Ted Lasso Star Reveals Surprising Inspirations For Roy Kent Performance
The beloved but temperamental Roy Kent of Ted Lasso fame has some unusual inspirations, far removed from the famous former footballer that birthed the character concept. The Apple TV+ series was a beacon of hope during a pandemic-era television landscape that saw challenging productions lead to unsatisfying content. Its story of an optimistic American football coach traveling to England to lead a Premier League team was a breakout hit because of its relatively simple approach to depicting characters that want to be good people.
One character that did not seem to fit the mold was Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein), captain of AFC Richmond in season 1, who came off as irritable, defensive, and downright mean in tense situations. Ted Lasso's showrunners built Kent's personality around the similarly aggressive nature of real-life pro footballer Roy Keane, who captained Manchester United from 1997 to 2005. Like Keane, the grouchy Roy Kent habitually makes unsafe plays on the football pitch and emotional outbursts outside of it.
Related: Ted Lasso: Are Roy & Keeley Still Together? The Couple's Future Explained
In an interview with The Times' Jonathan Dean, Goldstein discusses the series, his career, and the melting pot of odd influences for his moody fan-favorite character. He states that Oliver Twist antagonist Bill Sikes, the psychological thriller Don't Look Now, The Muppets, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire director Céline Sciamma serve as the basis of Kent's persona. The interview also addresses Keane's impact as an intimidating midfielder, accurately describing Goldstein's character. Check out the full quote below:
I ask which footballers Kent is based on. The answer? Oliver Twist’s nemesis Bill Sikes. That is not a deflection —
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