Few series have captured the raw essence of camaraderie, sacrifice, and heroism as profoundly as HBO’s ‘Band of Brothers.’ Released in 2001, this landmark miniseries, based on Stephen E. Ambrose’s book, follows Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their rigorous training in Georgia to the pivotal battles of World War II.
Recently, I have the privilege of talking with Rick Warden, who played Lieutenant Harry Welsh, not only to delve into the enduring legacy of this epic tale of brotherhood and bravery but also to find out more about Rick.
Thank you for gifting me your time.
Can you please share some basics about yourself. Who you are, where you’re from etc.
I’m Rick (born Richard) Warden and I was brought up in Buckinghamshire, to the North West of Greater London. I was born in Amersham, at the far end of the Metropolitan tube line.
Can you share a little about your schooling, what subjects you liked.
I went to Dr Challoner’s Grammar School, where I started off mainly mischievous, but ended up as Head Boy. I left with high A level grades that secured me a place at Cambridge University to read History.
Did you have a tendency towards drama at school?
I began acting at primary school around 10 years old and this continued at Challoner’s. I also quickly branched out to local amateur dramatics groups during my teens, culminating in higher end semi professional productions – outdoor Shakespeare primarily. I landed my first film role prior to University, with an open audition for a film called The Bodger, made with students at the National Television and Film School.
Did you formally study acting? If so, where?
The choice of Cambridge University was deliberate, as I knew that away from my studies I could essentially self train there. Though I flirted with the famous Footlights, my real passion was for the more serious acting on offer there. I became President of both the Cambridge Mummers and the Marlowe Society.
My acting agent signed me during my final year at University, and though my degree unquestionably suffered, I had an absolute riot performing and directing there. I have been with the same agent ever since, thirty years ago.
On graduating the only ‘acting’ training I did, was a summer school with the french clown Philippe Gaulier, who was formerly principal of Jacques Lecoq School in Paris.
Let’s talk “Band of Brothers.”
Would you share your audition process? Were you reading for Welsh specifically or were you reading for a variety of parts as other actors did?
I only ever read for Harry, and I read lateish in the process, February 2020 I think. I had been warned that the visiting casting woman Meg Lieberman didn’t want extraneous chat and false friendliness on the first meeting which suited me just fine, so I went in, did my thing, and left. I was told pretty quickly that I had a recall/call back, and it was then that I was sent to meet the wonderful voice coach Joan Washington, so that I could brush up on my accent before meeting Tom Hanks. I met Tom at the Athenaeum Hotel on Piccadilly. I have never seen actors waiting that nervous before or since, but I acted well that day. A few days later I was driving around the M25 motorway and my agent called to say Steven Spielberg was looking at my tape… and minutes later she called again to say he’d given me the job.
Had you read Stephen Ambrose’s book prior to the audition?
I don’t believe I’d read the book at that stage, but on seeing the photos of Harry Welsh that I was then sent, I reckoned maybe it wasn’t just my acting that had landed me the biggest job of my life
Harry Welsh passed away prior to Band of Brothers filming. Did you get to meet his wife Catherine to learn about him?
I couldn’t meet Harry because he’s passed away but I’ve since met his Granddaughter Colleen online a bit – she wants my flight jacket from Band of Brothers but I’ve told her to look in Harry’s attic for the real thing instead!
How was BootCamp, did you learn anything about yourself during this time?
Preparation wise, I dived into Ambrose’s book before boot camp where maybe I took the turn of phrase ‘reluctant officer’ to heart a bit. I had been a reluctant Head Boy so it was easily done! The truth is I was doing ‘ok’ for the first few days as a Private at BootCamp, and my difficulties only really developed once I’d been given rank and a platoon to try and run! And they were significant difficulties.
I remember that I seriously considered trying to escape Longmoor Camp, and spent most of a whole day crying all over the place. But I’ve since come to realise that that boot camp was absolutely pivotal to the Band of Brothers, and that the problems I had weren’t with ‘it, per se. They were with me.
I could write a whole book about that 10 nights and 11 days and I took some of the boys back for ‘Lunch at Longmoor’ which you can see up on YouTube. Making that short film has helped calm my obsession with boot camp. Kind of.
What was the most challenging part of filming this role for you?
The main thing I took into filming and actively wanted to portray was the chaos of combat.
Those key moments in Ep 3 where Harry (according to Ambrose’s book and the accounts of the men around him) did stuff under fire that there’s no way I’d have had the courage to do, such as taking out that machine gunner with a grenade across the rubble, taking out that tank with McGrath in the field outside Carentan, I wanted to feel as much ‘in control of an utterly out of control’ situation as I could portray, so that they looked and felt as real as possible. I think I managed that pretty well looking back
Damian Lewis told me at boot camp that we’d actually met before anyway, and I felt a strong bond with him from the off which holds to this day, so that relationship kind of came for free on screen. But the wider Band of Brothers bonds were born at boot camp but with some notable exceptions (ie Robin Laing) are singular in my 30 years experience. I saw Frank John Hughes and Kirk Acevedo a couple of weeks back for the first time in over 20 years, and we could have talked for weeks.
Were there any similarities between you and Harry Welsh that you found?
We’re a pretty good fit me and Harry, physically as well as mentally I’ve come to think.
I have been told of the Polaroids on the “Wall of Shame” (one of my previous interviewees said some actors featured more than others!) Did you make it to “The Wall”?
I did make the ‘Wall of Shame’ in Interlaken yes, to my shame. We were told in no mean terms that though we were ‘playing’ at being paratroopers we were under strict instructions not to free fall whilst running wild filming Episode 10. A few of us disobeyed orders… not my finest hour.
Another acting job I remember seeing you in was “Wire in the Blood” – season 2 episode 1 ‘Still she cries.’ This was a very different character from others you’ve played. Could you talk a little about how you prepped for this & how you found this role?
‘Wire in the Blood’ was a tough shoot if I’m honest, because it’s very isolating playing dangerous offenders, certainly as a younger actor. So, I got pretty immersed (again, maybe too much, the things we think will help us to a better performance when we’re young!) in serial killer literature, and kept myself up at night and away from other actors and crew. I got very depressed on that shoot, very lonely, and was only dragged out of that mindset on meeting my future wife a couple of weeks after the shoot if I recall.
Is there a favourite part that you’ve played and why?
My favourite job experience was playing Ronnie Keane in ‘Indian Summers’, because we shot two series over two 6 month blocks in Penang. I fell in love with Penang. The cast and crew were a special lot, and the curries unforgettable.
Maybe, also playing Quintus Pompey in ‘Rome’, again over a couple of years, because I got to know Rome, which for a history graduate is a sensory overload.
But aside from Harry, two parts stand out I think. I kind of ‘built’ Mike Taylor over three series of ‘Happy Valley’ with Sally Wainwright’s encouragement, which I still maintain are the best scripts I’ve ever read, period.
But then a couple of years ago, my good friend from university – the inimitable Sarah Phelps – asked me to play a living lawyer called Oliver Saxby in a four part drama called The Sixth Commandment. I’d put the experience of shooting that, and it going on to win the BAFTA this year, as the biggest moment of my acting career to date.
How long have you been painting?
My late father in law Ray Barker handed me a portable watercolour kit over 20 years ago, and over the years we shared our efforts with each other. I literally see and feel him every time I paint. I’m improving I think. Put it this way I hate fewer and fewer of them, and the occasional one I actively like! If only I could remember how I achieved it… or he was here to help me figure that out, bless him
What’s next for you?
I’m currently filming the second series of Malpractice over in Belfast for ITV, and having a very dastardly (and hairy) time doing it.
In reflecting on his journey as an actor, Rick Warden offers a profound glimpse into the intensity of portraying Lieutenant Harry Welsh in “Band of Brothers”, while also sharing his passion for, painting, and a multitude of other roles that have shaped his career. His candid account of the gruelling boot camp, emotional connection to his characters, and the bonds formed with fellow cast members highlight not only the depth of his commitment to his craft but also the lasting impact of being part of such a monumental series. Whether it’s his preparation for scenes, the camaraderie with his co-stars, or the lessons learned from each role, Rick’s story underscores the transformative power of storytelling and the enduring legacy of “Band of Brothers”.
