Comedian, Author and…Spider-Man’s Dad: A Dominic Holland Interview
This was a piece I wrote for my university’s student paper back in August 2018; it’s one that up to this day, I am still very proud of. It’s the first interview I have ever conducted for an article. Having graduated last year, on June 25, 2019, I’m opening up my Medium profile by re-posting this piece under my specific edit. It just seems like the perfect full circle. I hope that here, more people will get to read this piece; people outside the confines of my small circle of friends and family, and university peers. This interview changed my life in some fantastic ways and up until this day, I am super grateful to Dom Holland for the chance that he gave me. I want you all to read this and remember that all it takes is just one spark, to change things for the better.
In a small sectioned room in the hidden alleys of Edinburgh, chaffing and warm, smelling like spilled alcohol and sweat, who would’ve thought that the father of one Spider-Man resides upstage, bright smile against the dim glow of orange lights. There he stands in his nervous purpose to elicit laughter from the crowd of Fringe-goers.
Dominic Holland (Dom, for short) is the proud father of four boys; one of which is Tom Holland, the latest cinematic iteration of the well and loved Peter Parker (also known as Spider-Man). Despite the fame his eldest brings to their family of six, one he describes as “above and beyond anything” he himself “have ever experienced or will ever experience,” Dom enjoys the simple pleasures of which life provides him. Like a trip to the beach of North Berwick with his family, and finding time to visit a distillery.
Dom thinks Edinburgh is the most beautiful place in the UK. He believes that Scotland itself has much to offer. However, his main purpose for his visit lies in the Fringe Festival.
“It’s the biggest window for comedy and means that you are current,” he says.
Having done a show at last year’s festival, he hopes to do another in 2019 — if he can “think of more stuff to talk about,” he adds tactfully on Twitter.
It is during this very festival that got to talk to Dom. We meet just outside of the Voodoo Rooms, a few minutes after his show ended. All the other audience members file out of the venue after snagging selfies and quick chats. It’s a cold and wet summer day; despite the light shower of rain, he still willingly indulges a small struggling journalist like me. He extends a warm smile as he agrees to the interview. It feels so surreal for him to be so kind; the father of a famed actor, performing a free show at the Fringe, willing to do an interview for a small time student newspaper.
His passion for his craft glows as he talks about his current show for this year’s Fringe. It is aptly named The Glory Year, the message being, living for the moment and making every day “glory”. When asked about what he learns from his performances, he comments:
“Every show is the same but for the fact that the audience varies each night and they have much to bring. Sometimes the room might be flat and I need to spark them up with some audience participation. And other times, they’re just great and I can do my show.”
The Glory Year is a brilliant watch. It has plenty of family anecdotes, smooth transitions, and Dom’s comedic timing is just short of perfect. A lot of his material creatively involves his family, one way or another, particularly his eldest, Tom. Tom’s current role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is addressed a few times throughout Dom’s routine; it seems to make for some outlandish shenanigans and fun times.
“I don’t set out to use my family for comedy. It’s really just what occurs to me and what I can make people laugh with.”
It is a wonder how a family like his can live to be so grounded. But he assures that they are “just a normal family but doing odd jobs”. These odd jobs of theirs also include charity and philanthropy. Armed with the help of his four boys, Dom and his wife Nikki have set up the The Brother’s Trust. This newly established charity makes use of Tom’s reach and popularity. The Brother’s Trust gives exposure to charities that struggle to be heard and recognized. The trust is a family effort, but his appreciation for his wife is clear; he describes her as the “driving force” with “a close team of four and the rest of the family offering support”.
“My family have long been involved in charitable endeavors; my mom at her old age is still helping people and so it seemed a natural thing to do,” Dom humbly says. “Plus, I think it’s a good way to keep Tom and my boys grounded. And because we can help people, why wouldn’t we want to do so? It’s a privilege.”
He understands the climate of today’s society; he acknowledges the social issues and politics surrounding our everyday lives. However, as a comedian, he doesn’t let that affect his craft. He even braves the tide by indulging in some political and controversial topics within his show.
“I think people nowadays are looking to take offence too often and victim culture is pernicious and dangerous for young people.”
His words are strong. And while Dom is a simple man who insists ordinary — just the type to wear an outfit from T.K. Maxx during Wimbledon as his son struts around clad in a suit by Ralph Lauren — he is still a man with an obvious impact to the people who look up to him. Regardless of Tom’s fame as some sort of superhero, the man in glasses with a pink shirt on underneath his thick black coat, grinning toothily at me, also has a story worth telling.
While our talk is short, he leaves me still with me a small piece of advice to share with you all; Spider-Man’s dad has had his fair share of ups and downs, after all. Dom wants to give us university students, unsure of where we’re going and what lies ahead, a bit of reassurance:
“Just live in the present. Do your best, dare to dream and don’t give up. Unless you give up — you never fail!”
Mae Trumata was speaking to Dom Holland at Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival.
