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How many actors can claim they launched a thriving screen career by playing a washed-up, unemployed actor? That distinction belongs to Richard E. Grant, whose road from cult classic \u201cWithnail and I\u201d to an award-winning oeuvre began with what he calls a \u201cfuck you\u201d attitude. From tips on playing drunk to his instinctive acting techniques (hint: they involve a character\u2019s sex life), Richard has plenty of advice for his fellow performers. His thoughts on forging a career in the arts are evergreen: \u201cNever give up. If you feel that it is something that you\u2019re compelled to do, you will know that. And if it\u2019s not, then don\u2019t waste your time and energy because there are too many people that want it more than you do.\u201d\n\nBorn in the Protectorate of Swaziland, now Eswatini, Richard performed onstage as a child and studied at the University of Cape Town. After landing the titular role in Bruce Robinson\u2019s \u201cWithnail and I\u201d thanks to casting director Mary Selway, he amassed onscreen credits in the UK and Hollywood, collaborating with Steve Martin, Robert Altman, Winona Ryder, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Julian Fellowes, and more. He wrote and directed the semi-autobiographical film \u201cWah-Wah,\u201d starred in \u201cSpice World,\u201d \u201cFranz Kafka\u2019s It\u2019s a Wonderful Life,\u201d \u201cGame of Thrones,\u201d and \u201cStar Wars,\u201d and earned an Academy Award nomination for \u201cCan You Ever Forgive Me?\u201d Richard has recently lent his talents to the Disney+ series \u201cLoki\u201d and Amazon Studios\u2019 musical \u201cEverybody\u2019s Talking About Jamie.\u201d Check out his conversation with co-star Max Harwood on backstage.com: https://bit.ly/3nCUmX4\n---\nBackstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage\u2019s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today\u2019s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. This is your guide to every aspect of acting, from voiceover and commercial work to casting directors, agents, and more. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made, to personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Jack Smart, Awards Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ\n\nFollow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:\n- https://www.facebook.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/backstage\n- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope\n- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast\n\nLooking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe\nBrowse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e\nCheck out our community-driven virtual programming, The Slate: https://bit.ly/2WDNXf0\nBackstage stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement: https://bit.ly/3cuMBt5\n\nSpecial thanks to...\n- Host: Jack Smart\n- Producer: Jamie Muffett\n- Social media: Katie Minard, Alysa Cirelli\n- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins\n- Additional support: Christine McKenna-Tirella, Kasey Howe, Samantha Sherlock, Benjamin Lindsay, Oriella St. Louis