Opera singer Paul Potts has lived a life more dramatic than that of many movie characters. The 43-year-old Potts recently came to Korea for the March 13 launch of “One Chance,” a new biographical film that depicts his life story. If there’s one piece of advice Potts wants to give to people who are in a similar situation to where he was, it is, “Don’t measure yourself by other people’s expectations.”
Potts has overcome many difficulties in the past. His life story has touched the heart of many people around the world and has breathed new hope into those with despair. Once an overweight, depressed mobile phone salesman, Potts appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent,” a television talent show, in 2007, and won the competition, impressing the audience. The video in which he sang “Nessun Dorma,” an aria from Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” had 160 million views on YouTube, with Potts instantly rising to stardom. His 2007 debut album, “One Chance,” has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and he has held more than 500 solo concerts so far.
“Success is not about becoming an international star,” he said in a press conference held after the screening of “One Chance” at a local theater on March 4. “If you are doing what you love and doing what you dream of, that is success.”
Potts also said the film’s message is about, “achieving your goal. You keep going because of the people around you and the people you care about.”
Potts said that during his childhood, he found solace in singing when he didn’t have much confidence. He also said that he never expected to perform and travel around the world. The biggest change in his life since he won the talent show, he said, was that he now gets to do what he loves for a living.
Potts will perform “Nessun Dorma,” the song he sang on the talent show, at 6:30 p.m. today, March 5, at the Time Square Mall in western Seoul.
Paul Potts talked about his biopic “One Chance” during the press conference.
- You’ve seen the film. What do think about James Corden’s performance?
He did an incredible job. It is difficult to do a drama and a comedy at the same time, but he did well, playing the role of the two different genres. James is better looking than I am. In particular, his blue eyes are very attractive.
- You published an autobiography last year. Did you also write the screenplay?
The book and the screenplay were totally different. The book was written early last year. I helped write the screenplay, but it was written by a screenplay writer. I took part in the adaptation and it took two to three months. It was quite challenging to do. The book and the screenplay are different things, but they have the same theme. It is about achieving your goal. You keep going because of the people around you and the people you care about.
- The main theme of the movie seems to be the regaining of confidence. How did you regain your confidence?
When I was young, there was just me. I found solace in singing, but I didn’t have any confidence in singing in public. When you decide to sing in front of people, it requires a level of confidence. When you do, it opens you up to criticism. That was challenging for me.
I decided to participate in “Britain’s Got Talent” only after I flipped a coin and it landed heads up. I never expected them to pick me. If somebody told me when I was 14 years old that I would be doing what I am doing now, I would have never believed it. I would have thought they were crazy.
- In the movie, whenever you faced a new challenge, there was always some sort of adverse event. Did those events actually occur?
I had a similar question at the Toronto International Film Festival. I am actually worse than I am in the movie. I run into things and trip over things all the time. I’ve always been clumsy, and it is well-demonstrated in the movie.
On Sunday, I went to a Japanese restaurant and spilt soy sauce on my shirt. Luckily, the hotel took care of it, cleaned the stains and I was able to stay on time.
When I was young, I think I never had any confidence that I could achieve anything. As I grew up, I realized that you are not the best judge of yourself. You learn lessons that sometimes you limit what you are capable of and there is no need to build such restraints. Sometimes, you have to allow life to take its course.
- In the movie, there is a scene in which Luciano Pavarotti criticizes your performance. What was it like to meet Pavarotti?
Unlike in the movie, the master class went very well overall. Pavarotti said he liked my voice, but it didn’t lead anywhere. Even after I met Pavarotti, I didn’t continue opera singing and I returned to my previous job. I didn’t have any confidence back then. It was not the right time for me. I think I regained my confidence when I won “Britain’s Got Talent.”
- There are television talent shows in Korea, too. What message would you like to share with the winners?
I would say, enjoy what you do, do your best everyday and never take it for granted. Sometimes, we define success by a high standard. Success is not about becoming an international star. If you are doing what you love, and doing you what you dream of, that is success. There is no higher level of success. I feel happiest because I do what I have been dreaming of since my childhood.
- What would you like to tell people who have not had a chance, like your chance on “Britain’s Got Talent?”
The most important thing is to never lose hope. Just keep on going. If you don’t give up, you’ll achieve your dreams someday. Don’t measure yourself by other people’s expectations. Continue to challenge yourself.
- You seem to have been interested in opera since childhood. When did you first get interested in opera? Do you have a role model?
I watched the film “E.T.” when I was a child and I started listening to John Williams’ sound track and other pieces of classical music. Then I started to listen to Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and Brahms.
As I listened to Jose Carreras sing arias from “La Bohème,” I dreamed of becoming an opera singer. It was his determination to continue singing that impressed me, despite facing a life threatening disease, as he was suffering from leukemia. He kept going and he worked very hard. After he overcame the cancer and held charity concerts in Germany to fight leukemia, I’ve performed in the gala twice. I felt very honored.
- You are visiting Korea for the eleventh time. Why do think you’ve become so loved by your audience here?
I don’t know why I’m so loved in Korea, but it is a great honor. It is one of my favorite places in the world. I think Korea deserves to be a world tourist attraction. Sometimes, people remember conflicts rather than the beauty of Korea. Koreans are some of the warmest people around in the world. I will do whatever I can do to encourage that feeling. I feel like Korea is my chinjeongjip, my wife’s parent’s house.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
Potts has overcome many difficulties in the past. His life story has touched the heart of many people around the world and has breathed new hope into those with despair. Once an overweight, depressed mobile phone salesman, Potts appeared on “Britain’s Got Talent,” a television talent show, in 2007, and won the competition, impressing the audience. The video in which he sang “Nessun Dorma,” an aria from Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” had 160 million views on YouTube, with Potts instantly rising to stardom. His 2007 debut album, “One Chance,” has sold over 5 million copies worldwide and he has held more than 500 solo concerts so far.
Opera singer Paul Potts speaks to the press after a screening of his biographic film “One Chance.” (photo: Limb Jae-un)
“Success is not about becoming an international star,” he said in a press conference held after the screening of “One Chance” at a local theater on March 4. “If you are doing what you love and doing what you dream of, that is success.”
Potts also said the film’s message is about, “achieving your goal. You keep going because of the people around you and the people you care about.”
Potts said that during his childhood, he found solace in singing when he didn’t have much confidence. He also said that he never expected to perform and travel around the world. The biggest change in his life since he won the talent show, he said, was that he now gets to do what he loves for a living.
Potts will perform “Nessun Dorma,” the song he sang on the talent show, at 6:30 p.m. today, March 5, at the Time Square Mall in western Seoul.
Paul Potts talked about his biopic “One Chance” during the press conference.
- You’ve seen the film. What do think about James Corden’s performance?
He did an incredible job. It is difficult to do a drama and a comedy at the same time, but he did well, playing the role of the two different genres. James is better looking than I am. In particular, his blue eyes are very attractive.
- You published an autobiography last year. Did you also write the screenplay?
The book and the screenplay were totally different. The book was written early last year. I helped write the screenplay, but it was written by a screenplay writer. I took part in the adaptation and it took two to three months. It was quite challenging to do. The book and the screenplay are different things, but they have the same theme. It is about achieving your goal. You keep going because of the people around you and the people you care about.
- The main theme of the movie seems to be the regaining of confidence. How did you regain your confidence?
When I was young, there was just me. I found solace in singing, but I didn’t have any confidence in singing in public. When you decide to sing in front of people, it requires a level of confidence. When you do, it opens you up to criticism. That was challenging for me.
I decided to participate in “Britain’s Got Talent” only after I flipped a coin and it landed heads up. I never expected them to pick me. If somebody told me when I was 14 years old that I would be doing what I am doing now, I would have never believed it. I would have thought they were crazy.
Paul Potts stands in front of a poster for “One Chance” at the CGV theater in Yongsan, central Seoul. (photo: Limb Jae-un)
- In the movie, whenever you faced a new challenge, there was always some sort of adverse event. Did those events actually occur?
I had a similar question at the Toronto International Film Festival. I am actually worse than I am in the movie. I run into things and trip over things all the time. I’ve always been clumsy, and it is well-demonstrated in the movie.
On Sunday, I went to a Japanese restaurant and spilt soy sauce on my shirt. Luckily, the hotel took care of it, cleaned the stains and I was able to stay on time.
When I was young, I think I never had any confidence that I could achieve anything. As I grew up, I realized that you are not the best judge of yourself. You learn lessons that sometimes you limit what you are capable of and there is no need to build such restraints. Sometimes, you have to allow life to take its course.
- In the movie, there is a scene in which Luciano Pavarotti criticizes your performance. What was it like to meet Pavarotti?
Unlike in the movie, the master class went very well overall. Pavarotti said he liked my voice, but it didn’t lead anywhere. Even after I met Pavarotti, I didn’t continue opera singing and I returned to my previous job. I didn’t have any confidence back then. It was not the right time for me. I think I regained my confidence when I won “Britain’s Got Talent.”
- There are television talent shows in Korea, too. What message would you like to share with the winners?
I would say, enjoy what you do, do your best everyday and never take it for granted. Sometimes, we define success by a high standard. Success is not about becoming an international star. If you are doing what you love, and doing you what you dream of, that is success. There is no higher level of success. I feel happiest because I do what I have been dreaming of since my childhood.
- What would you like to tell people who have not had a chance, like your chance on “Britain’s Got Talent?”
The most important thing is to never lose hope. Just keep on going. If you don’t give up, you’ll achieve your dreams someday. Don’t measure yourself by other people’s expectations. Continue to challenge yourself.
A scene from the film “One Chance.” (photo courtesy of NEW)
- You seem to have been interested in opera since childhood. When did you first get interested in opera? Do you have a role model?
I watched the film “E.T.” when I was a child and I started listening to John Williams’ sound track and other pieces of classical music. Then I started to listen to Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and Brahms.
As I listened to Jose Carreras sing arias from “La Bohème,” I dreamed of becoming an opera singer. It was his determination to continue singing that impressed me, despite facing a life threatening disease, as he was suffering from leukemia. He kept going and he worked very hard. After he overcame the cancer and held charity concerts in Germany to fight leukemia, I’ve performed in the gala twice. I felt very honored.
- You are visiting Korea for the eleventh time. Why do think you’ve become so loved by your audience here?
I don’t know why I’m so loved in Korea, but it is a great honor. It is one of my favorite places in the world. I think Korea deserves to be a world tourist attraction. Sometimes, people remember conflicts rather than the beauty of Korea. Koreans are some of the warmest people around in the world. I will do whatever I can do to encourage that feeling. I feel like Korea is my chinjeongjip, my wife’s parent’s house.
Poster for the film “One Chance.” (photo courtesy of NEW)
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr
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