Danny Dyer has passionately refuted the notion that he's a "hard man" of television, suggesting it's all down to a misconception fostered by his East London twang.
Known for his part in Human Traffic, the actor insists he's not the tough guy some think he is - quite the opposite, he describes himself as a "very sensitive soul" even likened by his children to a "cuddly cloud".
In an interview with The Sunday Times newspaper, Dyer challenged the stereotype, saying: "It goes back to classism and the way I speak. I've never claimed to be a hard man. I've never really played a hard man. I wore a pink dressing gown in EastEnders for nine years, a very sensitive soul." He dissected the disconnect further: "OK, The Football Factory was about hooligans and there was violence, but I was questioning it."
The 47 year old continued to dismantle his rough-and-tumble image, adding, "I do swear a lot and I can be uncouth, and I walk like a duck. So maybe people assume I am [a hard man]. Ask my kids. They call me Papa Bear. They say I'm just like a cuddly cloud. Which is slightly fat-shaming me. I'm assuming it's a fat cloud."
Openly embracing middle age, Danny discussed contentment with his physique, saying: "I don't know if I want to be the fittest granddad knocking around. I don't really look after my body. I've got B-cups now. I'm slowly morphing into a middle-aged man. I'm shaped like an avocado and I'm quite happy with that."
His comments come amidst revelations from the actor - who has tackled drug abuse issues in the past - regarding his pursuit of daily joy and the importance of meditation for maintaining a peaceful mind. He candidly shared with The Observer magazine, "You've got to try and squeeze as much f****** joy out of life as you possibly can."
Elaborating on life's challenges and mental health, he added, "Because the one thing I learned when I was going through some crazy times is that your f****** brain is your worst enemy. It questions us all the time and we can't escape it."
He also divulged his nightly routine to attain tranquility, "[I take 10 minutes to meditate every evening] and just completely concentrate on my breath, and let all the f****** s*** go, then have a good night's sleep and then attack the day again."
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