Russell Tovey opens up about horrific knife attack
Looking star Russell Tovey has opened up about being stabbed in the head as a teenager.
The out actor recounted a story of the incident to the Observer – when he was slashed aged 18.
He said: “I’d been in a pub in Romford, getting the train to my to meet my parents in Brentwood. I was wearing a cardigan. At that time you never wore a cardigan in Romford.”
Two men sat opposite Tovey on the train – before launching an attack on him. The actor was punched repeatedly and slashed above the ear with a knife.
He continued: “One said to the other, ‘Are you going to cut him or am I?’
“[I was] pouring blood everywhere… I didn’t know where it was coming from, I thought they’d cut my throat. Another passenger was giving me sugar out of a sachet.”
“If they’d asked for my wallet or phone I would have understood it. But it wasn’t anything to do with that. They just wanted to f**king hurt me.
“And trying to get your head around that, later… For years afterwards I was left with an insecurity.
“I’d see groups of lads, even in a pub, and I’d feel intimidated. It’s a weird thing but if you talk to other people who’ve been through it, you give off a vibe. The pack can sense you’re weak. It made me so frustrated.
“Going down the gym, discovering the gym three years ago, and really going for it – I feel a lot more in charge. I needed to exorcise that feeling of being a little scared, skinny rat.”
