Daily Inspiration: Meet AJ North

Today we’d like to introduce you to AJ North.

Hi AJ, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Well I very much came from a London working class background. The oldest of three. Born from little to no privilege or wealth, I’ve always had to earn it all, never given, never the easy road walked.

I grew up in the London equivalent of the hood (referred to as council estates) in South West London. Me and my mum bounced from various state housing locations, it wasn’t easy but my mum did the best she could at the time.
I unfortunately never really had a great relationship with my mum growing up, it was always clear that I was a burden to her. She was a young single mother and my dad left her when she was pregnant. To make things worse she was married and had an affair with my father which resulted in me, the accident… and divorce. I guess maybe deep down she blamed me for that.
My mum never really wanted kids, unfortunately she just wasn’t really the maternal type. Myself and my half siblings were always more of a by product of her tumultuous relationships with various men in her life. And they were never the kind of men who stuck around. She was never really interested in the fatherly types.

Don’t get me wrong I feel I had a good upbringing, just not in the traditional sense.
For me instead, I was fortunate it came in the form of my grand parents and uncles helping me out along the way.
I always look at myself as one of the fortunate ones who ‘got out’ thanks to them.
It was through spending time with them I had such a balanced upbringing.
Many of the people I grew up with who didn’t have good influences didn’t fare so well in life…

My grandmother particularly was a big influence on my life and upbringing, she was so very generous and kind. She was also very maternal and I feel fortunate I got to spend a lot of time with her growing up. In essence she became a surrogate mother to me when my mum wasn’t around. People would often mistake me for her son because I was with her so often and were so close.

The greatest thing for me was that she loved watching films. I mean really loved them, all types! But lucky for me, she was a huge action film fan! I’d often spend long weekends with her watching various action or martial arts films all weekend long from the local movie rental shop. Often 3-4 movies every weekend! Moonlight movies the rental shop was called. That’s primordial soup where my love for film, acting, martial arts and stunts really began!

I have vivid early memories of watching all the great 80’s and 90’s action films with her.
Often either mid way through or at the end of a film jumping up with enthusiasm to imitate the great action stars I’d just witnessed. I wanted to be just like them one day!
My gran seeing this (taking influence from the movies, specifically Karate Kid) recommended to my mother to take me to martial arts training. Initially my mother was hesitant, but after offering to pay for my early attendance, at the young age of just four, I was enrolled in Karate. That was the first domino, the start of it.
That for me is the defining point of where the journey to where I am today began…
From the humble base of action films and becoming a martial artist, to entertaining as an actor and stuntman today.

I gotta admit, life’s been a wild journey, and a very long road to success of any kind. Not to mention I didn’t even start in the film and entertainment industries until I was in my early 30’s!
But despite all the many careers I’ve had and the jobs I’ve done along the way, it never really felt like life had truly begun until I found acting and making films. Which I’m sure many in this biz can relate.

Its truly been a revelation of sorts. An opening of my heart, mind and soul. A reconnection with my inner child that if I was looking back, has become that chance to be my own hero. And now a journey I intend to pursue with passion forever more.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well spoilers… most definitely not! Haha!

Life has been a constant barrage of ups and downs. Rises and falls. From the start to most recent times, I’ve not had any easy roads.

I never started out as the most talented, gifted genetically, wealthy or had influential friends. But what I did have… was I refused to give up. I always returned and found a way. I put in the work and stayed consistent.

Sure everything comes with a cost. I’ve lost everything I had on many occasions, through various circumstances and or bad decisions. I’ve lost loved ones, been financially bankrupt, hurt and heart broken. I’ve even had to cut out many that were not in alignment with the direction I’d chosen.

But you know what, it might sound a little cliche, but I look at those costs as an investment, a downpayment on success to come, because each time that I hit the bottom, I rose higher than I had before. I learned, adapted and overcame. I grew a little each time. And I used it all as rocket fuel.
Proving those small loses where necessary to become the person I want to become.

I refused to be defined by my insignificant loses. It might sound harsh but no one really cares about those but you. Instead I choose to be remembered for the way I always rise above. What separates me from my competition is my the mindset, my will and my ethos to win. To succeed. A fearless ambition if you will.

Believing and understanding that in every adversity is an opportunity in disguise. Its just up to you to decipher it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
To date, as an actor I guess the role people will know me most from is from The Conjuring series, specifically The Nun II. Though you probably won’t now my name just yet…

I played the fan favourite monster ‘The Demon Goat’. I know there is a lot of love for that character out there.
I’m defiantly proud of that role, it was an incredible opportunity working with the much loved cast, as well as brilliant director Michael Chaves. I’d love to reappear in the Conjuring franchise again at some point for sure.

I think role wise however a chance to really see me stretch out my acting legs a lot more, has to have been in the film A Woman Scorned, playing the leading Villain – Randy. It was a really fun role to play and I put a great deal of prep into the role, which I feel paid off.

Besides that I’ve also appeared in a number of successful indie titles and some big budget smaller roles. Not quite a household name just yet, but I’m building.
There’s also some cool things to come in 2026, so keep your eyes peeled… haha!

As a stuntman; honestly I’ve been really fortunate with everything I’ve worked on. Being able to walk both paths (acting and stunts) is truly a gifted blessing. I know I won’t be able to be a stuntman forever, but while I can, I intend to enjoy every moment. Especially while it affords me the ability to learn from so many amazing action performers, great action architects and directors.
With action always at my heart I see being a stuntman as a kind of apprenticeship to being a great action actor myself someday soon.
I’m definitely inspired by and looking to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Scott Adkins, Jackie Chan, Tom Cruise and Burt Reynolds. As well as the many other great stunt performers turned actors.

I feel having the experience of being a stuntman and life long martial artist sets me apart from the average actor, walking that walk, gives me a degree of authenticity that a lot of actors who do action just don’t have. There’s no pretending, I’ve lived it. Just like the greats of the past did too.

Of course you always gotta do the work on the craft, have the acting chops to pull off any role, but there’s equal amounts of artistry in the physicality of stunts too. I feel having and combining both of these passions in my toolkit gives me a believability and huge advantage most just don’t have.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Definitely watching all the great action films of the 80’s and 90’s with my gran!

Stallone, Snipes, Norris, Van-Damn, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Arnie, Gary Daniels, Keanu, Micheal Dudikoff, Mel Gibson…and many many more.

Those action stars from back in the day really did shape me. Kind of like many surrogate fathers. Not only did they inspire me physically, they also gave me a moral compass and taught me a work ethic through the characters they played.

Don’t get me wrong I love the serious art too, it has a different kind of reward, but for me there’s nothing quite like that pop corn entertainment!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aj__north
• Facebook: AJ North
• Youtube: @aj_north
• Other: Tik Tok @aj_north

Image Credits
Rule#10 Action Photography