In the public eye, Ross Kemp is remembered by millions as Grant Mitchell, the tough, brooding brother in EastEnders. But behind the on-screen swagger and iconic clenched fists lies a man who has ventured far beyond the Queen Vic — into some of the most volatile and violent regions on the planet. In doing so, Kemp didn’t just document the horrors of war — he carried them home.
Between 2007 and 2008, Kemp embedded with British troops in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. These were not staged action scenes with controlled outcomes. This was real, raw, and relentlessly dangerous. As the bullets flew and roadside bombs exploded, Kemp captured moments that made their way into acclaimed documentaries like Ross Kemp in Afghanistan. But once the cameras stopped rolling, the scars — invisible but deep — began to manifest.
By 2009, he was no longer simply telling stories of war; he was battling its aftershocks. In interviews since, Ross Kemp has spoken candidly about his descent into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His coping mechanism? Alcohol. In a revealing chat with Nikki Bedi on BBC Radio 4 in late 2023, he admitted: “I was drinking way too much. I found solace in it, and used it as a shield in social situations.” Wine wasn’t just a drink — it was armor.
But Kemp didn’t remain mired in the trauma. Alongside his crew, he practiced TRiM – Trauma Risk Management — a method designed to prevent the long-term mental damage caused by traumatic experiences. At the end of particularly brutal days in Afghanistan, the team would gather, recount events, and share reactions. The goal was simple yet profound: to make sure no one carried the burden alone or misremembered it. By normalizing emotional reactions, they reduced the chance of silent suffering.
In a later interview in 2024, Ross shared that while PTSD had once haunted him, he no longer suffers from it in the same way. “It’s not really with me anymore,” he said, acknowledging how both professional techniques and personal growth helped him reclaim stability.
However, Kemp’s passion for realism doesn’t stop at his own healing. He has voiced strong concerns about how veterans are portrayed in media. In 2022, he supported a campaign by Help for Heroes urging filmmakers and TV creators to present a more balanced and respectful image of ex-servicemen and women. “Every time you hear PTSD, you immediately picture someone unstable or dangerous,” he said. “That stereotype needs to change.”
Kemp’s point is poignant. He argues that while drama needs intensity, the media too often leans into extreme and negative portrayals of veterans — reinforcing a stigma that can isolate those who have served.
His advocacy stems from experience, both personal and professional. From war zones to prisons like Belmarsh, Ross Kemp has reported from places where most dare not tread. And while his documentaries capture chaos, he also wants to highlight resilience — the human ability to endure, adapt, and rise.
Yet, despite his achievements in documentary filmmaking, Kemp can still look back and joke about his original career trajectory. After leaving EastEnders in 1999, he signed a £1.2 million deal with ITV to pursue prestige dramas — a decision that seemed to signal the birth of a new TV star. But two decades later, he’s best known not for fiction, but for fearless nonfiction. “I clearly failed,” he laughed, “because I’m doing these documentaries now.”
It’s a self-deprecating statement that barely scratches the surface. Kemp hasn’t failed — he’s transformed. From a soap icon to a war correspondent, his journey is one of reinvention, courage, and vulnerability. He swapped scripts for reality, comfort for danger, and applause for something far deeper: purpose.
In a world still grappling with how to support mental health — especially among veterans and frontline workers — Ross Kemp’s openness is not only refreshing, but necessary. He reminds us that bravery doesn’t end when the battle is over. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is talk.
