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Burn Gorman interview (Owen Harper)
From beat-boxing to baby-changing and bullfrog racing, the man who was doctor Owen Harper has done it all – except dreaming! We put the medic to the test with our routine examination.
WORDS: Sarah Herman
Courtesy of: The Official Torchwood Magazine
What is the full name on your birth certificate?
Burn Hugh Winchester Gorman! It’s a family name, and I had a rather colourful upbringing. What can I say – my dad’s a hippie!
What is your nickname?
When I was doing music, my moniker was BB Burn. I think it came from ‘Burn Baby Burn’, but also ‘Beatbox Burn’, as I used to do a lot of beatboxing. I don’t do it so much now, because I focus on acting, but I’m still a big music fan. I look rather stupid at beatboxing championships now, because everyone there is about 18-years-old and ridiculously cool, so now I just stand at the back and nod my head!
What is your earliest memory?
Playing with a fish in a bucket! I’ve got three older sisters, so there was a distinct lack of hand-me-down boy’s toys. I think my mum got rather exasperated with me one day and gave me a fish in a bucket. It was a mackerel she’d got for dinner! I’ll never forget it.
When was your first kiss?
I started fairly young! I must have been about five, and there was this gorgeous girl at school called Stephanie. We snogged behind a great big reference book in the classroom. I remember that very vividly!
What was the last dream you had?
I have no idea! I sleep like the dead and I very rarely dream. Apparently you have to, but I can never remember a dream I’ve had. I think my brain uses all its juice during the day!
Do you believe in the supernatural?
Absolutely! I really do think that places can be haunted. When I move into a new place, as a good Irish-Catholic boy, I’ll splash holy water around, and I certainly believe in exorcisms and stuff like that. I’m probably not doing myself any favours believing in it all though, because I’m a big wuss! I saw I Am Legend the other day, and I had to watch it through interlocked fingers!
Is there life on other planets?
I cannot see how it’s possible for there not to be. They’ve already found bacteria and organisms in outer space, and I’m sure that one day in this infinite universe we’ll come across a planet that already has a McDonald’s franchise. The truth is out there! Which reminds me, I can’t wait to see the new X-Files film, having worked with Gillian Anderson when we did Bleak House. Anyway, I think if there are aliens out there, then they’ll look like John Barrowman!
If you had a superpower what would it be?
I think it would have to be the ability to fly. I’ve just been stuck on the Tube for 40 minutes, so it would be great to be able to fly. I’d go somewhere different every day: Mauritius one day, downtown New York the next, and then perhaps a day in the countryside.
What makes you happy?
My kid, and being with family. The clichés are all true! My son Max has just turned two, and he’s literally turned into this driven young man overnight! The terrible twos are not a myth, but he’s still such a laugh to be around.
What are you scared of?
Turning into my dad! He’s a cool dude, but he’s got his own idiosyncrasies. When I have a bad hangover and I look in the mirror, I see myself in 10, 20, 30 years’ time. Age ravages us all!
Burn Hugh Winchester Gorman! It’s a family name, and I had a rather colourful upbringing. What can I say – my dad’s a hippie!
What is your nickname?
When I was doing music, my moniker was BB Burn. I think it came from ‘Burn Baby Burn’, but also ‘Beatbox Burn’, as I used to do a lot of beatboxing. I don’t do it so much now, because I focus on acting, but I’m still a big music fan. I look rather stupid at beatboxing championships now, because everyone there is about 18-years-old and ridiculously cool, so now I just stand at the back and nod my head!
What is your earliest memory?
Playing with a fish in a bucket! I’ve got three older sisters, so there was a distinct lack of hand-me-down boy’s toys. I think my mum got rather exasperated with me one day and gave me a fish in a bucket. It was a mackerel she’d got for dinner! I’ll never forget it.
When was your first kiss?
I started fairly young! I must have been about five, and there was this gorgeous girl at school called Stephanie. We snogged behind a great big reference book in the classroom. I remember that very vividly!
What was the last dream you had?
I have no idea! I sleep like the dead and I very rarely dream. Apparently you have to, but I can never remember a dream I’ve had. I think my brain uses all its juice during the day!
Do you believe in the supernatural?
Absolutely! I really do think that places can be haunted. When I move into a new place, as a good Irish-Catholic boy, I’ll splash holy water around, and I certainly believe in exorcisms and stuff like that. I’m probably not doing myself any favours believing in it all though, because I’m a big wuss! I saw I Am Legend the other day, and I had to watch it through interlocked fingers!
Is there life on other planets?
I cannot see how it’s possible for there not to be. They’ve already found bacteria and organisms in outer space, and I’m sure that one day in this infinite universe we’ll come across a planet that already has a McDonald’s franchise. The truth is out there! Which reminds me, I can’t wait to see the new X-Files film, having worked with Gillian Anderson when we did Bleak House. Anyway, I think if there are aliens out there, then they’ll look like John Barrowman!
If you had a superpower what would it be?
I think it would have to be the ability to fly. I’ve just been stuck on the Tube for 40 minutes, so it would be great to be able to fly. I’d go somewhere different every day: Mauritius one day, downtown New York the next, and then perhaps a day in the countryside.
What makes you happy?
My kid, and being with family. The clichés are all true! My son Max has just turned two, and he’s literally turned into this driven young man overnight! The terrible twos are not a myth, but he’s still such a laugh to be around.
What are you scared of?
Turning into my dad! He’s a cool dude, but he’s got his own idiosyncrasies. When I have a bad hangover and I look in the mirror, I see myself in 10, 20, 30 years’ time. Age ravages us all!
This extract was taken from a feature in issue #8 of The Official Torchwood magazine.
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