Inspiring Videos: My Boxing Days - Ray Winstone

Actor Ray Winstone recalls how his days as an amateur boxer, learning discipline and respect, helped prepare him for life as part of Hollywood's A-list.

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Ray Winstone's days as a young boxer shaped his personality and prepared him for Hollywood.

Read "My Boxing Days" Transcript

I was drawn to boxing because, I guess, the area that I lived in London we boxed, you know. Your dad boxed, your grandfather boxed. And, I'm certainly glad I did.

I was a novice boxer, I wasn't a great boxer. I was one of many kids who, I was lucky enough to go to The Repton Boxing Club. Which, you know, kind of gets you through the door to box, represent your country.

I've represented England at a novice level. There was many a better fighter than me that would have probably gone on. But, at my age I was allowed to box and represent my country against Wales.

And I boxed two kids, I can't remember the first kid's name, but the second kid Gary Hayes I boxed, he was from the Rhonda Valley. And they breed 'em tough there, they do breed 'em tough there these kids. I won the fight on points. He hit me once, I'm glad he didn't hit me twice, cos it felt like my stomach was coming out of my mouth. But I won the fight on points and I hit him with everything this kid and he just walked through it.

And I think another thing you learn from boxing was a discipline that has helped me in my work and probably in my home life. Respect the other guy, respect the people you work with, and the thing of fear you know.

I was scared every time I walked into a ring and I think most boxers are, I think most boxers would admit to that. You are frightened and you look into the other man's eyes and you know you can't beat him. But you dig deep and you find something to beat him. It's not that you want to bash him up, it's like a chess match, in a way. You've got to work out a way to beat this guy, stop this guy from hitting you. Because that's the main thing you don't want to get hit.

And I think when you get offered to play "Henry the IV" and you're a kid from Plaistow. And you get scripts come through that are fantastic like "Nil by Mouth" and "Sexy Beast" and you go and work with Martin Scorcese on "The Departed" and Bob Zemeckis who are inventors and great film makers, that you have a fear. And from boxing I think you learn to go "bom" take a deep breath and step forward.

So for me, the discipline thing, and the overcoming your fears to actually go on to do what you want to do with your life. I think that was a great education for me, boxing. And that's why I'll be eternally grateful to it, and the people that actually taught me when I was boxing, and the kids I was boxing with you know. Because that's what maketh the man!