Becoming Father Christmas

A former actor lands his most important role yet

December 14, 2016

.polaris__post-meta--date { display: none; } .polaris__post-meta--date.no-script { display: block; padding-left: 45px } December 14, 2016

Actor John Field, dressed as Santa Claus, at a Christmas grotto at the Wetland Centre in west London, Dec. 5, 2015.

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)Field, 66, a former teacher turned actor, has stepped into the jolly role of Santa for more than 12 years. "I'm playing a part, but it is one of the most truthful part

A girl peeks through the doors at the Christmas grotto.

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

John Field brushes his beard as he dresses as Santa Claus before a performance on a City Cruises boat on the River Thames.

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_https://mediacloud.theweek.com/image/private/s--pCgOnwpr--/f_auto,t_content-image-full-mobile@1/v1608405810/4.RTX1Z8GK.jpg { display: none !important; }

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

Parents and their children line up at the Wetland Centre.

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_https://mediacloud.theweek.com/image/private/s--otNr-eRk--/f_auto,t_content-image-full-mobile@1/v1608405821/6.RTX1Z8GM.jpg { display: none !important; }

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_https://mediacloud.theweek.com/image/private/s--PrQ27gd_--/f_auto,t_content-image-full-mobile@1/v1608405828/7.RTX1Z8H9.jpg { display: none !important; }

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

John Field reads to children on a City Cruises boat.

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)

.imgHideOnJavaScriptDisabled_https://mediacloud.theweek.com/image/private/s--_ibPLhzS--/f_auto,t_content-image-full-mobile@1/v1608405838/RTX1Z8HB.jpg { display: none !important; }

(REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth)