Q&A with Jason Clarke

What do you like doing on your day off?

I generally spend my free time with friends. Other than that, I spend a lot of time writing, or rehearsing with my band. I also love sports and play squash, football and golf as much as I can too.

If you were to choose your favourite meal what would it be, where and why?

Next to music, food is my biggest passion, so that’s a tough one! I love Italian food, but I also like a nice chicken dinner - so, I’ll mix the two and pick a spaghetti dish with chicken, sun-blushed tomatoes, and a white wine pesto cream, topped with shavings of parmesan and a salad. Tasty.

What has been your proudest moment?

I’ve been very honoured to open shows for artists such as Paolo Nutini, Joan Armatrading, Ronan Keating and Brian Kennedy, although my proudest moment so far has to be selling out my own shows. It’s an amazing feeling to see people singing my own songs back at me.

What was the most frightening moment of your life?

When I was studying at university in Edinburgh, I found myself in the middle of a spat between two girls. One girl threw an ashtray at the other, but missed, and it clocked me on the head and split it open. I lost so much blood that I blacked out – I thought that was the end of me.

How would you describe your taste in clothes?

I’m quite into fashion and although I love a good bargain, I do think you get what you pay for. I usually wear a nice pair of jeans with boots and a t-shirt. My family have always been in the clothing world, and my Stepdad owned Clarke’s Menswear in Lisburn.

What would you do if you won a million pounds?

This is a question I ask myself when doing the Euromillions. I would take friends and family on an all-expenses paid holiday. I’d then record the album of my dreams and probably have enough left to buy myself to number one.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I have the sort of friends that would do anything to shame the next one. I was standing in the middle of town one day wearing a pair of tracksuit bottoms. My friend came up behind me and whipped them down to my ankles. Revenge was sweet.