and making films, I've been doing that for 21 years now," he said.
But acting isn't the only job Terry stumbled into. He explained that while unemployed in the 80s, he became involved in the rave industry but it was the "last thing he wanted to do." Six months later, Terry found himself entranced in the rave scene joking it was "like Pandoras box opening".
"I started putting events on but all that started by someone saying 'Come to a rave'," he said. Terry eventually sold his business in 2003 but this weekend, he will come out of retirement for a one-off event in Shoreditch, London. He said: "I'm really excited, we did a documentary and it focused on that scene and a year later, we followed up with 25 Years of UK G.
"I'd always kept the United Nation brand, I don't know why I kept it, when we released the movie we did this cinema tour and we were doing these mini premieres but a Q&A, every one, we took a famous DJ or MC along and it was quite exciting, it was full of the old ravers. One of the biggest things they all asked was 'Why don't you come back?' I thought at the time, the reason I haven't done it is because I didn't have a venue."
Terry recalled that his 17-year-old son informed him that drum and bass had once again become popular which sparked a lightbulb moment for him. "Andy C used to be our resident DJ and we used to pay him £200, he's like £100,000 now," Terry joked. He explained he found XOYO Shoreditch which he admitted was "perfect" for the event. "We've filled the event with these great DJs and MCs and it's going to be a day rave," he said before explaining that people who previously attended his raves no longer want to be out at 6am.
Terry will be bringing some of the biggest names including Hype, Brockie, Kenny Ken, Jumpin' Jack Frost, Mike Ruffcut Lloyd, Ray Hurley and more to his event, cementing that Turbo Terry is back in the clubland scene. Although this is a one-off event, Terry has hinted that he could be prepared to put a few more in the diary. Earlier this week, Terry joined a small number of celebrities including Dame Joan Collins and was presented with a Freedom of the City of London award. "It's kind of mad," he said, adding: "It's to do with all the entertainment that I've done because of the events and films, as well as this podcast in the city
Terry's United Nation will take place on October 12 at XOYO London between 1pm and 9pm. Tickets range from £28 and
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