Larry Lamb has dismissed fears that artificial intelligence could take over the acting industry, insisting that 'artificial stupidity' will never threaten stars with genuine talent. In recent years, Hollywood has been unsettled by the rise of AI, with the industry brought to a standstill in 2023 during strikes protesting the technology. However, in an interview with the Daily Mail, the 78-year-old EastEnders star claimed it has not been a concern for him.
'Creative people aren't going to be phased out by AI, not people with real talent,' Lamb stated. 'AI doesn't get jokes, it doesn't get irony. You write out a straightforward question and it comes back with "I don't understand your question." Well, how intelligent is that? That's artificial stupidity. A real person would understand the question straight away.'
He added: 'The fault with AI is that some human being programmes it, and they don't programme it in a way that they don't look stupid. So I can't see that people with talent of any kind really are going to be put out of the picture.'
Contrasting Views in the Industry
Lamb's comments contrast sharply with warnings from other actors who have previously cautioned that the technology could make them obsolete. AI was reportedly used to make Harrison Ford appear younger in the latest Indiana Jones film, while ITV's Deep Fake Neighbour Wars employed controversial deepfake technology to transform impressionists into celebrities. Additionally, Val Kilmer was able to feature in an upcoming film posthumously after AI 'brought him back to life' to complete a project he had left unfinished before his death from throat cancer.
Actors have voiced concerns that studios could replace performers and professional stunt personnel by digitally simulating their appearances and actions. It is also widely predicted that AI programs will eventually be able to create entire casts digitally, at a much lower cost than using real people. Fran Drescher, president of the 160,000-member SAG-AFTRA union, bluntly warned during the strikes: 'We are all going to be in jeopardy of being replaced by machines.'
Lamb's Semi-Retirement and Return to Poetry
Despite his lack of concern over AI developments, Lamb is gradually stepping back from screens after deciding to 'semi-retire' from acting. The actor has chosen to slow down in recent years and focus on his first love: poetry. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he revealed that he returned to writing poems after a 40-year hiatus and that it has helped him verbalise his thoughts about death.
'I'm writing about all different things, about getting to be an old man and facing the fact that death is not so far away anymore, it's getting closer all the time,' he mused. 'It helps me to be realistic about mortality and having said goodbye to immortality.'
He continued: 'I've got two jobs on this year so it's not like I'm stopping acting, I'm just really enjoying being a semi-retired actor who's writing poetry. The stuff that I've written comes right from my soul. There's no need to be trying to be anybody else.'
Reflecting on his career, Lamb said: 'I've spent 50 years being an actor. I'm here as Larry Lamb, not as Archie Mitchell, not as Mick Shipman, not as the 500 other people I've played over the years. So doing poetry for people is like laying your heart out on the line, it's fabulous. You're not saying anybody else's script. This is me representing me.'
He added: 'I've had the most extraordinary life, so there are highlights in every corner of my life. Then all of a sudden, right when I'm pushing the wrong side of 70, if you want to look at it that way, I get this amazing burst of good fortune with Gavin & Stacey erupting into people's lives. Of all the bad guys I've played, and the heavies, and gangsters and nasty businessmen, I finished up playing dear old Mick Shipman, who half the population of this country would like to have as their dad!'
Upcoming Appearance at Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words
Lamb is now preparing for his appearance at the Fleet Street Quarter Festival of Words next week. Inspired by the opening lines of Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, this year's theme, 'The Age of Wisdom and Foolishness,' explores how words shape our understanding of the world amid technological advancement, economic uncertainty, and an evolving global conversation. Across more than 40 events, audiences will hear from bestselling authors, renowned journalists, and influential thinkers on topics including politics, current affairs, fiction, memoir, journalism, and history.
Lamb is set to appear with Gyles Brandreth for a live recording of his podcast, Rosebud, reflecting on childhood memories and the experiences that shaped his life and career. Speaking about their friendship, Lamb said: 'We've met around the business over the last three or four years several times, and we always had time to have a joke with each other and really enjoyed each other's company. So we're going to do this podcast in front of an audience, and I'm really looking forward to it, I think he is as well!'
He added: 'The lineup this year is absolutely extraordinary and it's not just about literature, it's not just about books, it's about politics. It's about getting people in that are commenting on things that are going on that are so important to us all right now.'
Further information about the Festival of Words can be found on the Fleet Street Quarter website. Tickets can be purchased online.
