Sir Lenny Henry has opened up about the moment he discovered that the man he thought was his uncle was actually his biological father, describing the revelation as 'being hit by a truck'. The comedian, 67, shared the story during a talk at London's Riverside Studios, marking the venue's 50th anniversary.
Henry was raised in Dudley, West Midlands, by his mother Winifred and the man he knew as his father, Winston. However, he later learned that his biological father was Albert Green, a family friend who had cared for his mother when she fell ill after arriving from Jamaica in the 1950s. Henry explained that his mother had an affair with Green, resulting in his birth, and wrote to Winston in Jamaica, giving him the option to leave or forgive her. Winston chose to stay, but the couple's relationship was marked by frequent, sometimes violent arguments.
Henry first met Albert at age 10, when his mother sent him to help with chores. He recalled being paid two shillings and sixpence for tasks like vacuuming and cleaning windows. It was not until he was 12 that Albert's son Lloyd revealed the truth. 'One day, Lloyd turned to me and said, 'You've got no idea why you're here, do you?' I said: 'No.' He said: 'That's your dad,'' Henry recounted. The news left him shaking and running home in shock.
Despite the upheaval, Henry said he 'played amongst the ruins' and ultimately made peace with his family history. He noted that Winston remained his father figure, having raised him. The story of his mother's journey from Jamaica to Britain inspired his 2023 ITV drama, '3 Little Birds'. Henry also spoke candidly about experiencing racism growing up in Dudley and the strict discipline he faced at home, including being hit with a frying pan by his mother.
