EP58 | Kema Kay | Bravery, Breaks and Broken Bikes | Local Heroes Podcast

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to Kema Kay – actor, musician, writer and proud Newcastle creative – about his journey from the West End of Newcastle to landing a speaking role in Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake and building a career in the creative industries.

Kema shares the reality of starting out as an extra on film sets, the class divide within the industry, and the moment he almost quit acting altogether before landing the role that changed everything. He opens up about dealing with imposter syndrome, auditioning for major Hollywood projects, and the pressure creatives face to change who they are – from their accent to their identity – to fit into the industry.

The conversation also dives into Kema’s upbringing after moving to Newcastle from Zambia, growing up in a tough environment, losing his mother at a young age, and how youth projects and music studios gave him a path away from the streets and into creativity Chris and Dan talk with Kema about building opportunities in the North East, why he chose to stay in Newcastle rather than move to London, and why he believes success should come with “throwing the rope back down” to help the next generation of creatives.

They also get into:

- The reality of breaking into acting without connections

- Why creative careers rarely follow a straight path

- The pressure of success and staying grounded

- Supporting young people through creative opportunities

Of course, we can't avoid the food debates, Greggs orders, and nostalgic food memories from home — including his dad’s legendary cabbage.

It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and carving your own path in the creative world.

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