Anna Friel appeared alongside David Tait as they discussed her new film Sulphur And White about his childhood abuse on Thursday’s This Morning.
The city executive, 57, who has raised more than £1million for NSPCC, has bravely documented his life story in the upcoming movie in which Anna plays his mother Joanne.
David was abused as a child by his father and a local shopkeeper, his mother once witnessed the abuse and did nothing to prevent it continuing.
New film: Anna Friel appeared alongside David Tait as they discussed her new film Sulphur And White about his childhood abuse on Thursday’s This Morning
He went on to become a high-flying banking CEO and an ambassador and trustee for the NSPCC until his life began to fall apart as he dealt with the trauma of his childhood abuse.
David, who at one point contemplated taking his own life, told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘I would make many speeches, many people would respond discreetly and quietly in the background to me…
‘And then I thought, “Okay, I’ve raised a lot of money [through charity work], but can I change the fundamental understanding of child abuse if I coughed up, basically?”‘
David went on to bravely talk about the moment his life began to fall apart after accomplishing several milestones, such as a successful career as a banking CEO and climbing Everest five times.
Role: The city executive, 57, who has raised more than £1million for NSPCC, has bravely documented his life story in the upcoming movie in which Anna plays his mother Joanne
He said: ‘You always want to be number one, you want to be someone’s number one. And the weird thing that people don’t understand, and it’s incredibly important, at that point in my life where Seth [his son] for instance was born, I realised in that moment that I was second again.
‘And having experienced what I have experienced, it was so important to me, that I sort of fell off the rails. And the collateral damage… is really obvious. Many people have been left in my wake, as a response to this story.
‘It’s more or less the untold story. We know what abuse is really, but the viral effect of it is the thing that is not communicated.’
Talking about the devastating moment he contemplated taking his own life, he admitted that he is ‘still relieved’ he didn’t go through with it.
To which Anna added: ‘He ended up leaving a very big tip for the lady in the coffee shop and that alerted her that something was wrong, before he went to the cliff.’
Heartbreaking: David was abused as a child by his father and a local shopkeeper, his mother once witnessed the abuse and did nothing to prevent it continuing
Important: Marcella star Anna is playing David’s mother, Joanne, who once witnessed his childhood abuse and did nothing to prevent it continuing
Marcella star Anna is playing David’s mother, Joanne, who once witnessed his childhood abuse and did nothing to prevent it continuing.
David revealed that Anna had an ‘unbelievable likeness’ to his mother, he said: ‘Anna dressed up as my 54-year-old mother at that time, visiting me in my bank, it was an extraordinary moment for me.’
The city executive ensured that he was on set for the entire filming so it could be documented accurately.
David admitted that the experience was the most ‘beautiful, horrific, humiliating and wonderful two weeks’ of his life.
Yet instead of Anna feeling pressurised by his presence, the actress admitted that it was a ‘relief’ having David as a ‘wonderful guide’.
Life: He went on to become a high-flying banking CEO and an ambassador and trustee for the NSPCC until his life began to fall apart as he dealt with the trauma of his childhood abuse
She said: ‘It was actually a huge relief… so I had him all to myself to be able to say, “Is this right?” He was a wonderful, wonderful guide throughout it.
‘I just wanted to make sure it didn’t upset you, because your story is so incredible and so brave. And then to watch your life being played out must be psychologically weird.’
Anna revealed that as David’s mother in the movie, she drives a red Volkswagen Beetle to which the city executive bought it after filming and brought it back to the UK.
The star went on to talk about her own experience with motherhood, she has daughter Gracie, 14, with ex David Thewlis.
She said: ‘Being a mother myself, all you want to do is to protect them and to be in circumstances where you’re not given that chance must be torturous. But your story is the most moving I have ever, ever come across.’
Emotional: David, who at one point contemplated taking his own life, has bravely shared his life story in the upcoming film
Anna revealed that the first thing she asked David was: ‘How could your mother not stop this from happening?’
David shared that he didn’t reconcile with his mother before her death and it’s the one thing he is ‘most ashamed of’.
He said: ‘Not fully. If there’s one thing in the story that I’m personally most ashamed of it’s the way I treated that woman…
‘Those two weeks [filming] in South Africa were the most beautiful, horrific, humiliating and at the same time wonderful two weeks of my life, I think.’
Through his work with the NSPCC, David has worked closely alongside Countess of Wessex, Sophie.
Protective: Anna revealed that the first thing she asked David was: ‘How could your mother not stop this from happening?’
He watched the film for the first time with her, leaving the royal in tears.
He said: ‘Yes, remarkable support from her and the charity personally. I was worried that the translation from script to screen would embarrass her on the night and I didn’t want that.
‘So she had me round, so to speak, we watched it and it was a very profound afternoon. Unbelievable.’
Sulphur And White hits cinemas on 6 March 2020 and This Morning continues on weekdays at its new time of 10am on ITV.
If you have been affected by this story, you can call NAPAC (National Association of People Abused in Childhood) on 0808 801 0331 or visit napac.org.uk
You can also call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk
Support: Through his work with the NSPCC, David has worked closely alongside Countess of Wessex, Sophie (pictured) and he watched the film for the first time with her, she was in tears
