Kris Marshall Opens Up About Character Longevity and Career Evolution
Beyond Paradise actor Kris Marshall has offered candid insights into his decade-long portrayal of Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, acknowledging that "all characters have a shelf life" while revealing how his approach to career stability has transformed with age.
A Decade as DI Humphrey Goodman
The 53-year-old actor, best known for his role in Love Actually, first appeared as DI Goodman in Death in Paradise back in 2014, taking over as the show's lead investigator following Ben Miller's departure. Marshall remained with the Caribbean-set drama for three series before passing the baton to Ardal O'Hanlon, eventually reprising his beloved character in the Devon-based spin-off series Beyond Paradise.
"I'm in a really happy place," Marshall told The i newspaper last year. "That's not to say I don't have a personal feeling that all characters have a shelf life – because I do – but I'm really enjoying where I am at the moment, working on a show I love, with people I love."
From Wanderlust to Stability
Marshall confesses that earlier in his career, he experienced "itchy feet" that led him to leave popular sitcom My Family after just five series. However, the father-of-two now values "solidity" as he grows older, though he remains philosophical about the temporary nature of television roles.
"The kind of wanderlust I had early in my career is mostly gone," Marshall revealed. "I'm having fun portraying DI Goodman and appreciate the stability that comes with a long-running role, especially as I've matured both personally and professionally."
The Enduring Appeal of Comforting Drama
More than a decade after Death in Paradise first aired, Marshall believes there remains "still a place" for the comforting police drama format that avoids the "gore and grimness" of contemporary true-crime series.
"You have to make it palatable for a broad demographic," Marshall explained. "You have to create a puzzle, and peril, and solve the puzzle – and do all that within a BBC hour. It's a real skill to produce such a programme."
Family Connections and Mental Wellbeing
The actor revealed that his children Thomas and Elsie, whom he shares with wife Hannah, have "never shown any interest" in his career until recently, but now gather as a family to watch Beyond Paradise and "love it."
Filming in Devon provides significant mental health benefits for Marshall, who grew up in Bath and spent considerable time in Devon and Cornwall during his youth. "I am and always have been a really big water person," he told Principle Magazine. "I was a big surfer growing up. I wasn't particularly good, but I loved it."
Marshall continues to embrace coastal life during production: "Every morning before work, I'm in the sea. I'm in the sea after work. I go hiking up on the Moors. It's a huge part of who I am. We talk a lot about mental health these days and how the great outdoors is so good for your mental health."
Balancing Bucolic Settings with Demanding Schedules
The actor acknowledges the challenging nature of television production, even in picturesque locations. "When you're on a big shoot like Beyond Paradise, which is 70 hours a week for 23 weeks straight, one after the other, while it looks and is bucolic and lovely, it's also quite hard work," Marshall admitted. "I use Devon and Cornwall to keep my mental health stable."
As Beyond Paradise continues into its fourth season, Marshall remains committed to his role while maintaining a balanced perspective on character longevity and career evolution in the ever-changing landscape of television drama.
