I love L.A. I love America; it's fantastic. The people are friendly, and everyone's always smiling. The sun is always shining. My only problem is choosing what color shorts to wear.
— Ricky Whittle
My friends said I was crazy, but L.A. is the hub of the industry. It's the epicenter of the business. If I wanted to get above the plateau that I had reached in the U.K., I had to make that move.
Blood must not have blood... I don't stand for anyone bullying bullies.
As in all TV shows, and especially a show called 'Mistresses,' all is not going to be as it seems.
I joined 'Hollyoaks' because in the long-term, I thought it's good money, it's good profile, and everything happens in soaps!
I'm going to continue the dancing because it really was an inspiration; it changed my life.
I'm just a big kid; I get excited. That's probably the one thing in life that I get really excited about is cars.
No one remembers the runner-up!
I think anyone is lying if they say they don't want to win.
I have an acting coach, a dialect coach, and just a great team around me.
If things are said maliciously, and they're meant to hurt, then that's the sort of thing we need to try and stamp out.
I actually spoke to one of the heads of a studio, and he said I confuse middle America. Basically, when they see a black person, they see athlete, they see rapper, or they see criminal or something like that. And then when they hear a British accent, they hear posh, so they hear lawyer or doctor.
We try and give as much diversity to our show as possible. That's something that's very strong in our show: there are so many strong female leads in 'The 100.'
We need to sort the kids out and educate them properly. After all, they are our future.
I was something of a late bloomer.
With 'Strictly,' I am mentally and physically knackered: everything aches. I knew it would be hard, but I never thought it would be this tough.
I have always thought beach weddings are beautiful. A sunset ceremony with a beautiful sky, white drapes and fire lanterns.
I'm a huge sun baby. As soon as the sun comes out, my smile gets bigger, so I'm constantly smiling in L.A. It's a fantastic place to be.
No one should ever suffer in silence. Bullies thrive in silence.
I'd do whatever it takes to stay in California; maybe not L.A. because it's so crazy.
I want to act in films and TV drama, so that's where I'm aiming to be, and I'm not going to let anything distract me or turn my head until I get there.
I don't think anything can prepare you for the 'Strictly' experience. It really is insane. I mean, I played football, rugby, American football. I go to the gym. I like to think I'd be quite fit, and I don't have much fat on me to lose, and yet I still lost a stone and half and three inches off my waist.
I really have a new-found respect for dancers.
I'm a big fan of old, classic American musclecars like a Shelby GT or the '69 Dodge Charger, cars that inspired me through my childhood. They used to get me real excited when I was a kid. To own one and actually be able to drive them in America is a little of a dream.
I don't want to embarrass myself on TV!
My abs were my bread and butter in the U.K. - the calendars, the photoshoots, and all that came with it.
When you're living in L.A., you really do have to raise your game - you have to be the best 'you' possible.
Growing up, at that time, I didn't want to be black because I was bullied, and I'd tell my mum that I wanted to be white like everyone else at school.
Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the world, I guess. It's getting better; everything's heading in the right direction, whether it be race, sex, gender.
The Ricky that the public see, whether it be on screen as a character, in public, or on social media, is very outgoing, and I'm a bit of a class clown. Then those who are closest to me know that I can be very sensitive. I can be quite insecure about myself.
I'm not as stupid as some people think. I've got a degree in law.
I must have been 15 or 16 when I left Antrim Grammar, but I do remember having my first proper kiss when I lived there.
I'm a great believer in the idea that if it's meant to be, it will be.
I've never used chat-up lines; I don't have the gift of the gab.
As actors, when you can't be in the room with the casting director or the producers, you put yourself on tape and send it off.
Keep watching 'The 100.' It's an incredible show, and that's my family.
Sometimes, when you've got a couple of females on the cast, you'll have a diva, or you'll have arguments. I've been on shows where girls haven't quite got on.
My character in 'Hollyoaks' went through absolutely everything! There's not one emotion where I'm going to go, 'I don't know how to play this.'
You have to have chemistry - it's acting. I need to make people believe the rumba is about two people in love, and the tango is about passion.
I remember 'Rain Man' with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman with all the Lamborghinis being lifted off the tanker. I was obsessed with this car. Absolutely obsessed with this car. It was my dream, and to finally drive one and own one was incredible.
They say that no one walks in L.A., and it's definitely true, and I'm embracing that.
I'm very competitive, and I want to be known to do well.
My favourite compliment now is that people are talking about my acting, my craft - not my torso.
Once people start to realise that colour is just that, it's just a colour, then things got a bit smoother.
When you're younger, you do take things personally.
First black Bond - that's my aim! That's the one!
I believe it's my position as a partner to make the other feel secure. I'm very loving and very into my partners when I am with them. I just want them to feel safe.
I've never liked my smile, you see. I should have had braces as a kid, but I was too proud and too vain. And I didn't want to be bullied at school.
My little sister Debbie was born at Aldergrove, and my nan is from southern Ireland, so I do try and get over quite a bit.
I'm ambitious and I'm determined and I know where I'm going to be. It's not where I want to be, but where I'm going to be.
