The Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards celebrate the breadth and diversity of talent from across the nation’s cultural sector. At the 2018 ceremony Dr Alistair Scott, Director Screen Academy Scotland, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to actor and director David Hayman for his contribution to cultural life in Scotland. Hayman has been a major figure in theatre, film, and television for over 40 years. He is now well-known throughout the UK to TV audiences in a range of high-profile dramatic roles, such as in the long-running crime series ‘Trial and Retribution’ scripted by Lynda La Plante, as well as the costume drama ‘The Paradise’ and the Tom Hardy BBC series ‘Taboo’. But Hayman has been a leading light in Scotland for decades since starting as an actor at The Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, during the 1970s.
He was born not far from the Citz, across the river Clyde in Bridgeton and attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow. He gained particular prominence in the television film ‘A Sense of Freedom’ (1981) playing the role of the notorious Barlinnie Prison convict turned sculptor, Jimmy Boyle. He has worked behind the lens too, directing disturbing dramas including ‘The Hawk’ (1993) starring Helen Mirren, ‘The Near Room’ (1995) and ‘Silent Scream’ (1990) which was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival.
As well his distinguished career as an actor/director he has also dedicated a huge amount of his time to champion a range of humanitarian causes and fight injustice. In 2001 he founded the humanitarian charity, Spirit Aid, which is dedicated to alleviating the suffering of children affected by war, genocide, poverty and abuse.